What are our political views?
AsIAm does not support any one political party or ideology.
We work with every party and politician in Government and in Opposition to advocate on behalf of policies that meet the needs of Ireland’s autism community.
AsIAm never has and never will advocate a party political or ideological position.
Our team includes members of various political affiliations and opinions. We hope this attention to diversity is reflective of our equally diverse autism community.
What do we lobby for?
Our engagement with elected representatives is informed by the need for autistic people’s full inclusion in Irish society.
We meet with members of the Dáil and Seanad to advocate better supports across a range of different policy areas, including education, healthcare, employment, and justice.
All of this feeds into our broader campaign for for an Autism Empowerment Act. This will enable different Government Departments to work together more effectively in meeting autistic people’s needs across the country. It will also recognise autism as a whole-of-life condition and ensure that public bodies are required by law to support autistic people’s inclusion.
For more information, check out our Factsheet on an Irish Autism Empowerment Act here.
What is our relationship with the Government?
Along with self-advocates and other disability organisations, we sit on the HSE’s Autism Programme Board and liaise with a wide range of Government Departments to make sure they understand autistic people’s experiences better.
We have no direct line to any Cabinet Ministers and do not sit on any Government Department’s directorates.
Government bodies do provide some funding towards our projects, such as Pobal’s Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) Grant. However, these funds are not statutory, nor are they derived from a political decision. AsIAm, along with other charities and community organisations, applies each year for this Grant and we are judged solely on our achievements to date and the scope of our vision for future campaigns.
What is our relationship with TDs, Senators, and the Oireachtas?
AsIAm does not and never will favour one politician or political party over another during our campaigns.
We lobby each and every elected representative right across the spectrum in the Oireachtas. Autism is a whole-of-life condition that is experienced by individuals and families all over society, regardless of their background, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexuality.
We believe that it is only fitting that the approaches we need to take to improve autistic lives should have a cross-party consensus. AsIAm will work with any and all elected representatives in that endeavour.
Equally, we think that every politician and party should be held accountable over the decisions they make that will impact citizens’ lives. We will always push for greater community involvement, accountability and transparency throughout the decision-making process.
All of our lobbying records can be viewed here at the Register of Lobbying Returns’ website.
