New Champion - Dungarvan First Responders

🚨Proud to Announce Dungarvan Community First Responders as our newest fully accredited Autism Friendly Champions! 👏

Their accreditation now brings us to an amazing 22 Autism Friendly Champions across Dungarvan!🙌

The commitment from this fantastic team has been outstanding!

🚑 Members attended our Autism Friendly Champion Training in person

💻 They then went one step further, ensuring their entire team of volunteers completed the training online

📖 They created a comprehensive Social Story, helping autistic people and their families know what they may expect if Community First Responders attend an emergency

💬 They created a double-sided Communication Board, offering another way to communicate when speech may be difficult or unavailable

🎒 They now have sensory packs available to help support people who may become overwhelmed by sounds, lights, touch or the situation around them

For Community First Responders, autism understanding can be particularly important.
An emergency is already stressful and unpredictable.
For an autistic person, unfamiliar people, physical contact, questions, medical equipment, sirens, flashing lights and sudden changes can add another layer of overwhelm.

Having responders who understand this can make such a difference, adapting their communication, allowing processing time where possible, recognising sensory needs and understanding that behaviour is communication, while still providing the emergency care that person needs.

And the timing couldn't be better!
We are absolutely delighted to have Dungarvan Community First Responders joining us next week for our summer event with Autism Support Dungarvan — MEET THE HEROES!

A huge congratulations to the entire team at Dungarvan Community First Responders and thank you for embracing this initiative so wholeheartedly.