The University of Galway awarded the AsIAm Autism Friendly HEI Candidate badge
AsIAm are delighted to announce that the University of Galway has been recognised in the first stage of the AsIAm Autism Friendly HEI Award and have been granted the Autism Friendly HEI Candidate badge.
The University of Galway have worked with AsIAm to reach this milestone by submitting an application to the Autism Friendly Accreditation Panel, implementing a steering committee within the University, engaged with autistic students and staff, and are involved in the Autism Friendly HEI Network. This badge recognizes that an institution has begun the journey to meet the 9 Principles of an Autism Friendly HEI.
AsIAm are looking forward to working with the University of Galway over the next three years, to continue the building of an inclusive culture, fostering accessibility and ensuring equal opportunities for autistic students and staff.
AsIAm CEO Adam Harris commented:
"We are delighted that our Accreditation Panel has awarded our Autism-Friendly HEI candidate badge to the University of Galway. This marks an important milestone on the University's journey to achieving our HEI Award which recognises third level institutions which commit to taking a whole of campus approach to Autistic inclusion - putting in place a whole of campus action plan to remove barriers to enjoying the same chance to live, learn, work and play in university.
The University of Galway is the first NUI institution to undertake our award and joins a growing network of the HEIs across Ireland to join our network since 2018. This work is critical as we see a growing number of Autistic people age of our school with the right and expectation of accessing higher level education on par with their neurotypical peers. It also comes at a time in which we see more adults accessing diagnosis and seeking recognition and reasonable accommodations within the workplace. By undertaking our HEI Award, the University is positioning itself to lead in responding to this urgent need and benefiting from all our community brings to campus life across Ireland.
We want to acknowledge the fantastic work already underway in the University in terms of Autism accessibility and the rights of Autistic people under the UNCRPD. HEIs who have achieved our award have seen transformational change in terms of student and staff engagement, experience and outcomes and we look forward to supporting the University throughout its journey in the years ahead. Today's announcement comes as AsIAm opens a new Community Support Hub in Galway City - providing a one-stop-shop of support, information and guidance to Autistic people across the life cycle - and we look forward to many opportunities to collaborate and co-create a university and city community in which Autistic people are accepted "as they are" - equal, valued and respected"
President of University of Galway, Professor David J. Burn commented
“The University of Galway is pleased to have been awarded an Autism Friendly HEI Candidate badge from AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism charity. We are committed to creating and sustaining an environment in which Autistic staff and students are supported, celebrated, and empowered to fulfil their full potential.
As a community, we have defined a set of core values that guide us in how we act as an organisation, interact as a community, and engage with the world around us. Among these are a commitment to a culture of respect and equality; an attitude of openness towards diversity; and an environment of belonging where students, staff, and alumni feel welcomed, supported, connected, and valued.
As we work towards attaining AsIAm’s Autism Friendly HEI award, we recognize the importance of these values in our ongoing mission to shape an institution in which our autistic students and staff can thrive. We would like to thank AsIAm for their continued support and guidance in this process.”