SuperValu is on a mission to make this Cork town Ireland’s first autism-friendly area

“Through this initiative, we are looking forward to mainstreaming autism”.

SuperValu in the Cork town of Clonakilty is embarking on a four-month mission to make their town Ireland’s first totally autism-friendly one. Yes, Eugene and Catriona Scally of Scally’s SuperValu in the area have announced a new initiative in partnership with AsIAm that will see businesses, organisations and community groups undergo training and organisational changes to ensure they secure full Autism Friendly Accreditation. The supermarket was the first in Ireland to make changes to their store to ensure that members of the autism community would have a better experience in-store and now more than 100 other SuperValu stores have done the same.

“Following the overwhelmingly positive response we received from the autism community in Clonakilty, we knew that there was more we could do to help,” Catriona Scallry said of the initiative. “While this is an ambitious undertaking, we have the best in the country guiding us coupled with a community spirit and determination that is hard to beat.”

To get Autism Friendly Accreditation, the area will have to deliver engagement and training to 25 percent of local businesses and voluntary groups, 50 percent of public services, 50 percent of school communities and 50 percent of healthcare professionals.

“The response has been overwhelming already and the energy in the town has blown us away,” founder of AsIAm Adam Harris said. “Through this initiative, we are looking forward to mainstreaming autism and making big changes for the autism community.”