These next few days mark Autism Acceptance Week and in conjunction with that, Monaghan Town Library has a display of autism friendly resources to support its diverse and inclusive community.
Evanna Derek from South Monaghan Autism Resource Team (SMART) spoke to Northern Sound earlier about the matter. She says this week is about raising awareness around accepting people with autism, and as how they are.
Evanna pointed out that no two people with autism present the same; some have social communication difficulties while others may find making eye contact difficult or have associated learning difficulties.
She added that while acceptance is a wider societal issues, libraries opening up to people with autism is a very welcome development. "For a long time now some of the supermarkets have run sensory evenings and the libraries have opened their spaces to children and adults with autism who might not be able to go into library and stay quite and understand the etiquette around that.
"And, because if they are excited about something or need to get comfortable with something, they can make noises and act in a way that other people mightn't in the library. So, it is great that these events are being forward to support people with autism and their families.
