Transition Year can be an interesting time for people on the autism spectrum. The free curriculum can offer opportunities for growth and self-discovery, whilst the lack of structure can prove difficult for many. Charlie Silke is a Transition Year student on the spectrum, and he’s written about his experiences in Transition Year so far. In …
ADD/ADHD are common co-occuring conditions within the autism community. Sometimes the traits of these conditions can differ starkly, and sometimes they can overlap. Eoin Hickey, a young man on the autism spectrum who has ADHD, writes on his favourite things about having both autism and ADHD. You can read his previous blog on coping mechanisms …
Last week AsIAm launched two surveys on the experiences of autistic students in accessing education. Eoin Hickey, a young person on the autism spectrum, explains how autism affects him in his daily life, how teachers can understand students with diagnoses of autism and ADHD, and offers advice for social situations. My name is Eoin Hickey …
The annual Christmas pantomime is a festive tradition for many families in Ireland (oh yes it is!… Sorry.). In recent years some pantomimes and shows have started putting on relaxed or autism-friendly performances for families with special needs, so they can join in on the fun alongside their peers! A relaxed performance is a theatre …
Kelli Twomey, a mother of an autistic child, sent us this poem from her child’s perspective, and we think its message of acceptance and inclusion will resonate with many in the autistic community. Read on below! I may seem different, weird or funny, I might even sometimes seem odd. But it’s just that my thoughts …
The end of November is near, and while there’s still a few weeks left until Christmas, preparing for the holidays make take some time and planning. One of our regular contributors, Kevin Hanly, shares his advice for celebrating Christmas based on his experiences. We’re gearing up for that special time of the year where we …
Kevin Hanly: Living With Autism at Christmas TimeRead More »
It’s Sunday, and welcome to Our Week Online. Here’s the internet’s tricks and treats from the past seven days. A new report from Dublin City University is calling for a nationwide programme to support students with intellectual disabilities in making the transition from school to further education and training. DCU’s research found that young people …
It’s Sunday, Halloween is almost here, Ireland is (hopefully) done with voting for the year, and tomorrow’s a Bank Holiday Monday. Lovely. Welcome to Our Week Online. This week it was announced that three schools in Co. Dublin would close immediately due to building defects following inspections from the Department of Education, with a further …
The theme of this year’s National Autism Conference is “Building Inclusive Communities”. Laragh, a young autistic woman and member of our outgoing Youth Leadership Team, has written about an inclusive, welcoming, and warm community in her life. Hi – My name is Laragh, I am 23 and I am on the autistic spectrum. I would …
Laragh Smith: My Experience of an Inclusive CommunityRead More »
National Autism Conference is less than a week away, in the Grand Hotel, Malahide, Dublin, this Saturday. Attendees will receive an email with all the information they need to know on the day, and in addition during the week we’ll post updates about the Conference here on our website. Today, we’d like you to know …
National Autism Conference 2018 – Autism Welcoming Venue and ExperienceRead More »
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