
Interview: Elaine Harris
Elaine Harris is a yoga teacher who founded The Yoga Shed in Co. Wicklow in 2014, which serves to offer accessible and affordable yoga to everybody. Elaine is highly trained to share yoga therapy with children with special needs and is also a certified pregnancy yoga teacher. She is passionate about spreading awareness about the benefits of therapeutic yoga for children with special needs and she has practiced yoga with many children with Down Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia, Cerebral Palsy, Learning Difficulties, physical disabilities and many other special needs.
Elaine’s new picture book Listen to the Sky takes readers, both children and adults, on a journey towards relaxation, with beautiful illustrations by Emily Veale. We had a chat with Elaine about the book, how yoga can help children with autism and special needs, and how autistic people can cope with stress and anxiety.
What is Listen to the Sky and who is it for?
“Listen to the Sky” is a unique limited edition hardback book taking children on a journey towards relaxation. I wrote the book based on my work as an Irish yoga teacher with experience teaching hundreds of children across Ireland, the UK and Australia. The book is beautifully illustrated by Emily Veale, a talented Irish artist, using delicate hand collages created from found and recycled materials. Emily and I have created the book in response to the demand for parents to have access to yoga and relaxation tools to use at home with their children and also in response to requests from teachers to create a sense of relaxation in the classroom. The book has been translated into Irish by Claire Dunne and Chris McDowell and in Irish the book is called “Éist leis an Spéir”. The guided relaxation is based on the ancient practise of yoga nidra or “yogic sleep” helping the child to become deeply relaxed by developing breath and body awareness and using meditative visualisations that help children to find inner peace and calm. The book can be used at any time of the day or night to help children to relax, connect with their inner self and find peaceful moments. The book has been designed and printed in Ireland and is published by The Yoga Shed and available to purchase online at theyogashed.ie or from selected stockists.
These days guided relaxation is very popular online through apps. How does it work as a book?
While apps can be very useful they usually involve a device (like a smartphone or tablet) giving off a blue light that can have a stimulating effect on the brain. It is so important to take breaks from technology and screen time and especially when considering the right conditions for relaxation, meditation or preparing for sleep. I think reading the physical book to a child can be such a special bonding time between a child and their parent/carer. The child can get comfortable in bed or on the couch with a blanket, eye pillow. Mum or Dad might use a scented candle like lavender or incense to help stimulate the relaxation response even more. You can set the scene and make a little relaxation ritual. They may be an energetic shift between the parent and child after the yoga nidra, both may feel calmer, more relaxed, and more connected to each other after the shared experience.
The book is based on yoga nidra or ‘yogic sleep’. Can you tell me about this?
Yoga Nidra is a practice of deep relaxation similar to the state just before we fall asleep. Deep relaxation can be seen as one of the most important parts of the yoga practice. It offers the chance for the parasympathetic nervous system to be turned on, stimulating the relaxation response, allowing the muscles and organs to relax, tension to release, healthy breathing patterns to be developed and time for the benefits of the asana practice to be absorbed wholly. The practice of Yoga Nidra can include a guided awareness of the body parts and observation of tension and gradual relaxation of each body part. Deep pressure or joint tractions (e.g. gentle pull of leg, toe, fingers etc.) may be used to aid relaxation depending on the individual child. A guided visualisation may be used describing different scenes, imagery and symbols. Sound may also be used to aid relaxation (the use of mantra or playing relaxing music). Yoga Nidra helps to access a different level of consciousness, relieve tension and anxiety and find a meditative sense of stillness and inner peace and connection. It is said that 30 mins of yoga nidra is the equivalent to 4 hours deep sleep.
How did the illustrations by Emily Veale influence you when writing the book?
I had written a rough draft of “Listen to the Sky” and asked Emily if she would be interested to illustrate the book. To begin with it was a slow process and it took a few months before Emily had created handmade collages using tiny fragments of materials and paper she had found and collected. Each image was painstakingly put together to create and the results were beautiful. She has a very unique style of illustration. Even though the draft text had inspired Emily’s creations, then the collages began to reciprocate and inspire the words. The images are meditative in and of themselves and they began to influence the imagery in the guided visualisation for children. I rewrote the text inspired by the images and then we began to work on the physical layout of the book helped along by graphic designer Lynda McDonald. We sat with Lynda and worked through every detail of how we wanted the book to look. Lynda scanned the original collage images and worked on the design and layout of every page offering the chance to make different changes every step of the way. The finished book is the result of a collaborative process where ideas evolved along the way.
How does yoga differ for children with special needs? Is it taught any differently?
The beauty of yoga is that is so accessible to everyone in that it can be adapted and modified to meet the needs of absolutely anyone regardless of age and ability. I have trained directly under Sonia Sumar and Jo Manuel, two of the most internationally renowned senior yoga teachers working with children with special needs. From these trainings I have been able to tailor individual and group yoga programs for children with a variety of special needs.
It is important to look at the particular child and what yoga can offer them in terms of working with their nervous system, improving their breathing, respiratory system, connection to their breath and their sense of body awareness, spatial awareness, balance, co-ordination, muscle tone, strength and flexibility, cognition, focus, concentration and the ability to process instructions. Depending on the needs of the child the yoga session will be structured to respond to how the child is presenting. It may be a case that the child is very energetic and might benefit from more grounding and earthing asana (yoga poses) or the child might present with low energy or be quite lethargic and we may need to do a more invigorating session. But in all cases we will work with the breath, helping the child to connect to their breath and to breath properly in and out through the nose if possible and work on correcting any reverse breathing practices or shallow breathing which can lead to tension, panic and anxiety. We will teach a range of breathing practices to help balance the nervous system.
We may use mantra or sound work which is so useful to help the child to connect inwardly, focus and also can have huge benefits in terms of expanding the breath capacity and developing speech. Then we would have a balanced asana sequence of the yoga poses which move the spine in many ways including backbends, forward bends, twists, lateral stretches, inversions and balances. The asanas have amazing physical benefits for the body but also improve cognition, spatial awareness motor planning, co-ordination and balance. As we move the body we are creating new neurological pathways and connections. The session will allow time for a period of relaxation at the end where the child can rest comfortably and find a sense of stillness. During the relaxation we might use calming music or a guided relaxation. Deep pressure or some basic massage techniques might also be useful to help the child to relax deeper.
What are the benefits of yoga for children with autism and special needs?
Yoga can have enormous benefits for everyone including children with autism and other special needs. Yoga is an ancient science that works on the whole system of the body to bring about a sense of relaxation, ease and comfort in the body and union with the mind and the spirit. Yoga is working to balance the nervous system helping us to switch from the sympathetic nervous or fight and flight mode to the parasympathetic nervous system also known as rest and digest. Many children with autism can have a heightened nervous system, the senses are heightened and sensitive and the nervous system can spend long periods of the day in the stress response which has a physical emotional and mental impact on that child. Encouraging the child to work with their breath will have a calming effect on the system and encourage more oxygen into the body and allow for the systems of the body to reset. The mantra or sound work can be very enjoyable for the children and help them to connect to themselves. It can improve the length of their breath and also can encourage speech development in non-verbal children. The use of the sound “om” can be used as a useful cue for children who have difficulty processing instructions to know when to move their bodies. As I mentioned the asana practice has huge benefits in terms of developing strength, flexibility and balance, organ function but moreover for children with autism it can improve their sense of body awareness, offer sensory feedback for the vestibular system, improve proprioception and spatial awareness, co-ordination issues and self-regulation. The whole yoga sequences leads to a period of relaxation for the child where all the benefits can be absorbed helping the child to enjoy some time to restore the nervous system and rest with the whole body relaxed.
Autistic children often have to cope with anxiety. What advice would you have for parents trying to help their child prevent and cope with anxiety?
I would suggest introducing the child to yoga and meditation. Helping them to understand their breath and giving them the tools of working with their breath to help them to find inner calm. The breath and meditation are amazing tools for restoring the natural balance of the nervous system and helping to slow the thoughts down and become aware of the thoughts that are causing the anxiety. Developing or correcting breathing patterns is so useful in preventing anxiety as often if a child is not breathing properly they will not be getting enough air into the body and this can make them feel panicky and trigger anxiety. Deep breaths into the belly, noticing the belly rise as you breath in and the belly fall as you breath out can help to calm an anxious mind. If parents can find a yoga teacher in their area who works with children or do some research on yoga, breathing and relaxation techniques.
Some of the children that I have worked with have had difficulty sleeping or insomnia which in turn can feed into the cycle of anxiety. A yoga nidra, such as “Listen to the Sky” can be useful before bed to help the mind to switch off and relax the body to prepare for sleep. These tools are also really useful for parents to use themselves to offer tools for self-care in replenishing themselves to have the strength, energy and patience to help their children. The book can also be used by the child on their own. They can read it alone and look through the pictures and practise guided visualisation themselves. Or they could practice with a friend taking turns to read it to each other. The book can be a tool that a child can take anywhere with them and use it whenever the need it. It can be used in the classroom to help all of the students to find a few peaceful moments in the day. Some teachers have picked a regular afternoon to use the book getting all of the children to lie on the floor and practice the visualisation. The illustrations and imagery in the book are meditative and so children might enjoy the visual aspect of the book something they may not get with an app. We have put a video recording of a reading of the book on Facebook so this can be used in situations where it may not possible to read the book, for example, if a parent is driving they could turn the audio on for the children in the car.
Do you have any advice for a person with autism coming home from work or school this evening after a stressful day?
My advice is to find whatever works to help you unwind after a stressful day. It might be yoga, meditation, a walk or a run in the fresh air, reading, hobbies or a bath. Taking a few short minutes to practice breath awareness or meditating on the breath can offer a chance to step back from the stressors of the day, observe your mind and allow a sense of relaxation to develop.
A breath awareness practice might look like this:
“Sit nice and comfortable with your spine tall
Close your eyes and allow your breath to gentle flow in through your nose and out through your nose
Notice any sounds that you can hear around you
What is the furthest away sound you can hear?
Notice your body and any sensations
See if you can relax and soften your body a little more
Become aware of your breath as you gently breathe in and out through the nose
Can you notice the rhythm of your breath?
How long is your inhale and how long is your exhale?
What is the speed of your breath? Are you breathing fast or slow?
Can you soften your belly now and begin to breathe into the belly
Notice how the belly rises as you breathe in and notice how the belly falls as you breathe out.
Take a few breaths in and out of the belly
Can you deepen your breath now
Maybe you can send the breath from the belly to the ribs?
Feel the ribs expand as you breathe in and the ribs draw in as your breath out
Notice the space in your ribs now
Take a few breaths like this
Maybe you can send the breath from the belly to the ribs all the way to the chest now
Feel the chest broaden and collar bones lift as you breathe in
Allow your exhale to start from the chest now, emptying the air from the chest, the ribs and the belly
Take a few breaths at your own pace
Notice how much deeper your breath has become
Notice any effect on your mind
Maybe your thoughts have slowed down
Slowly allow your breath to return to normal
Gently open your eyes again
Notice how you feel now after the practice.
Listen to the Sky is available to buy from the Yogashed’s website here. Its Irish translation, Éist leis an Spéir, is available to buy here.
by AsIAm.ie - 19 November, 2018
Last updated by AsIAm.ie - November 19, 2018
in Anxiety, Coping Skills, Featured News, Interviews, Mental Health, Social Anxiety, Stress

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AsIAm CEO Addresses Oireachtas Committee on Public Petitions on Mandatory Teacher Training
by AsIAm.ie - 25 June, 2019
Last Wednesday 19th June AsIAm Founder and CEO Adam Harris addressed the Oireachtas Committee on ...[...]

Our Week Online – 16/6/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 16 June, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online, and what a wet week it's been. Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride has announced ...[...]

Adam O’Brien: Spectrum
by AsIAm.ie - 14 June, 2019
October, the month of Halloween, is a month associated with monsters, moonlight, and ...[...]

AsIAm CEO Addresses Oireachtas Joint Committee Consultation on Reduced Timetables
by AsIAm.ie - 13 June, 2019
Today AsIAm's Founder and CEO Adam Harris addressed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education a...[...]

Autism ID Card Announcement
by AsIAm.ie - 12 June, 2019
Autism ID Cards Update: Applications for Autism ID Cards will open on 31st July. Design has been...[...]

Our Week Online – 1/6/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 2 June, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online. This is a bumper edition for the bank holiday - sit back and enjoy. ...[...]

William Florish: “Here’s to the Invisible Kids”
by Eleanor Walsh - 30 May, 2019
Here at AsIAm we've been inspired this week by William Florish, who just graduated from Transitio...[...]

Our Week Online – 12/5/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 12 May, 2019
Hello, and welcome to Our Week Online. This week Ireland became the second country in the world t...[...]

Our Week Online – 5/5/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 5 May, 2019
Hello, and welcome to Our Week Online. The autism community has made it through another World Aut...[...]

Minister for Education Reminds Schools of Obligations to Students with SEN Following Enough Is Enough Protest
by Eleanor Walsh - 1 May, 2019
Yesterday Minister for Education Joe McHugh TD published a statement reminding schools and patron...[...]

Kevin Hanly – The Achievements That Can Be Made With Being Autistic!
by AsIAm.ie - 30 April, 2019
As we come to the end of World Autism Month 2019, autistic advocate and Tipperary GAA supporter K...[...]

AsIAm to Join Enough Is Enough Protest on Lack of School Places for Autistic Students at Leinster House
by AsIAm.ie - 25 April, 2019
In light of the recent publication of our Invisible Children report on School Absence and Withdra...[...]

Joan McDonald – Introduction to Autistic Paddies
by AsIAm.ie - 24 April, 2019
You may have met Autistic Paddies at our last National Autism Conference in October, the Face...[...]

Our Week Online – 21/4/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 21 April, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online. Happy Easter, and Bank Holiday Weekend! If you need a break away from...[...]

Research Opportunity: Barriers experienced by autistic adults accessing primary healthcare in Ireland
by AsIAm.ie - 16 April, 2019
AsIAm.ie is delighted to share this research opportunity with our readers. If you are interested ...[...]

Our Week Online – 14/4/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 14 April, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online. We're about halfway through World Autism Month, and it can be long. R...[...]

Explainer: What Happened in Senator Devine’s Commencement Matter on SEN Schools Provision in the Seanad?
by AsIAm.ie - 12 April, 2019
On Thursday morning, Senator Máire Devine submitted a Commencement Matter to Seanad Éireann on th...[...]

Autism ID Card Consultation
by AsIAm.ie - 11 April, 2019
In AsIAm we aim to make society universally accessible for autistic people. This would be a socie...[...]

Explainer: What Happened in Senator Ó Ríordáin’s Commencement Matter on School Places in the Seanad?
by Eleanor Walsh - 10 April, 2019
On Tuesday afternoon, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin submitted a Commencement Matter to Seanad Éireann...[...]

So You Want to Celebrate World Autism Month
by Eleanor Walsh - 8 April, 2019
April is World Autism Month! That means many people will be talking about autism in the media, in...[...]

Our Week Online – 7/4/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 7 April, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online, and the first week of World Autism Month. This series has proved that...[...]

Explainer: What Happens Now after the Dáil’s Autism Motion?
by Gáibhin McGranaghan - 4 April, 2019
On Tuesday evening, Sinn Féin used their Private Members’ time to submit a motion to establish an...[...]

Majority of Irish Support Autistic People in Jobs, Schools and the Community, but Don’t Understand Autism Well, survey finds
by Gáibhin McGranaghan - 2 April, 2019
Irish people show strong positive support for autistic people in schools, employment and society ...[...]

What is an Autism Strategy & What’s Happening Tomorrow with Sinn Féin’s Private Member’s Motion?
by Gáibhin McGranaghan - 1 April, 2019
Autism Strategy Tomorrow evening, Sinn Féin will be submitting a Private Member's Bill to establ...[...]

Our Week Online – 31/3/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 31 March, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online. Today happens to be AsIAm's fifth birthday! So it would be rude not t...[...]

Resource Pack for Primary and Secondary Schools 2019
by AsIAm.ie - 29 March, 2019
Calling all schools, teachers, and educators! April is World Autism Month, and we have developed ...[...]

SuperValu and AsIAm Inclusive Communities Award
by AsIAm.ie - 29 March, 2019
AsIAm and SuperValu have a strong partnership in supporting communities to become autism-friendly...[...]

Our Week Online – 24/3/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 24 March, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online. The countdown to April has begun, it's a really important month for A...[...]

What We Learned – Parent Wellness and Self-Care
by Eleanor Walsh - 20 March, 2019
Last week we held our Community Support event in Tipperary on Parent Well-Being and Self-Care. Th...[...]

Free SuperValu Home Delivery to the Autism Community for April!
by AsIAm.ie - 20 March, 2019
AsIAm are delighted to partner with SuperValu, the first food retailer in Ireland to introduce Au...[...]

Our Week Online – 17/3/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 17 March, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online. In what has been a very busy news week, we've picked out autism and d...[...]

Interview – Kate Heffernan and Aisling O’Gorman, Peat @ The Ark
by AsIAm.ie - 12 March, 2019
The Ark Cultural Centre for Children presents Peat, a brand new theatre show for ages 8+ by Kate ...[...]

Our Week Online – 10/3/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 10 March, 2019
Hello, and welcome to Our Week Online. This week we celebrated Pancake Tuesday, World Book Day, a...[...]

Advice on Education Plans ~ AsIAm Explains
by AsIAm.ie - 5 March, 2019
In December of last year, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teacher’s Unio...[...]

Press Release: AsIAm Advice on Education Plans
by AsIAm.ie - 5 March, 2019
In December 2018, it was brought to AsIAm’s attention that the Association of Secondary Teachers ...[...]

Our Week Online – 3/3/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 3 March, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online - because these days, media is all about the signal boost. In the U...[...]

Help Raise Funds For AsIAm By Taking Part In The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon 2020
by AsIAm.ie - 26 February, 2019
Help Raise Funds For AsIAm By Taking Part In The VHI Women's Mini Marathon 2020 Date: ...[...]

Our Week Online – 24/2/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 24 February, 2019
Welcome to Our Week Online. Did anyone else struggle with knowing what to wear in the sudden warm...[...]

Community Support Update and FAQs
by AsIAm.ie - 22 February, 2019
We want to give you all an update on our Community Support seminars so far! We've held five event...[...]

Interview: Dr. Linda O’Rourke and Elzaan Marnane of Core Clinical
by AsIAm.ie - 21 February, 2019
It's no secret that meaningful supports and services for autistic people in Ireland are tough to ...[...]

Call Out: Complete Our Survey on Adult Autism Diagnosis
by AsIAm.ie - 21 February, 2019
In partnership with Core Clinical, we invite autistic people with a formal adult diagnosis of aut...[...]

What We Learned – Autism and Play: Promises and Possibilities
by AsIAm.ie - 21 February, 2019
On Monday evening we held our Community Support event in Co. Limerick on Autism and Play. We ...[...]

Are You Ready to create your Autism Friendly Town?
by AsIAm.ie - 19 February, 2019
AsIAm and SuperValu were proud to partner with the community of Clonakilty in creating Ireland’s ...[...]

Our Week Online – 17/2/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 17 February, 2019
This is Our Week Online. We hope you all had a Happy Valentine’s Day (and an even better Galentin...[...]

Interview: Julie McCabe
by AsIAm.ie - 16 February, 2019
For those of you who watched the most recent episode of Ireland’s Got Talent last Saturday at...[...]

Noel Ward and Michael McEnery’s April Ultra-Marathon in aid of AsIAm!
by AsIAm.ie - 14 February, 2019
Autism Awareness Month is coming up soon in April, and two men are planning to give it their all ...[...]

A Right to Earn a Living ~ AsIAm Explains
by AsIAm.ie - 12 February, 2019
Last week, Education and Skills Minister Joe McHugh TD stated that his Department would be appeal...[...]

Our Week Online – 10/2/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 10 February, 2019
This is Our Week Online. Sit down, why don't you? A quarter of the disabled population of Irel...[...]

What We Learned – Community Support: Puberty and Sexuality
by AsIAm.ie - 8 February, 2019
Last night we held our Puberty and Sexuality Community Support seminar in Co. Wicklow, and we're ...[...]

Being a True Friend by Rachael Donohoe
by AsIAm.ie - 7 February, 2019
Here at AsIAm it's important to us to champion the work of the autistic community. That's why we ...[...]

Orán Timoney – Special Award Winner at BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition!
by AsIAm.ie - 5 February, 2019
We're very proud to say that Orán Timoney, a member of our first Youth Leadership Team and now an...[...]

Our Week Online – 3/2/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 3 February, 2019
It's Sunday, and February is here which means, whether it feels like it or not, Spring has come t...[...]

Call Out: Complete Our Surveys on School Places and Exclusion/Withdrawal
by AsIAm.ie - 30 January, 2019
As the national autistic advocacy organisation, AsIAm receives a huge volume of messages from fam...[...]

What We Learned – Community Support: Independent Living and Housing
by AsIAm.ie - 29 January, 2019
Last week we held our first 2019 Community Support event in Ratoath, County Meath, on the topic o...[...]

Our Week Online – 27/1/2019
by Eleanor Walsh - 27 January, 2019
It's 2019, and welcome to Our Week Online. How are you doing with your New Year's Resolutions? If...[...]

“It’s Not A Disorder”: Minister Joe McHugh Challenges Himself and TDs on Inclusive Language around Autism
by AsIAm.ie - 23 January, 2019
Following constructive and insightful discussions and correspondence with AsIAm in recent week...[...]

Interview: Daniel Kennedy
by AsIAm.ie - 22 January, 2019
Art is a natural fit for many people on the autism spectrum. Whether it's done as a hobby or a fo...[...]

Constructive Meeting between AsIAm & ASTI Representatives
by AsIAm.ie - 21 January, 2019
Representatives from both AsIAm and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) met last...[...]

AsIAm Condemns the ‘Pick & Choose’ Approach to Meeting Students’ Needs from the ASTI & TUI
by AsIAm.ie - 19 December, 2018
Sign our petition calling for the ASTI & TUI to revise their advice here! AsIAm, I...[...]

Our Week Online – 16/12/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 16 December, 2018
Welcome to the last Our Week Online of 2018. This will be our last round up of the year because w...[...]

Kelli Twomey: “This is ME”
by AsIAm.ie - 10 December, 2018
Kelli Twomey, a mother of an autistic child, sent us this poem from her child's perspective, and ...[...]

Our Week Online – 9/12/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 9 December, 2018
Welcome to Our Week Online. Don't know what it is about December, but the autism and disability s...[...]

We Need an Inclusive, Measurable Autism Strategy
by AsIAm.ie - 6 December, 2018
AsIAm has said the publication by the Department of Health of two reports relating to autism must...[...]

Our Week Online – 2/12/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 2 December, 2018
Welcome to Our Week Online. This is the biggest roundup so far, but it was a big week! Go and boi...[...]

National Autism Conference 2018 Speaker Presentations
by AsIAm.ie - 26 November, 2018
It's been a month since our National Autism Conference in October, and we've received wonderful f...[...]

Our Week Online – 25/11/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 25 November, 2018
Welcome to Our Week Online, a round up of autism and disability related news around the world, ar...[...]

Kevin Hanly: Living With Autism at Christmas Time
by AsIAm.ie - 23 November, 2018
The end of November is near, and while there's still a few weeks left until Christmas, preparing ...[...]

Our Week Online – 18/11/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 18 November, 2018
Welcome to Our Week Online, probably the only news roundup this week that doesn't include Brexit....[...]

Our Week Online – 11/11/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 11 November, 2018
It's Sunday, winter has definitely arrived, and there's only six weeks to Christmas! Welcome to O...[...]

Community Support – Autism in the Home, University College Cork, Cork
by AsIAm.ie - 6 November, 2018
AsIAm is hosting twenty four Community Support Seminar talks around the country over the next twe...[...]

Community Support – Autism and the Law, RCSI, Dublin
by AsIAm.ie - 6 November, 2018
AsIAm is hosting twenty four Community Support Seminar talks around the country over the next twe...[...]

Our Week Online – 4/11/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 4 November, 2018
It's Sunday, and welcome to Our Week Online. Here's the internet's tricks and treats from the pas...[...]

Interview: Nicholas Ryan-Purcell
by Eleanor Walsh - 2 November, 2018
Nicholas Ryan-Purcell is an autistic filmmaker from Co. Tipperary. His latest film is called This...[...]

Our Week Online – 28/10/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 28 October, 2018
It's Sunday, Halloween is almost here, Ireland is (hopefully) done with voting for the year, and ...[...]

Call Out: NCSE Consultations on Special Schools and Classes
by AsIAm.ie - 24 October, 2018
Our survey on special schools and classes is now live and open to the public! If you're a school ...[...]

Autism Friendly Santa School
by AsIAm.ie - 24 October, 2018
*Due to the huge amount of inquiries we have had about our Autism Friendly Santa Training, we...[...]

Community Support Survey 2018
by AsIAm.ie - 23 October, 2018
We at AsIAm invite the autism community in Ireland to take part in our new Community Support Surv...[...]

Research Opportunity: Building Inclusive Healthcare for People with Autism, NUI Galway
by AsIAm.ie - 23 October, 2018
AsIAm.ie is delighted to share this research opportunity with our users. If you are interested in...[...]

Our Week Online – 21/10/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 21 October, 2018
It's Sunday, and welcome to Our Week Online. The AsIAm team are having a well-deserved rest after...[...]

Laragh Smith: My Experience of an Inclusive Community
by AsIAm.ie - 19 October, 2018
The theme of this year's National Autism Conference is "Building Inclusive Communities". Laragh, ...[...]

Update: National Autism Conference 2018
by AsIAm.ie - 18 October, 2018
AsIAm National Autism Conference is just two days away! Our team are putting the final details to...[...]

Meet Our New Community Support Officer!
by AsIAm.ie - 17 October, 2018
Last month, we introduced you to our new Information Officer, Eleanor Walsh. Today, we would like...[...]

National Autism Conference 2018 – Autism Welcoming Venue and Experience
by AsIAm.ie - 16 October, 2018
National Autism Conference is less than a week away, in the Grand Hotel, Malahide, Dublin, this S...[...]

A First For Ireland With Clonakilty Becoming Ireland’s First Autism Friendly Town
by AsIAm.ie - 16 October, 2018
SuperValu and AsIAm partner with the entire community of Clonakilty to secure full Autism Friendl...[...]

Our Week Online – 14/10/2018
by Eleanor Walsh - 14 October, 2018
Here's a new series on the website where we round up some of the best writing on autism, disabili...[...]

Stephen Shore Visits AsIAm and DCU
by AsIAm.ie - 5 October, 2018
Last week AsIAm was honoured to welcome Dr. Stephen Shore, noted autistic academic and speaker, t...[...]

The Clonakilty Commitment – Training Week!
by AsIAm.ie - 3 October, 2018
The town of Clonakilty in Co. Cork has undertaken a commitment to become fully Autism Friendly – ...[...]

What Strategies can I use for my Non-Verbal Child to ease their Transition?
by Emer Ring - 28 September, 2018
All autistic children experience challenges in communication. While many might have an extensive ...[...]

BUY YOUR COPY: Mary Immaculate publishes a handbook for educators – “Autism from the Inside Out”
by AsIAm.ie - 21 September, 2018
AsIAm would like to thank Dr Emer Ring and her colleagues from Mary Immaculate College (MIC)'s De...[...]

Meet Our New Information Officer!
by AsIAm.ie - 21 September, 2018
AsIAm is delighted to welcome two new members of staff to our team this autumn! Michael O'Flan...[...]

How Can I Apply for a Special Needs Assistant (SNA)?
by Emer Ring - 20 September, 2018
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has just completed a review of the Special Need...[...]

Autism Experience Exhibition in Clonakilty on Thursday 27th September!
by Adam Harris - 20 September, 2018
SuperValu and AsIAm.ie will host a unique exhibition which will enable the people of Clonakilty t...[...]

How can My Child Be Supported if They’re Having a Meltdown?
by Emer Ring - 20 September, 2018
Research continues to tell us that we must view ‘challenging behaviour’ as a way in which the chi...[...]

How can I Explain My Child’s Sensory Needs to their New Teacher?
by Emer Ring - 19 September, 2018
Your child’s teacher may already be aware of autistic children's sensory needs. However, if your ...[...]

What’s an Individual Education Plan (IEP) & how can I Set One Up for My Child?
by Emer Ring - 18 September, 2018
An Individual Education Plan, often referred to as an ‘IEP’, is a plan to support your child’s le...[...]

What can I Do if my Child Doesn’t Want to go Back to School?
by Emer Ring - 14 September, 2018
If your child doesn’t want to go back to school, it's important to talk about the reasons why the...[...]

How can I help Ease My Child Back into the School Routine from Home?
by Emer Ring - 11 September, 2018
We all struggle getting back into our regular routine after holidays and for autistic children, w...[...]

What Resources are Available to Support Families on their Transitions in School?
by Emer Ring - 7 September, 2018
There is a wide range of resources available to support parents and children on this exciting jou...[...]

Is it a Good Idea to Arrange a Meeting with their Teacher? If so, What Should I Ask?
by Emer Ring - 4 September, 2018
It is a really good idea and absolutely essential to arrange a meeting with your child’s teacher,...[...]

Are there Things I can do at Home to Prepare my Child for Starting School?
by Emer Ring - 31 August, 2018
Parents and families are preparing their children for school from the day they are born and not j...[...]

What are the Most Important Things to Consider when Choosing a School for my Child?
by Emer Ring - 29 August, 2018
Starting school is one of the biggest events in both a family member's and a child's life. All be...[...]

Kevin Hanley: Back to Routine!
by AsIAm.ie - 27 August, 2018
Returning to routine after a break can be a tough one to get your head around, especially after a...[...]

AsIAm CEO Speaks before the Oireachtas Education Committee
by AsIAm.ie - 27 June, 2018
AsIAm Founder and CEO Adam Harris called on the Department of Education to deliver training to te...[...]

Melissa Mooney: Autism is a Superpower!
by AsIAm.ie - 19 June, 2018
Melissa, a young woman living with Asperger's, talks about her experiences with her autism and ab...[...]

AsIAm official charity partner at the forthcoming Arsenal vs Chelsea match
by AsIAm.ie - 13 June, 2018
It was with great pride and excitement that we announce today that AsIAm will be charity partner ...[...]

NCSE’s Review of Special Needs Assistants Explained
by AsIAm.ie - 31 May, 2018
This week, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) launched its review into the Special...[...]

AsIAm National Autism Conference 2018: “Building Inclusive Communities”
by AsIAm.ie - 6 May, 2018
We are delighted to make the tickets available for our 3rd Annual AsIAm National Autism Conferenc...[...]

Interview: Jody O’Neill – Autism & Entrepreneurship
by AsIAm.ie - 4 May, 2018
Jody O’Neill is a young self-advocate attending Castletroy College in County Limerick. She has se...[...]


Building an Autism-Friendly Environment
by AsIAm.ie - 23 April, 2018
Day #22 of our #AsIAmChallenge for World Autism Day is about helping prepare for an autism-friend...[...]

Aisling Foran: Listening & Social Groups
by AsIAm.ie - 20 April, 2018
WHAT IS THE TRIPLE A ALLIANCE? Triple A Alliance was set up in 2002 by a group of parents who wa...[...]

Make Your Club Autism-Friendly
by AsIAm.ie - 19 April, 2018
Awareness about autism has increased among society in recent years. This is a positive developmen...[...]

Check In & Ask
by AsIAm.ie - 18 April, 2018
Day #17 of our #AsImChallenge is about checking in and asking. Successful autism inclusion is ...[...]

Conducting Autism-Friendly Interviews
by AsIAm.ie - 17 April, 2018
Day #16 of our #AsIAmChallenge is about preparing for autism-friendly interviews. Businesses h...[...]

Creating a Quiet Space
by AsIAm.ie - 16 April, 2018
Sensory rooms or quiet spaces are designated areas where autistic people can use to stim or retre...[...]

Create a “Social story” for your business or organisation
by AsIAm.ie - 15 April, 2018
Social stories are short guides of a particular situation, event or activity. They include specif...[...]

#Day 13 Making Written Communication Clear
by AsIAm.ie - 14 April, 2018
Day#13 of our #AsIAmChallenge is about using Plain English when communicating. We often think ...[...]

Making Your Organisation Sensory-Friendly
by AsIAm.ie - 13 April, 2018
Day#12 of our #AsIAmChallenge is about being aware of people's sensory needs. Autistic individual...[...]

Check out our Sensory Checklist Tool!
by AsIAm.ie - 13 April, 2018
It's Day 12 of #AsIAmChallenge and things have taken a big step up! Today we are challenging memb...[...]

Autism & Stereotyping
by AsIAm.ie - 12 April, 2018
Autism is widely known yet it is not widely understood. Awareness of the condition has grown in r...[...]

CALLOUT: World Autism Awareness Month Blogs
by AsIAm.ie - 6 April, 2018
Personal stories and experiences, sharing and openly discussing them, are what make any awarene...[...]

Sensory Awareness in Practice
by AsIAm.ie - 4 April, 2018
An autistic person’s brain may struggle to receive and respond to information collected through t...[...]

Top Tips for Being Patient
by AsIAm.ie - 3 April, 2018
ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION AT A TIME Autistic people love routine and predictability. Knowing what...[...]

World Autism Month:
by AsIAm.ie - 2 April, 2018
World Autism Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate the autism community, highlight the chall...[...]

Teach Me AsIAm Early Years Programme Arrives at Limerick
by AsIAm.ie - 30 March, 2018
Up to sixty early years professionals attended the ‘Teach Me AsIAm’ Early Years seminar in Limeri...[...]

DCU Autism-Friendly Campus Launched Today
by AsIAm.ie - 22 March, 2018
Dublin City University was recognised as the world’s first autism-friendly university by AsIAm to...[...]

Top Tips for an Autism-Friendly St Patrick’s Day
by AsIAm.ie - 16 March, 2018
St Patrick's Day is a great way to spend time with our friends and families and celebrate being I...[...]

Interview: DCU School of Special & Inclusive Education
by AsIAm.ie - 13 March, 2018
DCU's School of Special and Inclusive Education are setting up a funded PhD exploring the experie...[...]

AsIAm Cautiously Welcomes the UNCRPD’s Ratification
by AsIAm.ie - 8 March, 2018
AsIAm welcomes the government’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Pe...[...]

‘Teach Me As I Am’ Early Years Training Programme Update
by AsIAm.ie - 3 March, 2018
AsIAm launched the ‘Teach Me As I Am’ Early Years Autism Programme in North Dublin on Monday 19th...[...]

Changes In Routine: What do I do?
by AsIAm.ie - 28 February, 2018
Changes in schedule or routine can make autistic people – children as well as adults – anxious an...[...]

Secondary School Workshop at Colaiste Gleann Lí
by AsIAm.ie - 28 February, 2018
This week, Adam Harris visited Colaiste Gleann Lí in Tralee, Co. Kerry, as part of AsIAm’s second...[...]

AsIAm CEO Addresses SuperValu 2018 Conference
by AsIAm.ie - 27 February, 2018
This week, the AsIAm team attended SuperValu’s annual conference in Killarney, Co. Kerry, with th...[...]

Welcome to our new Board of Directors members!
by AsIAm.ie - 22 February, 2018
BRIAN IRWIN Brian is a Cork native, living in the heart of the city all his life. He enjoys orga...[...]

Nicole Duggan: My Boy Blue
by AsIAm.ie - 19 February, 2018
Nicola Duggan is a young parent of a child on the autism spectrum. She has been blogging about he...[...]

Spotlight: Autism Spectrum Fitness
by AsIAm.ie - 15 February, 2018
Fitness and keeping up exercise can be challenging habits to start, nevermind keep, for those of ...[...]

Interview: YLT’s Ben Rowsome & his Garda Youth Award
by AsIAm.ie - 9 February, 2018
Earlier this week, Co. Wicklow's Ben Rowsome was nominated for a Garda Youth Award for his advoca...[...]

Recap: Why don’t You start Autism-Friendly Practice?
by AsIAm.ie - 6 February, 2018
Last week, our CEO Adam Harris featured on RTÉ Radio 1's The Business programme, discussing the g...[...]

Welcome Progress on Ratifying UN Disabilities Convention in Ireland
by AsIAm.ie - 30 January, 2018
AsIAm has welcomed progress in ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilit...[...]

AsIAm CEO Condemns Irish Rail’s Quiet Carriages Phasing-Out
by AsIAm.ie - 26 January, 2018
AsIAm CEO Adam Harris has condemned Irish Rail’s move to phase out its quiet carriages from its D...[...]

Announcing our ‘Teach Me As I Am’ Early Years Programme
by AsIAm.ie - 12 January, 2018
AsIAm are delighted to announce the dates and locations for our new training programme for early ...[...]

Interview: Dr John Hillery
by AsIAm.ie - 10 January, 2018
Dr John Hillery is the President of the College of Psychiatrists in Ireland. In this exclusive ...[...]

Brian Irwin: Accessibility & Finding the Supports You Need
by AsIAm.ie - 19 December, 2017
Brian Irwin, a self advocate based in Cork, talks about his personal journey as a young person on...[...]

Learn My Language Online Campaign Launch
by AsIAm.ie - 14 December, 2017
Communication skills are one of the toughest hurdles for autistic people to develop. Many individ...[...]

AsIAm CEO attends SuperValu Autism-Friendly Shopping Project Launch
by AsIAm.ie - 1 December, 2017
AsIAm Founder and CEO Adam Harris helped launch SuperValu’s Autism-Friendly Shopping project earl...[...]

Kevin Hanly: “Take it One Day at a Time”
by AsIAm.ie - 28 November, 2017
Beginning a new start anywhere – whether it’s a new school, a new college or a job – is as exciti...[...]

Eleanor Walsh: “You Matter!”
by AsIAm.ie - 23 November, 2017
Eleanor Walsh, a member of our Youth Leadership Team, lets those of us on the spectrum know why w...[...]

Brian Irwin: Sensory Overload & Meltdowns
by AsIAm.ie - 8 November, 2017
Sensory overloads are common experiences with many autistic individuals and can often lead to mel...[...]

Interview: PRISM DLR Autism Support Group
by AsIAm.ie - 25 October, 2017
Support groups are invaluable resources for the autism community, from individuals on the spectru...[...]

Laura Crean: Just what is a ‘successful’ transition?
by AsIAm.ie - 17 October, 2017
Laura Crean is a member of AsIAm's Youth Leadership Team and currently in her first year of study...[...]

Kevin McLoughlin: ‘Look At Me Now’
by AsIAm.ie - 4 October, 2017
Kevin McLoughlin is a member of our Youth Leadership Team and is currently completing his Leaving...[...]

Louise Ryan: Knowing Parents’ Rights for Your Child’s Education
by AsIAm.ie - 2 October, 2017
Louise Ryan from Co. Limerick, a mother of two young boys on the autistic spectrum, talks about h...[...]

Socialising & Building Social Skills
by AsIAm.ie - 29 September, 2017
Amid preparing for school or for college, whilst we’re often completely caught up worrying if we’...[...]

AsIAm Founder & CEO Adam Harris Speaks at Mary Immaculate College
by AsIAm.ie - 25 September, 2017
The AsIAm team travelled to Limerick City on Friday, where our Founder and CEO Adam Harris delive...[...]

Joanne Weller: Back to Education and Transitioning from School to College and Further Education
by AsIAm.ie - 22 September, 2017
It’s the time of month again to go back to school and starting third level education, even going ...[...]

Kevin Hanly: New Journeys Starting College
by AsIAm.ie - 1 September, 2017
With the college term fast approaching, students across Ireland are busy readying themselves for ...[...]

Spotlight: HSE ASD Review
by AsIAm.ie - 30 August, 2017
HSE ASD Review The HSE are seeking written submissions for a review into the different services p...[...]

Summer on the Autistic Spectrum: A Parent’s Take
by AsIAm.ie - 23 August, 2017
Summers can be challenging for the parents of autistic children. With school out, regular routine...[...]

Spotlight: Dr Temple Grandin in Cork
by AsIAm.ie - 21 August, 2017
The AsIAm team travelled to Cork city this Friday past to attend an afternoon lecture from Dr Tem...[...]

Autism and the Internet: Keeping Yourself Safe Online
by AsIAm.ie - 11 August, 2017
The internet can be a powerful platform and a huge resource for the autistism community. A wealth...[...]

Sibling Safety this Summer
by AsIAm.ie - 4 August, 2017
The season of summer is well underway. As we enter August, children everywhere across Ireland wi...[...]

Spotlight: Sensory Room at the Sligo Clayton Hotel
by AsIAm.ie - 2 August, 2017
This week, Sligo’s Clayton Hotel became the first hotel in Ireland to establish a room specifical...[...]

Poem: BE YOU – NIQUE
by AsIAm.ie - 25 July, 2017
Leigh E. O'Brien's young nephew Liam lives with autism. Earlier this year, she composed this poem...[...]

Spotlight: Middletown Centre for Autism
by AsIAm.ie - 24 July, 2017
The Middletown Centre for Autism is an educational and research facility whose work revolves arou...[...]

Adam Kennefick: Autism Through My Eyes
by AsIAm.ie - 17 July, 2017
When I was just a small child, my parents and teachers noticed something different about me. They...[...]

The National Disability Inclusion Strategy – what is it?
by AsIAm.ie - 14 July, 2017
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INCLUSION STRATEGY? The National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2...[...]

Interview: Senator Dr. James Reilly
by AsIAm.ie - 13 July, 2017
Earlier this week, as his Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill passed through the Seanad, we sat down wi...[...]

Positive progress made as Autism Bill passes through Seanad Éireann
by AsIAm.ie - 13 July, 2017
AsIAm Ireland has warmly welcomed the passage through Seanad Éireann of the Autism Spectrum Disor...[...]

Interview: Autism, Tipp G.A.A. and Me
by AsIAm.ie - 6 July, 2017
This week, we sat down with Kevin Hanly, a young man from Tipperary to talk about his experiences...[...]

Top Tips for a Successful St. Patrick’s Day
by AsIAm.ie - 17 March, 2017
Well excitement will have been building, in schools across Ireland, over the past week for the an...[...]

BLOG: Hello from the other side
by AsIAm.ie - 10 March, 2017
Trish Flood, a mum to two boys on the Autism Spectrum and a super advocate for the Autism Communi...[...]

Stepping off the treadmill: Getting a Diagnosis as an Adult
by AsIAm.ie - 10 March, 2017
A blog by Brian Irwin, AsIAm Volunteer & Secondary School Speaker in the Cork Region [capti...[...]

Autism & Me Documentary – Monday 13th March, 9:35pm on RTE One
by AsIAm.ie - 8 March, 2017
We are very exciting for the release of a new RTE One Documentary, produced by Firebrand Producti...[...]

NEW SERIES – “AutismQs” – Your Questions, Answered
by AsIAm.ie - 9 September, 2016
During the month of September, AsIAm is excited to be bringing you a whole range of new content, ...[...]

VIDEO: AsIAm Says Hi – What supports are available to students with Autism?
by AsIAm.ie - 8 September, 2016
There is so many different people and organisations doing great things to support people with Aut...[...]

VIDEO: Autism – Emily’s perspective as a sibling
by AsIAm.ie - 6 September, 2016
We recently came across this extraordinary video on YouTube. The video features the sibling of a ...[...]

NEW MONTHLY COMPETITION: Your thoughts on…
by AsIAm.ie - 1 September, 2016
We are excited to announce a new monthly competition on AsIAm.ie! Every month we will ask users t...[...]

Yvonne Newbold: Top Tips for Parents at the start of the School Year
by AsIAm.ie - 8 September, 2015
Yvonne Newbold is a parent and advocate for those affected by Autism in the UK. Yvonne wrote a bo...[...]

Michael Ryan: Secondary School – Getting off to the right start
by AsIAm.ie - 1 September, 2015
Starting or returning to Secondary School can be a big change and a challenge for all students, h...[...]

AsYouCan: Focus on Sports & Extra-Curricular Clubs
by AsIAm.ie - 22 April, 2015
As part of our “AsYouCan” Campaign, for World Autism Awareness Month, each day in April we will s...[...]

President Michael D. Higgins becomes Patron of AsIAm.ie
by AsIAm.ie - 22 April, 2015
AsIAm.ie is pleased to announce that the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, has kindly agr...[...]

“AsYouCan”: Focus on Healthcare
by AsIAm.ie - 14 April, 2015
As part of our “AsYouCan” Campaign, for World Autism Awareness Month, each day in April we will s...[...]

“AsYouCan”: Focus on Public Transport
by AsIAm.ie - 10 April, 2015
As part of our “AsYouCan” Campaign, for World Autism Awareness Month, each day in April we will s...[...]

“AsYouCan”: Focus on Restaurants & Bars
by AsIAm.ie - 9 April, 2015
As part of our “AsYouCan” Campaign, for World Autism Awareness Month, each day in April we will...[...]

“AsYouCan”: Focus on Retail
by AsIAm.ie - 8 April, 2015
As part of our "AsYouCan" Campaign, for World Autism Awareness Month, each day in April...[...]

AsYouCan Campaign – What can you do to be more Autism-Friendly?
by AsIAm.ie - 1 April, 2015
This World Autism Awareness Month, AsIAm is calling on every individual, organisation and sector ...[...]

Julie Direen: Why I wouldn’t change my son one bit!
by AsIAm.ie - 12 February, 2015
Being a parent of a child with Autism can be challenging but, as Julie Direen shares, it can also...[...]

Carrie Burton: Acceptance and Understanding is key
by AsIAm.ie - 2 February, 2015
[caption id="attachment_3318" align="alignleft" width="300"] Carrie, centre, at our recent "Back ...[...]

AsIAm seeks cultural and legislative change to protect vulnerable people
by AsIAm.ie - 10 December, 2014
The online support and advocacy group for people with autism, AsIAm.ie, has said Ireland needs ...[...]

Jonathan Victory: Aspergers Syndrome & Martial Arts
by AsIAm.ie - 5 December, 2014
Jonathan Victory shares his positive experiences of Martial Arts as someone with Aspergers Synd...[...]

Dolores Crowley: Let’s focus on the positives
by AsIAm.ie - 10 November, 2014
Dolores Crowley works for Financial Wellbing, advising parents of children with Special Needs abo...[...]

Free Ebook: 30 Winning Tips for Better Meetings by Yvonne Newbold
by AsIAm.ie - 31 October, 2014
One stressful aspect of being a parent of a child on the Autism Spectrum is getting the right sup...[...]

Parents Guide: Birthday Parties
by AsIAm.ie - 29 September, 2014
Attending, and having, a Birthday party is an important part of growing up! For children with A...[...]

RTE News Six:One – AsIAm.ie “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 10 September, 2014
The challenges of "Back to School" for students with Autism, and the launch of the AsIAm.ie "Back...[...]

My Child / All About Me Handbooks: Every child with Autism is different
by AsIAm.ie - 24 August, 2014
There is an old adage: "If you know one person with Autism, you know one person with Autism" It ...[...]

Newstalk Breakfast: Vanessa Fox-O’Loughlin shares her story & AsIAm “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 22 August, 2014
Yesterday we were delighted to launch our AsIAm "Back to School" Handbooks for teachers, parents...[...]

Press Conference: AsIAm “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 21 August, 2014
AsIAm.ie has today published a series of guides to help people with autism deal with the major ch...[...]

Sean O’Rourke Show Podcast: AsIAm “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 20 August, 2014
Tomorrow, AsIAm will launch its "Back to School" Handbooks on Autism, for parents, students and t...[...]

Download Today: AsIAm “Back to School” Handbooks
by AsIAm.ie - 20 August, 2014
Education can throw up many challenges for students with Autism such as the environment, structur...[...]

Carrie Burton: Jack makes three for us
by AsIAm.ie - 17 June, 2014
Frequent blogger and AsIAm Liaison Officer, Carrie Burton, writes of the challenges of a third di...[...]

Yvonne Newbold: 10 Great Things People with Autism can add to society
by AsIAm.ie - 3 June, 2014
Yvonne Newbold is the author of "The Special Parent's Handbook", a practical, hands-on parenting ...[...]

Shauna Gilligan: “Mama, the sunrise is orange”
by AsIAm.ie - 14 April, 2014
Shauna Gilligan is a writer and mother of a son on the Autism Spectrum. In the article below, she...[...]

Carrie Burton: A second diagnosis in the family
by AsIAm.ie - 14 April, 2014
Frequent blogger, Carrie Burton, writes on the recent diagnosis of her second child, Ava, with AD...[...]

Dr Aoife Lyons: Organisational & Study Skills
by AsIAm.ie - 5 April, 2014
Dr Aoife Lyons, licensed clinical psychologist and university lecturer in UCD and DCU, ha...[...]

Mairead Quinn: Our Doggy Superheroes
by AsIAm.ie - 4 April, 2014
April is Autism Awareness Month but we’re aware of Autism 365 days a year in our house. Our hom...[...]

Noel Quigley: Our lovely daughter with Autism
by AsIAm.ie - 3 April, 2014
Following on from his recent article on his son with Aspergers, Noel, an AsiAm.ie board member, w...[...]

Lisa Domican: A is for Acceptance
by AsIAm.ie - 2 April, 2014
Lisa Domican is a mother of 2 children (Grace and Liam, pictured) on the Autism Spectrum and a so...[...]

Carrie Burton: Autism has made us who we are
by AsIAm.ie - 2 April, 2014
Regular blogger, Carrie Burton, talks about how Autism has challenged, but also strengthened, her...[...]

Asperger’s Story – Noel Quigley
by AsIAm.ie - 1 April, 2014
Noel Quigley is a Board Member of AsIAm.ie - here he shares his experiences of raising a son with...[...]

Dr Aoife Lyons: Things students with Autism or ADHD would like their teachers to know
by AsIAm.ie - 23 March, 2014
Dr Aoife Lyons, licensed clinical psychologist and university lecturer in UCD and DCU, puts herse...[...]

Planes, Asperger Syndrome, and Airports
by AsIAm.ie - 8 January, 2014
Introduction My name is Sean Foley. I am 25 years old and I have Asperger Syndrome – an autistic...[...]

Ann Kennedy: The challenges of growing up undiagnosed
by AsIAm.ie - 2 May, 2013
Ann Kennedy is a 60 year old lady living with Asperger's Syndrome. In this incredibly honest pie...[...]

Carrie Burton: Communion Day – The Day We Thought We’d Never See!
by AsIAm.ie - 1 May, 2013
In this article our regular contributor, Carrie Burton, shares her experiences of preparing her d...[...]

Mother’s Day: Susan Browne – Amazing Brains
by AsIAm.ie - 10 March, 2013
Today is Mother's Day and we want to celebrate and support all those brilliant Mum's of children ...[...]

Interview: Sensodyne Dentist of the Year, Dr. Gillian Smith
by AsIAm.ie - 14 February, 2013
Today we finally got an opportunity to catch up with Dr. Gillian Smith, Founder and Principal Pr...[...]

Carrie Burton – Living with Autism
by AsIAm.ie - 30 January, 2013
My daughter Mia has Aspergers. She is 8 and was first diagnosed when she was 4. It has been a lon...[...]