Co Mayo to be "IRELAND'S FIRST AUTISM FRIENDLY COUNTY"

April 22, 2025, Western People: Mayo can be Ireland's first autism-friendly county

Ballina is at the forefront of a campaign to make Mayo an autism-friendly county.

Elisa Beattie and Rebecca Connor Wood, of the Ballina Autism Friendly Town Committee, delivered a presentation on their efforts to the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council.

Elisha said their main ethos is ‘Awareness, Education, Inclusion, and Acceptance’. She said the committee’s aim is to make Ballina and the entire county a more inclusive and accessible place for people with autism and their families, adding that those with autism deserve the same opportunities as their peers within their community.

Initiatives have included the creation of autism-friendly spaces and educational talks. . . .

Elisha said there are invisible barriers such as communication, sensory processing, predictability, and judgement and attitude.

“Autistic people have told us the difficulties they face in community facilities, shops, health centres, and public spaces. We want to make Mayo a truly inclusive county that welcomes and supports the autistic and disabled community, their families and their carers,” said Elisha. “We want to see the Ballina autism-friendly initiative introduced countywide,” she added.

A number of Mayo towns have autism-friendly initiatives in place and now the aim is to make Mayo the first autism-friendly county in Ireland.

Rebecca told the meeting that autism-friendly parking has been put in place in other parts of the country and encouraged Mayo Co Council to follow suit, adding: “Parking can be stressful for families, and autistic individuals and while there are disability parking bays in our towns, not all autistic people qualify for those permits because they are mobility focused.” 

She said securing autism-friendly status for Mayo towns, villages, and the county could have tourism benefits for Mayo.