Over the summer months, St. Mary’s Secondary School has been busy creating a brand-new nurture area and sensory space in the school, thanks to the support of Ballina Autism Friendly Town.
The new space is called Lios Ciúin – which translates as “quiet enclosure.” True to its name, it is a tranquil area filled with greenery, built around the theme of The Gates into Belleek Castle. The development features two distinct areas:
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A sensory space designed for students who may need a calm and supportive environment.
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A nurture area, where students can work one-to-one with staff or in small groups.
The project was constructed by the school’s caretaking staff and beautifully designed and fitted out by Julie the Genie. Speaking about the project, Principal Robert O’Reilly said:
“We are delighted to have this space in our school. Since moving into our new building, we always felt something like this was missing. We are thrilled with how it has transformed the school environment and given so much more to our students.”
As part of the development, Ballina Autism Friendly Town kindly donated a number of sensory aids, which were presented to the school recently. Mr. O’Reilly expressed the school’s appreciation, saying:
“We are very grateful to Ballina Autism Friendly Town for their generosity and support. Their contribution has added even more value to this new facility.”
Ballina Autism Friendly Town is currently working towards achieving official Autism Friendly Town accreditation with AsIAm, the national autism charity. This important initiative involves supporting local businesses, schools, and organisations to complete training and become more inclusive. Their vision is simple yet powerful: to ensure that every autistic person has an equal chance to participate fully in our community.