Autism Heroes meeting prompts call for communication boards in Laois playgrounds

Laois County Council is going to roll out communication boards to playgrounds across the county by the end of 2026. 

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan requested the move in a motion following a meeting she had  with Autism Heroes.

She asked “that Laois County Council install communication boards at the playgrounds in Stradbally and Timahoe.”

In a written response, Ann Marie Maher from Laois County Council’s Sport Section said: “Laois County Council is designing a playground communications board and we will be installing these in 50% of our playgrounds in 2025 which includes Stradbally and Timahoe and 50% in 2026.” 

Cllr Phelan said the communication boards are similar in size to an election poster and are used to promote language acquisition and learning for all children and particularly aid communication for pre-verbal children. She said that the communications boards consist of signs and images and numbers. 

Cllr Phelan explained that she had decided to ask for the boards after attending a meeting with Autism Heroes along with other councillors. She expressed delight at the response and said she was very pleased. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy seconded the motion. He described it as a very good motion. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran said “I do agree. They should be in every playground.”  

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Cllr Ben Brennan agreed and said “we have to fight for everything for children like that.” 

The issue was discussed at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.