iCare to launch sensory space at Inishowen Agricultural Show
iCare to launch sensory mobile unit at Inishowen Agricultural Show in Carndonagh.
A new sensory space designed to support autistic children, young people, and adults at community events is set to debut at this year’s Inishowen Agricultural Show in Carndonagh.
The initiative is being led by iCare, with the organisation confirming it will provide a staffed sensory area at the Carn Show on July 18th as part of its wider plans to make events across Inishowen more inclusive for autistic families.
Chief Executive Officer of iCare, Magi Livadaris Canny, said the idea developed after recognising that many autistic people are unable to fully enjoy large public events due to sensory overload and anxiety.
“First of all, it’s a mobile sensory space to meet the needs of the autistic community within Inishowen,” she explained.
“Autistic people want to attend these things, but because they are so sensory sensitive, they may get nervous or anxious. Usually, that means the whole family leaves the event.”
“What we want to do is create a space where they can come, relax, recalibrate, and then go back and complete the day with their family instead of having to leave.”
The sensory space will include specialist sensory equipment and will be staffed by trained iCare personnel throughout the show.
Ms Livadaris Canny said the project reflects iCare’s commitment to inclusion and community support.
“This is our way of saying, listen, let’s have a space where our autistic family members can recalibrate and go back and enjoy the rest of their day,” she said.
The newly appointed Chief Executive said conversations with families across Inishowen highlighted the growing need for dedicated quiet spaces at festivals, shows, and large gatherings.
“The more families I met, the more they said the same thing. So we had to step in and do something about it.”
Carndonagh and Clonmany shows have both agreed to give iCare a dedicated area to ensure that a sensory area is directly within the event grounds rather than operating from a vehicle.
“We want to be in sensory areas directly within event grounds rather than operating from a vehicle. We don’t want to be on the sidelines.”
She said additional space is necessary to accommodate both the sensory equipment and the different needs of service users.
“Usually with a child or young adult who needs regulation, there are different pieces of equipment we would use depending on their needs, their age, and what’s appropriate,” she said.
“So we need more space for our staff, our bodies, and our equipment.”
Following the launch at the Carn Show, iCare hopes to expand the initiative to other events throughout Inishowen, including the Clonmany Agricultural Show and local festivals.
“We plan to have this facility at all events within Inishowen,” Ms Livadaris Canny said.
In advance of the launch, iCare is also hosting an Autism Virtual Reality Experience on June 4th and 5th.
The experience, delivered by a specialist group travelling from England, uses VR goggles and sensory gloves to give participants an insight into what it can feel like to live with autism.
For 10 minutes, participants are immersed in an autism simulation designed to help families, educators, and members of the public better understand sensory challenges faced by autistic people.