Member's statement: Cubbie Sensory Hub: Children's Hospital
Member's statement by Ms Cheryl Brownlee on .
- MLA
- Ms Cheryl Brownlee
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 13 April 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Cubbie Sensory Hub: Children's Hospital
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5483156
Read the official Assembly record
Text
This week, we will finally see the launch of the sensory hub cubbie at the children's emergency department at the Royal Victoria Hospital, and it is important that it comes during Autism Awareness Month. It is a moment that has been some time in the making, and I pay particular tribute to Erin McAllister, who contacted every single MLA, councillor and MP in the country about her petition that brought the issue to the fore. It is incredible what her work has achieved. It has been a pleasure to support the campaign and to bring the concerns to the Assembly, and it shows that the voices of those families have been heard and acted on. I was also pleased that there was full agreement about the issue in the House, and it shows what we can achieve and the difference that we can make when we work together. I place on record my sincere thanks to the Little Heroes charity, which has worked tirelessly to secure the vital funding that was required to create the space. The dedication of Little Heroes has enhanced healthcare environments for children, and the project will make a massive difference to everybody in Northern Ireland. The cubbie is an innovative system that provides an immersive space that is designed to specifically support children who may feel overwhelmed in busy clinical settings. It uses light, sound and interactive features to create a calming environment that helps regulate sensory input. That matters so much for our families who visit A&E, which can be an overwhelming and frightening experience. We are enabling better communication, effective treatment and a more compassionate standard of care, and that will make a difference for children to stay in A&E to receive the treatment that they need. I am proud that we have all supported the initiative, and we continue to advocate for the expansion of such vital services across the whole of Northern Ireland to ensure that every child receives the understanding, dignity and care that they so deserve.
337 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.55 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 1.00 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:17 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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