Creating an Autism Friendly Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Why?

• 1 in 22 children in Northern Ireland have a diagnosis of Autism*10.

• Autism is lifelong, and affects the social and communication centre of the brain. It affects the way an individual relates to people, situations and the immediate environment. Many individuals with autism have difficulty processing everyday sensory information like sight, smells, touch, taste and sounds*¹¹.

• Improving people’s health and wellbeing (and reducing health inequalities) is one of residents’ top five priorities for making the local area a good place to live*12

• Director of Community.

Who is responsible?

*¹⁰ ‘2021, Prevalence of Autism in school aged children, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’. *¹¹ https://www.autismni.org/about-1

*¹² Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Household Survey 2018. amended – internal action plans will be delivered, rather than external formal recognition.

Outcomes

What you will see

Our aim How are we doing so far this year?

To date, 7 workshops have taken place and another is scheduled for delivery in Q4 of 2022/23.

Autism-Friendly Information Roadshows have been scheduled for delivery between January and March 2023 in each of the borough’s three main towns.

The continued rollout of an awareness raising programme.

A ‘Top Tips’ information resource for businesses has been developed and is scheduled to be distributed by Council’s Town Centre team in February 2023.

Online Makaton (a form of sign language commonly used by individuals with autism) taster sessions are scheduled to take place in March 2023.

Between March and April 2023, Council will be co-hosting a free exhibition entitled ‘Creative Voices: What Autism Means to Me’ alongside the Education Authority Autism Advisory and Intervention Service (AAIS). The exhibition will display over one hundred pieces of artwork created by autistic post-primary pupils from across Northern Ireland.

Autism Friendly actions continue to be rolled out across Council venues.

Our aim How are we doing so far this year?

Four additional ‘Autism Friendly’, virtual or in-person, public awareness sessions held for businesses, Council staff or the local community by March 2023.

At least 90% of attendees reporting that their knowledge of autism has increased following the training sessions.

Indicators

How we will measure progress

Autism-Friendly action plans delivered in three Council venues by March 2023*¹³.

To date, 7 workshops have taken place and another is scheduled for delivery in Q4 of 2022/23.

To be measured in March 2023, upon completion of all workshops.

Six additional Council staff recognised as ‘Autism Champions’ by March 2023.

This target is expected to be achieved during Q1 of 2023/24.

Due to the limit on the number of ‘Autism Champions’ per Council venue put in place by Autism NI, this indicator is no longer achievable.

9 members of staff will undertake the ‘Autism NI Impact Award’ training but only two can be recognised as ‘Autism Champions’.

Additional Council venues becoming ‘Autism Friendly’ places*¹³.

3 venues, The Braid Museum and Arts Centre, Larne Arts Centre and Carrickfergus Museum, are anticipated to receive ‘Autism Impact Award’ training in Q1 of 2023/24.

Due to the nature in which Autism NI conduct their training, only two of the three venues can receive formal accreditation. Of the three, The Braid Museum and Arts Centre and Larne Arts Centre have been selected; this is due to the level of footfall within each building.

As of January 2023, 9 staff members have been identified to undertake ‘Autism NI Impact Award’ Training and it is anticipated that 2 will become Autism Champions.

An additional 100 Council staff completing ‘Just A Minute’ (JAM) Awareness Training by March 2023.

To date, 69 staff have completed the ‘Just A Minute’ (JAM) Awareness Training.

*¹³ Note deviation from Performance Improvement Plan Consultation Document – Outcome and Indicator amended – internal action plans will be delivered, rather than external formal recognition.

Additional Council staff recognised as ‘Autism Champions’, to advocate on behalf of individuals with autism within Council venues and events.

A target of 6 additional Council staff recognised as ‘Autism Champions’ by March 2023 was agreed for this Improvement Objective, however, due to the nature of the training, the maximum number of Autism Champions per training course is limited to 2 people, therefore this target is no longer achievable.

It is important to note though, that while only one staff member per venue can be accredited as the ‘Autism Champion’, there is no limit to the number of staff that can undertake the ‘Autism NI Impact Award’ Training.

The continued rollout of ‘Just A Minute’ (JAM) Awareness Training to Council staff.

Additional staff have been given the opportunity to undertake ‘JAM’ Awareness Training from 1 November 2022.