Waterford named Ireland's first Autism-Friendly City
Waterford City Autism Friendly Committee Members - Charlene Tait (AFT Awards Head Judge), Tony O’Neill, Amanda Fox, Seán O’Neill, Frances Jacob, Maolíosa Ní Chléirigh, Kevin Hanly (AFT Awards judge), Tish Holton, Adam Harris (CEO AsIAm)
Waterford has officially been named as Ireland's first Autism-Friendly City.
Last weekend, leading Irish autism charity AsIAm gave the honour at their awards ceremony at Mansion House, Dublin.
Waterford was commended for striving to make the city more inclusive for neuro-divergent people by adopting a number of initiatives.
Secretary of Autism Friendly Waterford Tony O'Neill said: "Initiatives like the Waterford FC Autism Friendly Match Day and other social programmes that the club is rolling out have really engaged the local community to provide new services and opportunities for local people, including my son Seán."
Tony went on: "We are delighted that we are the first city in Ireland to win Autism Friendly status, and we will continue our work to create a more inclusive community.”
AsIAm CEO Adam Harris commented: "An autism-friendly community is one that sees, understands, and values autistic people. The recognition of Waterford as the first-ever autism-friendly city is a major milestone for the programme, demonstrating that large urban centres can lead the way in accessibility and inclusion."
At the ceremony, Killarney and Drumcondra were also awarded Autism Friendly Town status.
Adam continued: "Today, we celebrate three incredible winners – Waterford, Killarney, and Drumcondra – who have shown leadership in making their communities more inclusive. Their achievements set an example for other towns and cities to follow, and Waterford’s success is an important step forward in our vision for a truly autism-friendly Ireland."
He added: "This awards ceremony is a testament to the incredible work being done nationwide to make inclusion a reality, and we look forward to continuing this journey together."
While the award is a great credit to Waterford, many parents of neuro-divergent children across the county are struggling to find adequate supports and education for their loved ones.
Hopefully, this event marks the beginning of a tide shift for these families.
