Alicia Kimberley has always struggled to find employment opportunities for her nine-year-old son, Corbin.
Corbin is autistic and has little interest in sports. He also finds it difficult to make contact with other children.
“He wants to feel like he’s part of something,” she said.
“Most kids do that in sports when they’re part of a team. But when you have kids who aren’t physically on the same level, it can be pretty difficult.”
But there is one thing Corbin loves: video games.
For the first time in his life, he was able to play video games in a safe space designed for people like him, helping him make new friends and develop important skills.
The Zone is the first dedicated play area for people of all ages with disabilities in Geraldton, 400km north of Perth.
The center particularly cares for people with neurological developmental disorders such as autism and ADHD.
“When I’m at home, nobody really wants to play with me,” Corbin said.
“So, yeah, that’s kind of the main reason I come here; it’s just so much fun.”
The NDIS-supported service features several computers, two virtual reality (VR) headsets, a Nintendo Switch, board games and an air hockey table, as well as a chill-out zone and kitchen.
Mrs. Kimberley and Corbin have been coming to the zone weekly since it opened in late April.
She says she quickly noticed positive changes in her son, who in the past had no interest in school.
“It was increased from once a week to twice a week because we saw how much he enjoyed it and how much he enjoyed being a part of it,” she said.
“It’s just such a positive, fun environment for our kids.
“It was also a great incentive because I thought, ‘I’m going to school because I know I’m going to experience something exciting’ … as a reward.”
Fast friends
Tammy Treasure founded The Zone after searching unsuccessfully for extracurricular activities for her two boys, both of whom have autism and ADHD.
“There’s just nothing here (in Geraldton) that they would like,” she said.
“I would have loved it if they had played sports because I loved it as a kid, but there was nothing that really grabbed them.”
Ms Treasure, a former nurse and IT worker, set up the gaming area with the help of Arthur Johnson, another father of neurodiverse children who has run The Gaming Den in Ipswich, Queensland, since 2020.
Most of the games that can be played in The Zone are cooperative, meaning everyone has to work together to achieve a goal.
Since opening, Ms. Treasure has seen many new friendships formed.
“They often come in very shy, hiding behind their mother’s legs and not knowing what to do,” she said.
“At the end of the first session, they beg their parents to come back.
“Two guys come in and the one who gets there first turns on the computers, starts the game… and stands at the door and waits for the other one to come… it’s unbelievable.”
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Benefits of playing
Matt Harrison is a Lecturer in Learning Intervention at the University of Melbourne.
His research focuses on how cooperative gaming can be used to help students with neurodiverse symptoms.
Dr Harrison said video games could help young people develop social skills and self-regulation.
“I think every child needs to learn to calm themselves down and think through a strategy, get the understanding of their team members and give feedback in a constructive way,” he said.
“These are skills that we typically associate with team sports.”
Dr Harrison, who himself suffers from ADHD, said gaming is also an opportunity for people from neurodiverse backgrounds to try out leadership roles.
“Gaming is a really influential field for young people,” he said.
“They have a genuine interest and knowledge of how the games are played and it enables them to guide other people and demonstrate their skills and talents.”
“It builds confidence and a sense of belonging, which we know is so important for a whole range of aspects of quality of life.”
Contact with other parents
While Corbin is engrossed in his games, Mrs. Kimberley uses her free time to read and chat with other parents and caregivers.
She said caring for a neurodiverse child can be “quite isolating.”
“It was great to have that connection and know that we are not alone,” she said.
“It’s fantastic to build friendships that we probably wouldn’t have made otherwise.”
“Indispensable” common room
In recent years, gaming spaces like The Zone have been popping up all over Australia.
NDIS participants can use some of their funds to attend, but services are open to all.
However, Ms Treasure said it could be “unaffordable” for those without NDIS support.
But Dr. Harrison is convinced that the benefits outweigh the costs.
“These spaces can really help people find themselves and take a positive path,” he said.
“I think it’s important that we create community spaces and think about how we can make sure everyone can access them.
“If we invest in these spaces at the government level, we can ensure that the people who need them most can benefit from them, and that ultimately everyone in society benefits.”
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