Hello all. If you haven’t seen our previous interview with Neil Kenny, I’d recommend checking it out. I was inspired to do something on bullying and autism due to the tragic suicide of Joel Langford. As well as expert insight such as Kenny’s, I wanted to demonstrate more personal accounts which stress the impact bullying …
The Minister for Education and Skills announced a rehaul of the criteria for granting exemptions from studying Irish earlier this week. The new rules for the exemptions will be in place for the new school year in September of this year. A public consultation was organised by the Department on the issue. Individuals from across …
Explainer: New Rules for Irish Language ExemptionsRead More »
Mark O’Keefe, celebrity hairdresser and owner of the Sugar Club, made headlines last week in his heartfelt letter to his five-year old son Riley. Riley received an autism diagnosis two and a half years ago, and has so far been unsuccessful in gaining a school place. Last Friday I sat down with Riley’s parents, Mark …
We had a guest in our offices last week who dropped in to show us the book he has been working on. This book is too good to keep to ourselves so we had to share it! It crucial that we encourage and support autistic people to embrace their special interests. Meet Aidan Aidan Foran …
Last Wednesday 19th June AsIAm Founder and CEO Adam Harris addressed the Oireachtas Committee on Public Petitions in a discussion on Mandatory Teacher Training on Spectrum Disorders, sharing insight on experiences of autistic students and parents in the education system, the need for universal design in teacher training and in schools, and recommendations for meaningful …
Calling all schools, teachers, and educators! April is World Autism Month, and we have developed an online Resource Pack for Primary and Secondary Schools to use, to increase acceptance and understanding of autism in the school community. The pack includes resources such as videos, worksheets, posters, and activities for your class and school. If you …
Resource Pack for Primary and Secondary Schools 2019Read More »
In December 2018, it was brought to AsIAm’s attention that the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has issued advice to its members encouraging them to disengage with Individual Education Plans (IEPs)/Student Support Files (SSFs)/individualised planning within their schools. We learnt that this followed similar advice issued by the Teacher’s Union of Ireland (TUI) over …
On Monday evening we held our Community Support event in Co. Limerick on Autism and Play. We were so grateful to see so many of you there! If you were unable to attend, we have taken note of some of the key information. Feel free to watch the live stream of the event above or …
What We Learned – Autism and Play: Promises and PossibilitiesRead More »
Representatives from both AsIAm and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) met last week to discuss the recent ASTI advice to their membership on the non-implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) / Student Support Files (SSFs) and other forms of individualised support. We felt it was a constructive dialogue for both parties involved as …
Constructive Meeting between AsIAm & ASTI RepresentativesRead More »
All autistic children experience challenges in communication. While many might have an extensive amount of vocabulary, they may interpret what other people are saying differently and unless taught directly, may not understand non-verbal communication correctly. Children are often confused with every day language’s structure; for example, saying “Jane will do it” instead of “I will do …
What Strategies can I use for my Non-Verbal Child to ease their Transition?Read More »
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