Stoke-on-Trent-based Inspired Film and Video and software research and development company bitjam have joined forces on a prestigious project for Oxford University.
The teams are working with the university to produce films and a toolkit for parents of Autistic children that can help them deal with anxiety.
One of the key films within the toolkit – relating to sensory overload – was recently completed with filming taking place in the Quarter at Potbank restaurant in Stoke.
Aiming to help parents understand what an Autistic child might be experiencing in an everyday setting such as a cafe, the film highlights how the sights, sounds and smells of a busy location can become overwhelming for Autistic people.
Teams enlisted the help of local actors from the Inter Theatre Company who are known as an inclusive performance group and were involved in the Marvellous tv and stage productions with Neil ‘Nello’ Baldwin. Also involved were people from the NSAAA who work with Autistic young people and their families.
Inspired Creative Director Ryan Lloyd said: “This is an important national project which we are so pleased to be involved in.
“A number of our team have close family members who are Autistic and being able to create these films to help parents and children was an amazing opportunity.
“For two Stoke companies to be working with Oxford University on this project is a privilege and we are all really proud of the work we have created.”
Once completed the project will be rolled out by the team at Oxford University with the aim of helping many children and parents across the country.
Carl Plant from bitjam said “At bitjam clients like Oxford University trust our specialist experience in delivering these kinds of projects, and working with Inspired we will deliver a high quality end product that will be of huge importance nationally”.
