Tayto Park will be hosting a special Autism Awareness Weekend next week.
The popular theme park and zoo will be creating an autism friendly environment on October 5 and 6 to allow children with autism and their families to enjoy an exciting day out.
Small changes at Tayto Park will include no music being played throughout the park, no hand dryers will be turned on for the duration of the day and queues for attractions will be kept to a minimum during this time.
For families who require some peace and quiet, Tayto Park has partnered up with Adam and Friends, who specialise in designing and installing bespoke multi-sensory and soft play rooms who will provide a quiet room on site which will be silent and peaceful on the day.
Additionally, kids will have the chance to check out social stories (a visual guide describing the various social interactions, situations, behaviours and skills that they may encounter on the day) which will detail all attractions open on the day and help children with autism break down each social situation into steps that can be fully understood.
Tayto Park has partnered up with As I Am, Ireland’s national autism charity and advocacy organisation, and Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind to support and raise awareness about autism in Ireland.
Adam Harris, Founder-CEO of AsIAm said "We warmly welcome Tayto Park's Autism Weekend and commitment to developing autism-friendly practise.
“Autistic people, and our families, want to be able to enjoy the same leisure and recreational activities as other families but this can be a significant accessibility challenge.
“Small changes can make a big difference in creating inclusive opportunities for our community and we warmly welcome Tayto Park's leadership and example in this regard.''
