Autism and other services should be provided as standard in council facilities says Harbinson
Autism, ADHD and learning disability-friendly services should be provided as standard in all Council facilities across Northern Ireland, Alliance Ards and North Down Borough Council candidate Alex Harbinson has said.
The Bangor Central candidate said the upcoming Council election was an opportunity to promote equality for all.
And he added that any Council decision should promote sharing and integration, with Council spending benefiting everyone.
It comes ahead of Alliance outlining a number of priorities to help create shared and inclusive communities in its upcoming manifesto for the Council Election.
They also include Changing Places toilets being included in all Council properties, and Councils implementing carer-friendly workplace policies and supporting staff with unpaid carer roles.
Alex Harbinson said: “All decisions by all Councils should promote sharing and integration, rather than division and separation.
“That would mean services and areas are open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, race or ethnicity, political opinion or anything else.
“In order to achieve that, a number of steps need to be taken, as outlined in Alliance’s forthcoming manifesto.
“Among them, we want to see Councils taking decisions such as providing autism, ADHD and learning disability-friendly services as standard throughout their facilities.
“In addition, awareness training should be promoted amongst Council staff, to allow anyone with those conditions to access services as easily as anyone else.
“Equality is something we have to continue to work for and Alliance will continue to pursue it.
“May’s local government election is an opportunity for people to make their voices heard in supporting a better deal for those affected by autism.”
