Programme Delivery Officer and Project Coordinator Gillian Steele pictured with staff from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s radiology departments who recently received their Autism NI Impact Awards.
Radiology departments within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust are now officially ‘autism friendly’ after achieving Autism NI’s Impact Award.
Staff from Causeway, Whiteabbey, Mid Ulster, Antrim and Breast Imaging recently took part in the programme, which is described as the ‘gold standard’ in autism training.
As part of the initiative, Autism Champions developed and implemented an action plan for each facility to help create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for autistic patients.
Jayne Colville, the Northern Trust’s Public Health Autism Co-ordinator, said:
“This is an incredible achievement for these services, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the staff for their time and commitment.
“This work will benefit autistic service users coming through radiology, which will make a huge difference to them and their families.
“Further sites within the Trust are now on their own journey towards achieving the Impact Award and we hope to share further good news about this in the near future.”
Christine Greene, Breast Imaging Assistant Clinical Services Manager, added:
“I am very proud that our staff have achieved this great award. We were all delighted to have the opportunity to learn more about Autism and how to make our services more accessible and autism-friendly.”
At a recent celebration event Programme Delivery Officer and Project Coordinator Gillian Steele presented staff with their Autism NI Impact Award accreditation plaques on behalf of Autism NI.