Plan for autism friendly parking spaces to be sent to Roads group
A MOTION to roll out autism-friendly parking spaces in Cork County is to be sent to the Roads Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), who will liaise with Autism Supporting Diversity Ireland (ASD Ireland) before initiating a planned programme.
The motion was brought before a recent full council meeting by Fine Gael councillor Sinéad Sheppard.
Cllr Sheppard said she has been contacted by numerous parents who are hoping the local authority will implement a similar scheme to the age-friendly scheme in Cork County: “I feel that local authorities across the board should consider introducing parking spaces for people with hidden disabilities in public places. Simple everyday tasks such as shopping; attending appointments; going to parks or public amenities with kids can be really challenging for people with hidden disabilities like autism.”
Cllr Sheppard highlighted the successful rollout of autism-friendly parking spaces in Dungarvan as a model Cork County Council could replicate: “I think that the provision of these hidden disability spaces is something I would like to see permanently introduced. They have introduced this in car parks in Dungarvan that are owned by the council and next to playgrounds that the council are taking care of. The council have been very forward in our age-friendly parking and that has been fantastic across the county. I would love to see this autism-friendly parking being introduced.
“It could be introduced as a pilot scheme in Cobh before moving it across the county,” suggested Cllr Sheppard. “We are trying to be an autism-friendly town in Cobh. We are not talking about a huge amount of space. We are talking about one or two spaces within a town centre or next to a playground. In some areas they have done a big yellow sunflower and that would be the sign for a hidden disability.”
Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Frank O’Flynn proposed sending the motion to the Roads SPC, who could take a detailed look at it and come back with a planned programme.
Fine Gael councillor John Paul O’Shea also supported Cllr Sheppard’s motion: “I think the reference to send it off to the Roads SPC would be a good one. If it is being done on public roads or public car spaces, there will be an involvement of Cork County Council. It would be good to pilot it in one area and see how it goes. That is what we did with age-friendly, and that worked out very well in a lot of our towns.”
Independent councillor Mary Lenihan Foley suggested including schools in the pilot programme.
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan provided the councillors with an update: “Cork County Council is in the driving seat when it comes to age-friendly parking because we are the co-ordinators of age-friendly activities for the whole of Cork County. We are not the co-ordinators or delivery mechanism either for the hidden-disability-type services.
“I have no problem with us piloting something like this but it would have to be in partnership with Autism Supporting Diversity Ireland because they would be the drivers. They would have to have the approval and partnership of ourselves doing it. We would be more than willing to look at it with them, but we won’t be the drivers. If we can get them on board we would happily look at this and try and achieve it,” she added.
“I am happy for it to go to the SPC,” declared Cllr Sheppard. “We will go from there. I have made contact with ASD Ireland and I will continue to make contact with them.”