Courts and prisons sign up to ‘JAM card’ initiative to support autistic people

The just-a-minute card – or JAM card – is available either as a physical item or as a smartphone app that allows users to display text such as “I have autism”, “I have a condition” and “I have a brain injury”.

Nearly three-quarters of Courts Service staff have received JAM card training and the initiative, developed by a Belfast-based social enterprise, is now being piloted at Midlands Prison and Castlerea Prison.

Angela Denning, CEO of the Courts Service, said: “We are well on our way to becoming the first JAM card-friendly civil service organisation in the Republic of Ireland.

“Providing improved customer service for all our court office users is one of the main aims of our modernisation programme. The JAM cards demonstrate our commitment and that of our colleagues across the organisation to improved access to justice for all, as we start our journey of change.”

Maeve Monaghan, CEO of NOW Group, which developed the JAM cards, said: “There are now over 75,000 JAM card users and 1,800 organisations that have trained their staff to offer the best possible customer service to people with hidden disabilities.

“Equitable access to public services is, of course, essential and I welcome the commitment shown by these leading organisations in the justice sector.”

Séamus Beirne, equality, diversity and inclusion lead in the Irish Prison Service, said: “The JAM card initiative will be rolled out throughout the prison estate in the coming months with the Midlands Prison and Castlerea Prison agreeing to pilot the project. Staff dealing with the public will be trained first including those in the visits and search areas.”

Dublin Coroners Court has also signed up to the new initiative. All three organisations have received funding from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to implement the changes.

“We hope this collaborative approach will encourage many other public service organisations to get involved and we wish them well on their JAM card journey,” Ms Denning added.