January 2024

Re: Open Letter to local Businesses & Organisations

​Dear Blarney Business,​

As you may be aware, at least 2.7% of Blarney’s population are Autistic. Autism is a lifelong, developmental difference which means that the way a person experiences the world, is different to people who are not Autistic. Autism is often a hidden disability, and many children and adults in Blarney are autistic. Some autistic people show their behavioural differences, and have quite obvious communication and interaction differences. Some autistic people do not publically behave or appear any different to non-autistic people, but can still find the environment, interaction and communication challenging, or disabling.

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Autistic people have huge strengths and abilities but face accessibility barriers on a daily basis because of how the world works. Day-to-day tasks such as going shopping, using public transport or joining a sports club can be overwhelming for Autistic people, and as a result many people in our community, including the families of Autistic people, are not able to enjoy the activities that most people take for granted. This means our town is losing out on unique perspectives, members, and customers to everyone’s disadvantage. Autistic people adapt every day to try to participate in the community but small changes in how our town works could be the difference between a person struggling and a person thriving.

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AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity, has developed an Autism-Friendly Towns Award which recognises communities who go on the journey to becoming Autism-Friendly. The project began in Clonakilty in 2018 and now has 20 Autism-Friendly communities.

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We are working to achieve this status for Blarney but we need your help! A key requirement for our committee is to recruit a cross-section of businesses and organisations to become Autism-Friendly Champions by committing to learning how to meet the needs of customers/members/service users who are Autistic and put in place one or two small accommodations which will make life better for the town’s Autism community.

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To-date, across the country, there has been excellent engagement from organisations and businesses including leading brands, sporting organisations and community groups. In Year 1, Champions who sign up will receive access to a training opportunity for managers and personnel, based on their size. In Year 2 and 3, we will work with Champions to put in place sensory accommodations (e.g. a quiet space or quiet time) and visual supports (a social story which tells a person what to expect when using a service).

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We will also promote the participating Champions through our social media and other communications. Becoming an AsIAm Autism-Friendly Town will not only improve life for Autistic people and their families living in our community but can also put our community on the map as an inclusive, understanding place to visit or even holiday. We would really appreciate it if you would consider signing up to be a part of this much needed initiative.

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If you are interested in helping us achieve our goal of making Blarney an Autism-friendly town all you need to do is email us to confirm that you are interested. From there we will provide you with information on the next steps.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at autismfriendlyBlarney@gmail.com if you require any further information. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to consider our request.

 

Yours Sincerely,​

Blarney Autism-Friendly Town Committee.