Balla set to become official Autism Friendly Town
BALLA has taken its first steps to being recognised as an official Autism Friendly Town.
Work is already well underway on it being an inclusive community, and the launch of the campaign coincided with the unveiling of a new portable sensory play unit in the community centre.
A new sensory garden will open this summer and communication boards have already proven to be a huge success at the local playground. Balla Community Centre also hosts a popular HangOut group for young people with autism.
Thirty local champions from across the community, including business, sport and voluntary sectors, will now be trained up as the town delivers on being autism friendly, be that through having quiet spaces or visual aids, etc.
That Balla as a town embraces inclusivity was evident in the large attendance for the Autism Friendly Town launch by Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, the national autism charity.
He spoke about the invisible barriers that people don't see that are the difference between someone surviving or thriving in their community. And with one in 27 having autism, removing them has a real impact.
Steps taken in respect of removing barriers for the autistic community have far-reaching benefits for the wider community too, he stressed. An example was autism friendly shopping times in supermarkets, where the change in tempo, from noise to light, has benefitted people with dementia or even those who use hearing aids.
Local autism advocate Amanda McGuinness, a mum to three autistic boys and who has autism herself, commented on the negative experiences members of the autism community experience in their every day lives. An appearance on the Late Late Show, for example, to talk about autism experience, led to a hateful letter from a stranger, and there have been numerous other face to face experiences.
In Balla, however, her children had learned and grown thanks to many positive experiences, from the shopkeeper who helped break down the barrier to going to the shop, learning about going to the restaurant, and having a voice in the playground thanks to the communication boards.
On inclusivity, Amanda, who works with AsIAm, commented: “We can get it right and we can all live in a society where it is OK to be yourself.”
Other speakers, who also touched on projects that have taken place in Balla over a number of years and plans for the future, and voicing full support for the campaign, included William Nestor, manager, Balla CRD, Peter Monaghan, chairman, Balla CRD, and Councillor Al McDonnell, cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District.
Hailey Golden, Leah McCann and Clodagh Mellett opened and closed the celebration with a musical performance - Lauren Daigle's 'You Say'.
Local Councillor Donna Sheridan has been working with the community on delivering projects to make Balla more inclusive.
Speaking after the launch, she said: “Balla has a brilliant community spirit and I am delighted the community has decided to go on a journey to become an Autism Friendly Town.
“I was delighted to deliver the first set of communication boards in the county to Balla in 2022, working with amazing autism advocate Amanda McGuinness, Balla CRD, and the Castlebar Municipal District, and thanks to all my fellow councillors who supported my project.
“Balla community have tried continuously to be more inclusive, with the launch of the new sensory play unit and the development of a sensory park to be launched later this year, to which I was delighted to provide funding for.
“With Balla starting on this journey towards becoming an Autism Friendly Town they have a brilliant foundation and I look forward to working with Amanda, the CRD and the whole community to make Balla a better place to live for all in the community.”