Leading outdoor education charity SHARE Discovery Village is the latest business to sign up to the ‘Just a Minute’ (JAM) initiative, training staff and displaying signs to ensure that JAM Card carrying customers are assured a positive and enjoyable experience.
What is the JAM Card Initiative
The award-winning JAM Card initiative was created by participants at the social enterprise NOW group based in Belfast. The card allows people with a learning difficulty, autism or communication barrier tell others they need ‘Just A Minute’ of patience – discreetly and easily. Those with a communication barrier are often reluctant or unable to tell others about their condition. JAM Card allows this to happen in a simple, effective non-verbal manner.
JAM Card was originally developed for those with learning disabilities and difficulties. However, it can be used by anyone with a communication barrier. For instance, JAM Card can be used by people with Asperger’s or autism. It can also be used by those who have a brain injury and people who otherwise feel self-conscious about their ability to communicate effectively when engaging with others.
SHARE Discovery Village CEO Peter McEvoy said “I am delighted that SHARE has signed up to this initiative. Our ethos is all about being inclusive and ensuring that people of all abilities can enjoy a range of outdoor adventure, art and educational experiences, so it is only natural that we would want to improve our accessibility credentials even further. This wonderful initiative will improve our customer experience by ensuring all of our staff are trained and confident in dealing with customers who may have a communication barrier”
Diane Hill, Director of Business Development at NOW Group said; “There are currently over 22,000 JAM Card users throughout UK and Ireland with the number of organisations joining us growing on a daily basis. We are delighted to welcome Ireland’s biggest outdoor education centre on-board, which is already well known for its commitment to being accessible to all. We would love to hear from other Fermanagh businesses that would be interested in working with us”.
How To Get Involved
To get involved in the Just A Minute initiative, go to NOW Groups website: NOW Group.
