Cork City’s ‘checklist’ will make matches autism-friendly

League of Ireland leaders, Cork City, are being cheered on for making their home games more inclusive.

The club has a new initiative to make matches more accessible for supporters who have autism. It has launched a matchday checklist, in association with the Cork Association for Autism. The itinerary outlines a supporter’s night, from getting to the stadium to the end of the match.

Carol Walsh, fundraising co-ordinator at the Cork Association for Autism, said that changes to routine can be difficult for people who have autism, particularly if this change is an overwhelming sensory occasion, such as a football match.