My name is Jordan South, I am 23 years old, I live in Leeds and I suffer with learning difficulties as well as Cerebral Palsy and Scoliosis and as a result it makes it extremely difficult for me to be able to access various activities and spaces, This can cause me to feel incredibly isolated and excluded from society.

Play and recreational activities not only helps with relaxation but more importantly it is also incredibly beneficial to mental health and wellbeing as well. As a young adult who has special needs myself, it really upsets and shocks me at the lack of recreational provisions available that are specifically designed for the use of people with special needs especially as we currently don’t have anywhere where we are able to go together with our parents and carers that are designed with our needs in mind. Especially as fun spaces for adults that aren't based around alcohol are really sorely lacking - and this is even more so the case for disabled people.

This is precisely why I am petitioning and urging Leeds City Council to consider helping provide access to a safe and accessible multi-level indoor recreational soft play setting with bouncy castles, ball pits, giant slides, swings, climbing frames, adult space hoppers, arcade games, claw machines specifically designed and scaled up for use by people aged 16 years old and over with additional needs; specifically only for them, their families and their carers to be able to access and attend during the day time. 

This would be a great way for people with all types of disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Wheelchair users and more as it would allow them to have access to a space specifically designed to accommodate their needs and be themselves. Especially as many disabled adults behave much younger than their chronological birth date. 

I am mainly campaigning and rallying for everyone in Leeds to all come together in support and unite as one in helping to support this campaign in providing a safe and accessible multi-level indoor recreational soft play setting allocated to disabled adults and people with special needs; as there is absolutely nowhere and this situation is really affecting lots of people and their loved ones living in the Leeds area of West Yorkshire. 

I have tried really hard by myself along with help from both my family and my support worker to find places where I can access within Leeds but unfortunately despite our best efforts everything we have found is only for children with special needs especially as fun, excitement and relaxing sensory experiences should have no upper age limit. I want places like this in Leeds for adults with special needs. We have nowhere!

Please help in supporting this campaign by signing, commenting and sharing to help make our voices heard and get Leeds City Council to listen by helping provide accessible recreational facilities for Disabled Adults.