A day at a theme park with autistic kids FAMILY FUN: Therese Hogarth takes her two autistic children Will, 4, and Emily, 2, Hogarth to Movieworld. Will watches the rollercoaster and decides he doesn't want to go on it. Picture: Kit Wise Source: The Courier-Mail BOBBING past on the Road Runner and Bugs Bunny, Will and Emily look just like the dozens of children enjoying the merry-go-round at Movie World. But a family day at the Gold Coast theme park is not so simple for the four-year-old boy and his two-year-old sister, who both suffer from autism. It's the little things that other kids would never notice - a perfume, a loud noise or flashing light - that could send either child into a meltdown. Mum Therese Hogarth braved the unfamiliar crowds with her children and support worker Joanne Stephen from autism foundation AEIOU on Wednesday, determined her son and daughter would not miss out on common childhood experiences. "Taking children with autism out, it's so stressful for a parent because it's something you can't control," Ms Hogarth says. But they have to go out, it exposes to them to all that and will hopefully help. The Movie World trip is a direct response to a recent AEIOU study showing 72.1 per cent of parents who have a child with autism experience limited social interactions outside the home. Preparation for the day out started weeks earlier with Will and Emily watching an episode of Peppa Pig going to a theme park so they would be ready for the rides, noise and people. There was also constant talk about the trip. But soon after arriving at Movie World, Will is distracted by a big-screen TV and echoing noise created by the canopy in the park's Main Street. He begins pulling at his mother and refusing to move. It takes Mrs Hogarth 10 minutes to coax Will across the thoroughfare. Later, while in line for the Yosemite Sam Railroad, Emily begins to cry - scared and confused by a light breeze. She is calmed by the soft singing of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by her mother and manages a smile on the ride. Another challenge is meeting larger-than-life Tweety Bird. While other children run up and hug the cartoon character, it takes several minutes for the Hogarths to even enter the same room. Emily bravely gives the character a high-five while Will loiters in the corner despite his mum's constant encouragement. Although given special attention by Movie World staff, Ms Hogarth says their trips aren't always like this. She says it is difficult to be watched by other parents as her children struggle and often throw tantrums in public. FAMILY FUN: Therese Hogarth takes her two autistic children Will, 4, and Emily, 2, Hogarth to Movieworld with the help of AEIOU speech therapist Joanne Stephens. "It is hard, it looks like our kids are spoilt ... but they're not being naughty, they're just trying to understand the world," she says. Therese's persistence and obvious love for her children is inspiring. She sent them to AEIOU soon after the autism diagnoses to take part in the organisation's early intervention programs. While she is a full-time carer for the children, Therese's husband, Dave, works as an IT manager to support the family. We're so lucky and while it is so hard some days ... this is my norm and it's always worth it to see the parts they love. THEIR DAY 2pm: Arrive 2.10pm: Frightened by the noise, Will takes 10 minutes to cross the street 2.20pm: A ride on the merry-go-round 2.25pm: Will wants to go on the children's rollercoaster but the family watches it instead 2:30pm: Waiting for the train ride, Emily begins to panic but is soothed by her mother 2:35pm: A successful ride on the Yosemite train 2:45pm: Will runs through the main street with support worker Joanne so he won't be distracted by the noise again 2:50pm: Emily meets Tweety Bird but Will refuses 3:00pm: Heading back through the main street, Will is used to the main street crowds and the family can walk calmly through the area 3:10pm: The children play in the water spouts and drag their mum in too 3:20pm: Head home AEIOU Foundation is holding their annual BUBBLE DAY on Sunday April 21, from 8:30am to 2pm. A free family day with a BBQ, entertainment, kids rides and more, individuals and teams can enter the paddle boat race from Captain Burke Park at Kangaroo Cliffs. Go to aeiou.org.au for more info.