McClean opens room at stadium to help fans with autism
ON THE day that Senator Catherine Noone’s comments about autism took over the election news cycle, Ireland international James McClean was trying to raise awareness of a subject close to his heart.
The Derryman was not aware of the furore that had developed around Ms Noone’s description of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and her clumsy attempts to explain them.
All he could stress was the importance of awareness and how much he’d learned since his youngest, Willow, was born with the condition.
McClean had travelled from Stoke with his family to open a new sensory hub at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which will cater for children and adults. He has installed a custom-sized one in his own house for Willow (2), who can become agitated when there is a lot of noise and crowds, which is why the idea of introducing one at a football stadium appealed to him.
“To be honest, I didn’t know anything about it (autism) until Willow and my nephew (Andy)” said McClean, “It’s a new experience for me.
“As she gets older, it seems like things are getting more difficult for her. If she has a bad day, it affects all of us. It’s difficult but, in the same sense, she’s amazing. It’s good for us to get to experience her way of life as well. Every day is a challenge, but every day is a good challenge.
“Even simple things like going to a shopping centre or going on an aeroplane, which people do every day, it’s becoming more difficult. So to be asked to come and be an ambassador for this and help launch it, I’m proud. This will help people like Willow.
“The noise can be difficult for Willow. Things like this, if that can soothe them and make the experience of going to games less difficult, it’s amazing.”