When they prove that they are qualified to do so, they will receive a badge to affix to the door. “In this way, parents and young people will be able to anticipate holidays and visits to various cities, knowing where they can be more relaxed”, explains the president of PARA. “After making Pombal the first autism-friendly municipality in Portugal, we want to cover the remaining 307.”
Aware that raising awareness in the community will be the most difficult part, due to the lack of predisposition to deal with people with autism, because they do not have these challenges in their lives and because of the lack of information, Patrick Mendes says that they will start with public services, such as the City Council, Social Security, Loja do Cidadão or Finance.
The president of PARA believes, on the other hand, that commercial and business associations can help raise employee awareness of the issue of autism, by promoting mental health literacy and training professionals in different areas. The name of the entities that join the project will appear on the association’s portal, where they will be referenced, so that families can choose these establishments, which provide guarantees of “inclusion, equity and acceptance in society”. Sensory guides will also be made available.
On Tuesday afternoon, the date on which World Autism Awareness Day is marked, the “Autism-Friendly Council” project was presented in the Pombal Town Hall, which will finance the project, as well as the National Institute of Rehabilitation . Although the first steps were taken in January, the project will now begin on the ground, through meetings with associations, public service directors and school groups, and continue until the end of the year.
