Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 24 January 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism

Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed)

Ms Angela Locke-Reilly:

It was also a lovely place to work. Even in the building, because everything was resourced, it did not feel like people going into a clinic when they went in.

The places where I have gone to more recently for services for my son have been like primary care centres and that sort of thing or service centres. It feels like going into a hospital. The second I roll Jacob's wheelchair in there, he is holding on to doorframes because he does not want to go in. In contrast, there were giant teddy bears in the place in Mayo when we went in. It was called the safari club. It had lions, tigers and zebras and everything was colourful. It was a very welcoming and respectful place. It felt like there was respect for the children and that they were little human beings and not patients.