In June, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism published its Final Report after over a year of hearing from witnesses, experts, professionals, advocacy groups, and Autistic people ourselves. The report is the first of its kind for the Autistic community, highlighting how Autistic people and our community often do not have the same chance to be accepted and do not have the same opportunities to fully participate in Irish society
Often Autistic people's needs are only considered in specific areas such as diagnosis, therapeutic supports and school places. The urgent shortage of these services notwithstanding, Autistic people face barriers on a far broader level, on multiple levels of society. The Committee’s Final Report makes 109 key recommendations which span across the lifecycle of autistic people, ranging from education, health, social protection, housing, employment and transport, among many other issues. You can read the explainer of this report here.
AsIAm’s recent Same Chance Report shows the urgent need for the Government to fully implement the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism’s recommendations contained in its Final Report. For far too long Autistic people and our families have been let down by the State and its agencies over its lack of capacity, and sometimes unwillingness, to deliver crucial supports in a timely manner.
The recommendations of this report should not be permitted to remain recommendations: they should become points of action. Below you will find a letter for you to download and send to your local representatives.
If you receive a reply from your TD or Senator you can forward it our Policy Officer, Adrian Carroll at adrian@asiam.ie.
You can find a list of local representitives here
