KYAH Simon has an inseparable bond with her nephew Trey. The eight-year-old is the Matildas star's biggest fan - and vice versa.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Trey is at every game possible, decked out in his No.17 Matildas shirt, 'Simon' proudly printed on the back.
On the autism spectrum, Trey can find the atmosphere overwhelming and rarely gets through to full-time.
"He can't quite last the 90 minutes because of the noise which can became an overload," Simon said. "After games, the rest of my family are there, but my sister Sarah and Trey have had to duck off because it has been too much for him."
However, that won't be the case on Friday night at McDonald Jones Stadium when the Matildas take on Vietnam in a crucial Olympic Games qualifier.
Herald Weekender: Things to do in Newcastle and the Hunter
Sarah and Trey will make the trip up from Sydney, but rather than sit in the stands, they will join other families with children on the spectrum in a "sensory room".
The room is the brainchild of Newcastle Jets striker Kaine Sheppard, whose love and admiration for his autistic older brother Jake, inspired the 26-year-old to set up the KS Foundation.
Families gather in a corporate box provided by the club that Sheppard has equipped with food, toys, art materials, quiet spaces and noise-cancelling headphones. A child educator is also in the room to assist. The children and families have seats in front of the room and can move between the two.
"We have had nine Jets games here and had about 30 different families come in," Sheppard said. "There are a lot things in the stadium - lights, noise, fans shouting that can create a sensory overload for children. This space allows them to come in away from the game and recharge their batteries."
Simon became aware of Sheppard's foundation and the sensory room via a post on networking platform Linked In and offered her support.
Her W-League club, Melbourne City, hosted a sensory room on Sunday and there are plans to expand the program across the country.
"It is a special thing for me to know that when Trey does come to my games that he is in a safe environment and that he is not getting overwhelmed," she said. "I know what a difference it will make having a sensory room where he feels settled and can stay for the full 90 minutes. Sarah and the family will be able to relax at the game and not have to worry about Trey having a melt down."
Football Federation Australia have backed the program and helped promote the KS Foundation.
"Being involved with FFA and this Matildas game is a massive step for us, and I think this may be the first sensory room for a national team game in any sport around the world," Sheppard said.
"What you find is that a lot of families come and sit in the main stands and then the sensory overloads happen and they have to leave. They can't actually watch the game. This room allows the kids to come back in and the families can still enjoy the game. Once the kids have chilled out a bit, they go out and keep watching the game.
"You normally find one of the family is a member of the club. When they have discovered that the room was available, they have come as a family. They see how much the kids enjoy the game and want to come back more and more."
