Jones plea for autism-friendly boards at playgrounds

An appeal to have communication boards installed in all playgrounds across the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District was made at the April meeting of the authority by Cllr David Jones.

The Sinn Féin man admitted he was somewhat disappointed at the response, which revealed that Picture Exchange Communication System boards – used to make it easier for people with autism to communicate – will be installed at the new playgrounds in Castlepollard and Kinnegad – but not automatically at the others.

“Once installed, the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad can review other locations within the district and agree on which playgrounds the Picture Exchange Communication System boards are most suited to,” the reply stated.

“I wouldn’t say I’m overly happy with the answer at all. We need to stand up for children and adults with autism,” said Cllr Jones.

Continuing, he said as a previous residential care worker himself, he had seen the value that these communication boards could have in playgrounds and at other locations, and has been lobbying for four years to have them installed.

“It’s just a pure disgrace that children with autism cannot go into the playgrounds and communicate that bit easier,” he said, to which director of services Deirdre Reilly said the council is happy to install communication boards and it will keep an eye on the situation.