Red Funnel, the Isle of Wight ferry company, has been recognised by the National Autistic Society for the measures it has taken on board to provide an autism-friendly service across all its ships and terminals.
Changes include offering options to embark and disembark the vessels in a quieter method to avoid crowds and help passengers stay calm and enjoy their time onboard.
Families and carers can also book a familiarisation visit, allowing autistic passengers to experience the ship’s surroundings before they consider booking their journey.
Red Funnel’s website includes a journey walkthrough for those travelling from afield. This allows people to prepare for their sensory journey to anticipate what they will see, hear, and feel during their journey.
Ships will now carry autism-friendly first aid kits for any autistic passengers who may need them. . They contain sensory items, such as ear defenders and fidget toys. And specially trained staff will also be able to support families crossing to and from Southampton.
The award comes from the Cross-Solent ferry services dedication to providing an inclusive experience for all passengers, including autistic people.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel said:
“We are dedicated to ensuring that every passenger that steps on board our ships has a pleasant experience from start to finish. As a business that is committed to being fully inclusive, we are continuously updating our facilities and I am pleased that these latest changes will specifically improve travel for those with autism.”
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Christine Flintoft-Smith, Head of Autism Accreditation at the National Autistic Society, said:
“Red Funnel should be exceptionally proud of their achievement. The National Autistic Society’s Autism Friendly Award sets a high standard, which Red Funnel has worked incredibly hard to meet.”
The National Autistic Society’s Autism Friendly Award provides guidance on how businesses can be more inclusive for autistic people. The award focuses on key areas including how to provide customer services, information and environments which are accessible and inclusive for autistic people.
It can be adopted by any customer facing organisation, including businesses in the retail, transport, arts, entertainment and leisure industries.
Good God.
Every dna flawed being now wants to be at the top of the pile, rather than being, as it should, at the bottom.
Normal people should have priority for everything, as they work, pay taxes to keep both the leeches, along with the people born with defects, and although some can’t help their status, they still have all the time in the world as are not important to the running or earning of society, so should not be given priority anything.
You really are a vile creature. The only flawed person here is you because you lack all humanity. Caring and cooperating is what makes human society work.
Quite.
History is littered with neurodiverse people making some of the most dramatic contributions to humanity.
Well. I think we’ve found Adolf’s grandchild here.
For one moment I felt sure we were going to be treated to yet another application for gabion cages, but no, you’ve totally lost it this time.
People like you make me sick. Your comments are neither valid nor welcome. You are the problem with the world, not neurodiverse individuals…who actually often have more to offer society than neurotypical individuals. Perhaps educate yourself before spewing your bile. Absolute madness, that people like you, think that their draconian way of thinking contributes anything to society. Poor excuse for a human being.
Can we request passenger friendly ferries next? Just asking..
crikey i hope those plastic things are made from recycled materials
Can we assume West Yorkshire police never sponsored this scheme…..?
Great idea but missing some key factors. When traveling on a busy ferry with no seating avaliable with an autistic person a quiet area would be more useful than a couple of bits of plastic. When I asked for support finding some quiet space for a child about to explode there was nothing on offer.
I travelled with an autistic child on RF last month, and from being turned away from a chaotic terminal, sailing 90 minutes late, and the ferry being packed due to cancellations, dogs barking, alarms going off, and the queue for snacks being 20 minutes long, nothing on board was helpful in maintaining a neurodiverse passenger, nor was anything advertised or signposted to tell you there was anything available.
Red funnel shouldn’t get rewarded for saving a dishcloth while the house burns down around them.