Message from Chairperson
As part of our ongoing journey to advance our Club values of inclusion and embracing diversity, Clonakilty GAA has registered with AsIAm, the coordinators of the Supervalu/Musgraves initiative to make Clonakilty Ireland’s first Autism Friendly town.
This is in addition to the previous Autism initiatives recently undertaken within our Club, namely the information evening with Dr Susan Crawford on creating autism awareness within sport and the Camp Cul Eile which was a very successful pilot project run by our Healthy Club Committee for children on the autism spectrum.
Work has commenced on the project and AsIAm have conducted an audit of our Club and designed a roadmap against which our success will be measured. The road map includes:
1. Training of our Coaches which will be provided by CARA (part of the Sport Council of Ireland).
2. Creating a small Sensory area which can be utilised as required. This will be a structure that can be easily constructed and dismantled for events in the club such as match days etc.
3. Develop a social story for a training session. This is a pictorial journey to provide a better understanding of the experience with the aim of preparing children and young people for what they can expect when they visit the Club.
4. Being Companion Dog friendly.
I am delighted to be part of this initiative and hope that this will enhance sport and physical activity opportunities within our Club for all.
Ger Mc Carthy
Chairperson Clonakilty GAA
