New sensory room at resource centre is a great step forward for Tullow

A NEW sensory facility aimed at supporting children with autism and ADHD opened its doors in Tullow last week. Forward Steps FRC (Family Resource Centre) officially launched its sensory room on Tuesday 13 May, supported by funding from Carlow County Council’s Local Enhancement Fund.

The opening ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including Adam Harris, CEO of autism advocacy group AsIAm, Áine Gahan, chair of Social Inclusion Forum Carlow, and Fiona Kinsella, a parent and trustee of Forward Steps.

Molly Kirwan, project manager for Forward Steps, explained that the room was developed in response to needs identified by a peer support group for parents of children with additional needs.

“The purpose of the sensory room is twofold. One is to support Little Steps, our service for early years. And secondly, we’re going to open it to the community as a drop-in facility,” said Ms Kirwan. “Like most sensory rooms, it has a night sky, little pods for children to relax in; it’s a space where there are different sensory uses for children.” 

The facility is already being utilised by the centre’s music therapist and play therapist, as well as the Little Steps early years service. According to Ms Kirwan, the community drop-in clinic is expected to become operational very soon.

The sensory room represents a significant addition to local support services for families of children with additional needs in the area and, as Ms Kirwan explained, helps Tullow establish itself as an autism-friendly town.