Brayonitswaytobecoming an‘AutismFriendlyTown’
BRAY is now one of eleven urban areas in Ireland working towards becoming an autism friendly town.
SuperValu, in partnership with AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity and advocacy organisation, last year announced Clonakilty as Ireland’s first Autism-Friendly Town. Since May of this year, Bray has been on the journey to join them.
A survey conducted by AsIAm found that the autism community does not find society accessible, understanding or inclusive but that simple steps could be taken to help change this.
Two-hundred-and-forty people who either have autism or know someone closely who does were surveyed and asked several questions about their perception of how autism is recognised and understood in retail and in the wider community. While the majority of those surveyed believe that the public does not understand enough about autism, 71 per cent believe awareness and understanding of autism has increased in Ireland in the last year.
Simple measures can be the difference between exclusion and inclusion, and the survey showed it wouldn’t take a lot for people with autism to have their experiences improved. For example, 50 per cent of respondents said that even if staff were understanding of autism it would greatly improve their experience.
SuperValu is playing its part by introducing a number of changes in its stores as well as reaching out into the community through the Autism Friendly Towns Campaign.
Paul Dunne, Manager of SuperValu Bray said: ‘SuperValu Bray is delighted to be on a journey to help make our community more autism-friendly. As well as autism-friendly shopping in our store, we’re working with organisations and businesses throughout the community to make Bray inclusive and autism friendly. We have a fantastic Autism Friendly Committee here in Bray. I am confident that our journey to getting accreditation will be a successful one!’
Greystones man and AsIAm CEO Adam Harris said that his organisation is proud to have developed a ‘robust but achieveable framework’ to enable communities to become autism friendly.
‘Autistic people live, work and play in every community across the country. Too often a lack of understanding prevents autistic people from fully participating and contributing to the community. Small steps can make a big difference and communities working together to increase understanding and improve accessibility will bring about happier, healthier lives for autistic people,’ said Mr Harris. VISITING American historian and author Joseph EA Connell Jr will be the guest speaker for the next meeting of Bray Cualann Historical Society.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, October 17, at 8 p.m., in the Royal Hotel.
Mr Connell will present his lecture on ‘ The shadow war: Michael Collins and the politics of violence’ based on his newly published book. Admission is €5.