Cork Airport ready to shine a big light on autism charity

CORK Airport is to introduce a series of books to make it easier for children with autism and their families while travelling. 

They have named Shine Centre for Autism as their charity for the year and plan to work with them to build on its existing autism initiatives to assist children and families travelling through the airport.

Their plans include providing autism specific books about their journey through the airport starting in the summer season for children with autism who haven’t travelled through an airport before. The books are part of the Suzie series by author Charlotte Olson

Managing director at Cork Airport, Niall MacCarthy said: ‘These books will work as a visual aid and go hand-in-hand with our Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Travelling Through the Airport guidelines that are already in place, and found on our website.’

 He added: ‘This is a charity that resonates with many families across the region, and we are looking forward to supporting them through fundraising initiatives over the coming year.’

 Shine is a voluntary organisation and registered charity, which has worked with children and adolescents with autism since its establishment in 2001.

General manager of Shine, Kieran McAuliffe added: ‘With the rates of autism diagnosis still increasing, the support of Cork Airport will make a real difference.’

The airport has Shine donation boxes located throughout the terminal and at The Loop.