Teens and young adults with special needs or on the autism spectrum, have a chance to learn the Jedi way when they meet with the Sons of Obi-Wan this weekend.
Sons of Obi-Wan Sabre Academy is a Central Coast-based group who specialise in using light sabre laser swords to teach groups living with a disability “theatre combat”, and they are coming to Lawson.
The event will be held on Saturday May 27 from midday to 2.30pm at the Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre on 9 New Street.
Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre community development worker Danielle Wilding-Forbes said her group has organised the day, together with Ability Links and Blue Mountains Food Services, to help teens and young adults living with a disability make new friends and make links with services they might need, but in a fun way.
Providers of services that can be accessed under the National Disability Insurance Scheme – such as home modifications groups, nutrition and fitness specialists – will be available for individuals with a disability and their parents or families to talk to on the day.
Ms Wilding-Forbes said in the past 18 months she had been working with about 25 Mid Mountains families who have a family member with a cognitive or physical disability. The day’s program had been organised with community consultation, she added.
“We are trying to respond with a celebratory response,” Ms Wilding-Forbes said. “We are getting some silly stuff [like Obi-Wan and other entertainment] in the space as well as the serious stuff.
“Obi-Wan is all about building community, building bridges, getting people moving and growing confidence [in special needs groups] and that’s where our event was sitting too.”
Obi-Wan founder and former behavioural and learning support school teacher, Luke Boyton,said his program was a new way of teaching life skills to those with special needs.
“We call it Jedi mind trick training … but really we are teaching them life skills, life lessons you can bury in the training… while they are having fun playing with the light sabres,” Mr Boyton. Mr Boyton has trained in numerous martial arts and his group has also, not surprisingly, proven popular at Comic-Con and Supanova events with fans of the Star Wars movie franchise.
“I’m 99 per cent sure we are the only ones in the world doing this. It’s basically about snapping them out of their day-to-day thinking.
The event is fully catered. To find out more email danielle@mnc.org.au.
