Autistic young people set out priorities

Autistic young people in Ireland have called for more quiet spaces in schools, better training for healthcare staff, greater communication accessibility in communities, and a stronger say in how schools support autistic students.

The priorities were identified by young autistic advocates at the inaugural AsIAm Youth Congress at The College Green Hotel in Dublin, which brought together young people from across Ireland on Saturday 27 June, and produced a manifesto highlighting their needs.

The event was supported by CCT College Dublin, and organised by AsIAm’s Youth Leadership team, a group of young autistic advocates supported by AsIAm to develop leadership skills, understand and speak up for their rights, represent Autistic people, and engage with decision makers on issues that affect their lives.

The congress was chaired by Caoimhe Kelly, with Oisin Keyes as Deputy Chair.

Kelly said: “The Youth Congress showed me how powerful it is when autistic young people are actually listened to. The manifesto comes directly from lived experience, and I really hope it leads to real change. I trust AsIAm, and I know they will keep pushing these priorities until they become reality.

“As a young teenager myself, it was striking to be in a room with so many autistic young people speaking openly about the issues that affect us. It made me realise how often our experiences overlap in ways people don’t always expect, even when our lives can look very different.

“Hearing so many different perspectives in one room really stayed with me. It showed just how much stronger things become when we’re actually heard and provided with an encouraging, inclusive environment,” she said.

Participants were supported by leading autistic advocates as they took part in discussions, workshops, and activities focused on rights, advocacy, inclusion, and the issues that matter most to autistic young people in Ireland today.

Manifesto

The Youth Congress resulted in a manifesto of priorities developed by the Youth Leadership Team and attendees. The full manifesto calls for more quiet spaces in schools, for more education for healthcare staff - both medical and non-medical - on understanding the autistic experience.

It also called for a stronger say for autistic students in how schools treat and support them, including opportunities to advocate for themselves, greater communications accessibility in communities - including supports for alternative communication in shops, tills for people with communication differences, communication boards, and options to type or write.

Tailored supports for each child, based on a person-centred and holistic approach also featured, as well as a working document of needs, separate to formal reports, to ensure supports are strengths-based and person-centred.

Finally, it called for more education on accessibility and autism for young people in schools as part of the curriculum, and action to endure Autistic people are not forced into homeschooling because of a lack of support or a lack of appropriate school places.

Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm said: “This manifesto is powerful because it comes directly from young autistic people themselves. It sets out, in clear and practical terms, what needs to change if we are serious about building a society where Autistic young people have the same chance to participate, learn, communicate and thrive.

“Too often conversations about autistic young people, exclude autistic young people. This manifesto identified practical steps which society must urgently take to build a more equitable future for Autistic young people and demonstrates the strength of leadership and self-advocacy within the young autistic community.

“We will now take forward this mandate from our young people as key priorities in our advocacy for the year ahead,” he said.

Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon said: "It was a great privilege to meet with, and speak to, this brilliant group of young autistic people. The recommendations they've produced are very insightful and important. I commend the AsIAm organisation for creating this opportunity to listen to, and take on board, the voices of their young members. That is child rights work at its best and I hope other organisations will follow this example,” he said.

AsIAm said the manifesto will now be used to inform its advocacy, campaigning and policy work, including engagement with Government, public bodies, schools, healthcare providers and community organisations.