DERRY City and Strabane District Council Mayor, Cllr Maolíosa McHugh has welcomed news that the Alley Arts and Conference Centre in Strabane is the first arts and cultural venue in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area to achieve the Autism Impact Award.
Praising the fact that the Council is leading the way in becoming Autism Friendly, Mayor McHugh says he is delighted the Council is doing what it can through its Access and Inclusion Project, which is supported to ensure it helps create awareness around the issues facing those with autism and is taking a pro-active approach towards encouraging businesses and service providers across the Council area to do what they can to make their premises Autism friendly.
It is hoped that the Alley Theatre will be one of a number of arts and cultural venues across the Council area to achieve the Autism Impact Award by 2018.
On Saturday, 24 June, the Mayor will present certificates to staff who recently completed the full day workshop on fundamentals of autism and acknowledge the two successful autism champions who achieved AQA on features of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The Centre will also be presented with a plague for its achievements to becoming autism friendly.
Congratulating the staff on completion of the training and adaptions to The Alley Arts and Conference centre, the Mayor says he was very supportive of the work being lead and implemented by the Council through its Access and Inclusion Project, supported by Public Health Agency, to encourage arts and cultural venues to become more autism friendly and accessible to all.
“I am very much aware of the difficulties individuals with autism and their families experience on a daily basis in terms of social interaction and communication.
“Any proactive steps which provides support and creates a better understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder is welcome news.
“I am delighted that the Council through its Access and Inclusion Project is doing its bit to make arts and cultural venues more accessible and autism friendly,” he added.
Christine English, Autism NI’s Development Manager said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council as they work to become an Autism Friendly Council.
“Autism NI have been working with the Council’s Culture Section for over a year as part of the ‘Access and Inclusion Project’ to provide training and support to a number of venues through our Impact Award Scheme, which awards and celebrates organisations who are committed to Autism Accessibility.
“We congratulate The Alley Arts and Conference Centre on being the first venue in the area to achieve this award and look forward to continuing this great partnership to increase accessibility in other venues across the Council.”
For more information on DCSDC’S Access and Inclusion Programme please contact: [email protected] or telephone: 02871 253 253 extension 4349. TEXTPHONE: 02871376 646.