Support for Local Businesses

Suggestions for Local Business

The NI logo can be displayed by businesses, retail outlets, offices, and hospitality venues who want to demonstrate that they are a “friend” to neurodivergent residents and customers.

Many families of autistic children or other neurodivergent profiles can find dining out or leveraging services uncomfortable and a highly stressful experience. In most cases a child may have sensory processing difficulties and shops/restaurants/service providers are often an over stimulating environment. It can also be challenging waiting too long to be seated, and dealing with unwelcome stares from others due to behavioural differences. We have compiled a few top tips that business can decide to offer to neurodivergent adults and kids that come in wearing our lanyard.

1. Please display our Neurodiversity Ireland sticker to show your support or hang our A4 poster . Please get in touch via our email neurodiversityireland@gmail.com to get these items.
2. Offer the Neurodiversity Ireland sensory box an arrival (we will be providing this to businesses for free, this service two purposes – it makes families with neurodivergent kids feel welcome and it allows the children a sensory calming outlet keeping them happier and entertained.
3. Offer the personalised social story of the experience a customer will likely have in your business, store or restaurant. We will put this together for you and laminate.
4. If it is busy in your store or restaurant, offer that lanyard wearers can skip the queue, this is an option not a promise.
5. If applicable you might find opportunities to offer specific quiet times shopping or eating for neurodivergent people i.e lower music and lighting between 5-6 on Tuesdays. You know your business better than us, so we’re very open to you making your own suggestions that you feel might be helpful to try.
6. If you would like to avail of training we will be sending online modules you can complete online. If you or your staff would like us to source further training, you can contact us at Neurodiversity Sandymount. To read a little more on what neurodivergence looks like in real life situations see here in this a short and helpful article.
7. Welcome Autism Assistance Dogs, they will be wearing their official service jackets displaying their charity provider and typically a ‘do not distract’ request. Autism Assistance dogs have the same legal access as Guide Dogs, but sometimes can be mistaken as they will be with a child and not an adult (as is expected with Guide Dogs). We can provide stickers for your window should you wish to show that you are welcoming to these very special animals.

Lastly, it is really about understanding if a child is being a bit noisy or having a meltdown. Please understand that it will pass and your friendliness in that challenging moment is very helpful to the kids and parents. If another customer is unhappy with anything they feel may be disruptive or unwelcome behaviour from a neurodivergent guest, we ask that you perhaps offer them one of our leaflets explaining about neurodiversity and our ‘Everyones Different’ story.