*Deputy Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Paul Murphy, Grace O’Rourke, Clarecastle Playground Committee, Ennis Voices for Autism (EVA) secretary, Gearoid Mannion, Sarah O’Neill, Clarecastle Playground Committee. Photograph: John Power.
Sensory and autism friendly upgrades were made to the playground in Clarecastle, infusing inclusivity into a public amenity that required a “much needed upgrade”.
A meeting between Cllr. Paul Murphy (FG) and a representative from the playground company was held to discuss significant “wear and tear” that had taken place within the playground, which was first established in 2015.
After contacting Gearoid Mannion, Secretary of Ennis Voices for Autism (EVA), the decision was made to improve the playground’s sensory input and a number of changes were put in place on the project, following funding received from Murphy’s General Municipal Allocation and a contribution from EVA, that totalled €16,000.
“It’s about encouraging parents with autistic children to bring them to the playground. A lot of parents are not confident when it comes to this. They are not sure if the child will enjoy the experience or be accepted. Often people will be giving a stare to a child who appears to be throwing a tantrum but in actuality is trying to express their frustration,” Gearoid told The Clare Echo.
A number of structural and surface changes took place within the playground. On the immediate left, a quiet area was accommodated through a bench and a tree. A Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Board was installed, which allows children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to point to symbols that will indicate if they are hungry or tired.
A large tortoise was also installed, “which would encourage children to go to the playground as they would associate the place with it,” Gearoid informed. Tactile surfaces and rubber matting over grassy areas were also put in place, he added.
Having joined Ennis Voices for Autism in 2013, Gearoid sees projects like this as “a small step in the right direction” where people “with sensory issues will be taken into account”. The long-term aim is to “ensure that everybody is confident and free to go to a public facility” as he believes that for a long time, “there hasn’t been enough suitable activities for children with ASD”.
