Last month, delegates from Jobskin were pleased, proud and excited to attend Spectrum, the very first autism-friendly festival. Anyone who has attended a festival knows just how much fun they can be but, for people with autism and related conditions, festivals can be difficult and confusing. The Spectrum festival was conceived to bridge this gap and was a huge success for everyone involved.

The Spectrum autism-friendly festival was the brainchild of peaksGO, who approached the Autism East Midlands organisation to propose the idea. With the aim of creating an event that could be enjoyed equally well by those with and without autism, the partnership designed the festival to be a safe yet stimulating environment. Awareness of the various conditions on the autistic spectrum would be raised, as well as levels of support and education.

There were many components of Spectrum, including a specially-designed soft-play area, art & craft activities and sensory explorations. A wide range of different food and drink stalls provided the refreshments and there were a number of stands offering information, support and therapeutic items. Jobskin had our very own stand at the event, at which we showcased our unique collection of Sensory Dynamic Orthosis (SDO) garments.

One item that received a great amount of interested attention was the Sensory Hug, which is an SDO garment perfectly suited to many disorders on the autistic spectrum. Pressure therapy has been shown to help reduce overactivity and sensory seeking behaviours and, priced at just £99, the Sensory Hug is a model of cost-effectiveness.

The success of Spectrum means that the event will become an annual affair and Jobskin are already looking forward to the next festival. Check out details of the sensory hug on our website and subscribe to our newsletter for updates!