The Irn-Bru Carnival is gearing up for its second Autism session after the first was branded “Shambolic”.
Parents claim they were left disappointed after the iconic Glasgow event experienced a “technical glitch” that made their autistic children so upset.
It is understood that ticket scan errors meant the family was forced to stand in multiple long lines.
It was the first of two sessions held for neurodiverse people at the Carnival at SECC on Friday, December 23rd.
The second event will take place on Tuesday, January 10th, and the organizers promise a better experience for visitors.
One family who attended the first session told the Glasgow Times:
“The wait was too long for this type of event, especially if we had booked in advance.
“It was totally shambolic.”
The event promises a more comfortable environment for guests as the lights in the main hall are dimmed, the music is turned off, and the rides operate at a slower pace.
To provide a quieter time, the hall was not accessible to those with general admission tickets at this time.
Some parents criticized the autism sessions for being overcrowded and too stimulating.
One mother said the incident “ruined” her son’s mood for days.
She told the Glasgow Times:
“Our boy’s ripple effect lasted for days. He was upset about having to wait. It ruined his overall enjoyment of the day.
“His anxiety grew because he didn’t know how long he was going to wait. It was almost an hour.
“When I got home, he couldn’t handle things and was screaming and crying.
“We all know that creating something autism-friendly requires more thought than turning down music.”
Some parents shared their experiences at the event on Twitter.
One said: “Complete shambolic from the Irn-Bru Carnival
“Waiting in line for 35 minutes to get your band and stamps for an autism friendly session?
“Not to mention the queues to get back to the ticket office?
“Should be ashamed! Left and right meltdowns!
“Shambles!”
Another parent said, “I waited over 20 minutes and my kids were crying so I thought about leaving.
A spokesperson for IRN-BRU Carnival said:
“This caused ticket scanning to start behind schedule and build a queue.
“We immediately arranged for additional staff, but it took longer than expected to allow access for visitors who arrived around 12:00 p.m.
“Technical issues were out of our control, but it was not the experience we intended to provide and we apologize to all visitors who had to wait in line longer than expected. increase.
“We have had a number of successful autism sessions over the years and are planning another on January 10th.
“We are confident that this will run smoothly and efficiently and will be enjoyed by all who attend.”
The National Autism Society Scotland has also been contacted for comment.
