Laois parents urge 'simple' Autism steps in Portlaoise shops and swimming pool
Three Laois mothers and a grandmother of children with Autism have devised a list of simple changes to help Portlaoise win the status of an Autism Friendly town.
Laois Offaly Families for Autism (LOFFA) chairperson Breda Murray and members Laura Maher, Stephanie McGinn and her mother Elaine McGinn, gave their ideas to councillors at the September meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, which recently agreed to work towards the status.
The main suggestions are one hour weekly swims reserved for people with ASD in Portlaoise Leisure Centre swimming pool, ASD parking spaces reserved next to shop entrances, and a simultaneous weekly ASD quiet time in Portlaoise supermarkets and restaurants, at a family friendly time of the day.
Speaking with experience and emotion, the women described the difficult of bringing children with Autism into the town at the moment.
Stephanie has three teenage girls with Autism.
"It's a nightmare to get parking near a trolley bay. Having to leave the kids in the car to get a ticket is quite difficult but they don't want to come back because they think they're not going somewhere. I'd have no problem giving a proof of diagnosis and paying for a parking pass every year.
"In July I went around the town with them to see what it was like, and it was very positive. Anywhere we visited was very empathetic and aware. The Bay Tree and Chocolate Brown were fantastic. The girls wear ear defenders and hold iPads so it's very obvious. In Dunnes Stores staff could see the girls getting overwhelmed in a queue so they opened a till for us. Penneys which of course they love, has an access till, but if it was reserved for Autism customers, it would make a more positive experience.
"This is their town, this is their home," she said, near tears.
Stephanie said they have already asked for changes in some Portlaoise businesses but with little success.
"We emailed Laois Shopping Centre and got a very negative response, we were told there were plenty of spaces and there should be no problem. The Kyle Centre is ok, but in Laois Shopping Centre you have to go into a lift to go up and there is no such thing as a quiet time in Tesco. Aldi has a quiet time but it's 7am to 9am.
They were unhappy with a lack of availability for a special slot at the public swimming pool.
"As LOFFA we looked for one hour a month but they told me we would have to have so many. We got it in Portarlington after crying down the phone but we can't in Portlaoise. We'd like just a friendly hour a week. A lot of our kids absolutely love water," the LOFFA chairperson said.
Breda said her eight year old daughter is non verbal, and if restaurants had menus with pictures on for her to point to, it would make a huge difference.
"She knows what she likes. Booklets would be very easy to make up and we are happy to advise the restaurants on them," she said.
The group also suggest visual Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) boards at all Laois playgrounds, so non-verbal children can easily communicate their needs and choices of equipment, as well as a reserved ASD quiet time.
Laura said that councillors and council staff also need to be trained around ASD.
Another major issue according to the parents, is the lack of ASD units in Laois. While some 20 primary schools have the units, they are oversubscribed while almost no secondary schools have the units.
"Many parents are anxious from 4th class on trying to figure out where to go," Stephanie said.
Portlaoise councillors welcomed the ideas as being "reasonable".
Cathaoirleach Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said they will bring the suggestions to the next Downtown Portlaoise traders meeting, and suggest a sub-committee including LOFFA members to drive the changes.
"I'm incredibly proud of you coming in, you've asked us for very reasonable requests. I think a lot of them can be done if we all work together. It will make life easier and a more pleasant town," she said.
Cllr Willie Aird who sat on the board of Portlaoise Leisure Centre for many years, said he was "hugely disappointed" to hear of the lack of access given to LOFFA.
"We always had weekly sessions for Kolbe and St Francis Schools, this is a huge step backwards. We put a lot of public money into the leisure centre," he said.
Cllr Marie Tuohy had invited LOFFA to make the presentation.
"You are wonderful and brave. You've hit all the points. The big takeaway here is awareness," she said.
LOFFA has 158 members in Laois and Offaly, and 178 children, as some families have multiple siblings with Autism. The charity is run by the families and relies largely on donations, to offer each other social and emotional support, and part fund therapies.