A local councillor has requested the implementation of measures to make Waterford a more autism-friendly city.
Cllr Frank Quinlan (Fine Gael) addressed the September meeting of the Metropolitan Council.
He said: “I’m calling on Waterford City and County Council to provide autism friendly care stations in the Metropolitan area of Waterford. It has been brought to my attention from the requests from parents and what they face.”
He referred to parents of children with autism struggling to find proper car parking spaces and navigating retail spaces.
Cllr Quinlan suggested adopting the ‘As I Am’ community initiative for environmental supports to help make Waterford an autism friendly city.
Autism Friendly Waterford are a group of parents and allies of the autistic community in Waterford who champion accessibility and better supports for neuro-divergent people.
Their As I Am Autism Friendly Communities initiative aims to make Waterford the first autism-friendly city in Ireland.
The motion was seconded by Cllr Lola O’Sullivan (Fine Gael), Cllr Jim Griffin and Cllr John Hearne (Sinn Féin).
Cllr Hearne highlighted the services of neuro-divergent centre BRILL in Ballybeg for providing afterschool and pre-school classes.
He said: “It’s one of the least-helped disabilities in the city so it is very important and I commend Cllr Quinlan for bringing it forward.”
Cllr Griffin added: “I think this is a great initiative.”
This article was originally published by a www.waterford-news.ie . Read the Original article here. .