Storyboard helps alleviate fears for autistic children
LOCAL students have come up with an innovative way to help families with autistic children to alleviate anxieties associated with everyday situations such as shopping, visiting the cinema or going to get a haircut.
The Storyboard Mini Company has been set up by friends Hugo Collins and George O’Carroll who are currently in Transition Year in Drogheda Grammar School.
They decided to set up a mini company and were especially keen to create a social enterprise that would be of benefit to others in the community and beyond. George’s older brother Sam, who has autism, provided the inspiration behind their company Storyboard.
Coping with everyday situations can be very challenging and lead to increased stress levels for people with autism. Both George and Hugo set out to create a solution to alleviate this anxiety by providing Storyboards or step by step pictorial guides that show what to expect when visiting new places.
Before developing their Storyboards, the lads carried out extensive market research. The feedback from autism parent groups overwhelmingly showed that Storyboards would be highly beneficial and respondents were clear that they would support businesses that provided the product.
Storyboard Picture Guides are now being offered to companies and organisations at a cost of €50. For this, each client will receive a digital guide with photographs specifically designed and written for them that they can then make available to their customers. Clients will also have their company logo and links to their Facebook page and website on the Storyboard Facebook page.
Storyboard picture guides have already been created for the ABACAS Special School, The ARC Cinema, Southgate Barbers, Drogheda Grammar School and Drogheda Leisure Park. Hugo and George are hoping that many more companies will come on board and more details can be found at www. storyboardpictureguide.ie If you are interested in having your own Storyboard created, the lads can be contacted at storyboardminicompany@ gmail.com