AMBITIOUS plans to make Glasgow the first autism-friendly city centre in the UK have taken a step forward.

 

For the local authority will host an event in the City Chambers on April 24 which is the next step in delivering its aim of making Glasgow city centre autism-friendly.

 

Currently, the city centre attracts around 55million visits every year, and is one of the UK’s top destinations for work, leisure and shopping. Just over 1 per cent of the UK’s population are effected by autism, and ensuring that the city centre is autism-friendly will further underline its reputation as an inclusive and family-friendly location.

 

The council will be working with the business community, Autism Network Scotland and other organisations to develop these proposals, with an initial focus on high footfall locations such as shopping centres, transport hubs, museums, cinemas and key operational staff across the city centre.

 

A spokesman for council said: “These proposals have a basic aim: simple changes that can allow autistic people, and their families or carers, to have the most enjoyable day they can in Glasgow city centre. We look forward to working with our project partners and making Glasgow the first place in the UK to have its entire city centre an autism-friendly location.”

 

Lynsey Stewart, Network Advisor at Autism Network Scotland, added: “Autism Network Scotland is delighted to be supporting the initiative to make Glasgow an Autism Friendly City.We believe this worthwhile project will make a real difference enabling those on the autism spectrum to confidently access community infrastructure such as shopping centres, tourist attractions and public transport.”

 

The event will allow those attending including representatives from city centre museums, transport hubs and businesses, the opportunity to deepen their understanding of how autism can impact on a visit to the city centre, how simple steps to improve accessibility to the city centre can be taken, and the benefits of improving accessibility.