Autism Friendly Sligo

21/11/2025

21/11/2025

Editing to add: places are filling up fast, only 3 left at the time of writing.

Big thank you to Sligo Traveller Support Group Ltd who are hosting a sensory santa again this year. Please call them on 071 914 5780 to book a place.

Poster with light green background and images of baubles, holly, gingerbread, christmas tree, santas and a snow man. Text reads: STSG Christmas Extraordinare. Santa, food and fun for all everyone welcome. 13th December 12 - 3 pm. Free event!! Free hot meal available. Special guest visiting! Guess who?? Sensory Santa by appointment only. Please contact STSG for time slots. Regular Santa is also visiting, no appointment necessary. Hosted at STSG 1A St Anne's Road F91 Y59C, 071 914 5780. Includes logos of Shine.ie (with the slogan step up to stamp out stigma), STSG, HSE, Sligo PPN, NW Drug and Alcohol Taskforce, Tusla, CYPC, Sligo Leader Partnership, and connecting for Life Sligo and Leitrim

05/11/2025

Congratulations to Adam Harris, Asiam.ie CEO, who has been appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC).

Six new experts and activists have been appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC).

23/10/2025

This is an important conversation that affects many in our community.

Respite and disabled people: Space for an ILMI analysis

11th November 10:30am (via ZOOM)

ILMI needs to build a clear analysis on the role of respite in the lives of disabled people in light of the implementation of the UNCRPD.

There is a commitment in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 to 2023 to “Increase availability of respite places and broaden the spectrum of respite provision in supporting disabled people and their families”.

Most of the research shows demand for respite comes primarily from families, and seldom are the voices of Disabled People heard in this.

As a Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) it is vital to have an informed, collective discussion on what the lived experience of Disabled People is and has been in accessing respite. What works? Is it what Disabled People need right now?

There is an absence of a DPO-informed voice on respite, which is needed to inform future policy development and models of investment to meet the needs of Disabled People under the UNCRPD.

The purpose of this discussion is to enable disabled people to share their lived experience of respite, what they experience was like, their reasons for accessing respite and what role respite could play for Disabled People.

This discussion will take place on Tuesday 11th November at 10:30am on Zoom. If you want to be involved email info@ilmi.ie to register

IMAGE: poster with serene forest backdrop and text detailed in post

22/10/2025

Calling all Autism Champions for Sligo, don't miss this chance to catch some training on providing santa experiences that are autism-friendly:

🎅 Calling all professionals involved in festive events! 🎅
Join us for the webinar: “Autism-Friendly Santa Experience” hosted by AsIAm on November 5, 2025.
This session is designed to help staff involved in Santa’s grottos, meet-and-greet sessions, seasonal events and more to create a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for Autistic and neurodivergent children and their families.
You’ll learn about neurodiversity, barriers faced during festive visits, how to recognise individual needs and practical strategies to build a flexible, neuro-affirming environment.
The webinar will be live on Zoom (registration link to be sent via email) and will be recorded for later access.
Register now: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/asiam-webinar-series-for-professionals-autism-friendly-santa-experience-tickets-1814652988939?aff=oddtdtcreator

23/09/2025

Another chance for some free autism-friendly training. There has never been a better time to inform yourself about autism and help build a more inclusive Sligo.

Image of a poster. The Autism Friendly Sligo logo is in the top left corner it shows a stylised image of Benbulben and Sligo Bay. The headline reads How to become Autism-Friendly (in maroon). Under that (in blue) it reads Free Training. The fine print in the middle (in black) reads: Businesses, groups and organisations who complete this training can become Autism Champions for Sligo, which helps Sligo achieve accreditation under the Asiam.ie Autism Friendly Town Scheme. The larger (maroon) text in the bottom left reads: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, Wednesday, October 15th, Riverside Hotel, Sligo. To the right of that is the AsIAm and Sligo PPN logos. Across the bottom it reads RSVP to (in Black) AutismFriendlySligo.com (in Green)

23/09/2025

Big thank you to AsIAm for setting the record straight on the unscientific statements from the US Administration.

19/09/2025

Happening tonight:

19/09/2025

People have been contacting us recently about a rise of misinformation around autism. It is fueled by approaches being taken in other jurisdictions to reduce the incidence. Speaking as an autistic person, this approach touches on eugenics. I wouldn't change my neurotype for the world. People like me do not need to be prevented. It seems we are still fighting the rhetoric of the old Auti$m $peaks message that autism is a sinister presence that stalks our children. There is no autism 'epidemic'. Neither is it overdiagnosis. The existence of different neurotypes is simply beginning to be understood. Human diversity is just as important for society as biodiversity is for our planet. The beauty of the Autism Friendly Town project is that is does not try to fix, cure, heal or prevent autistic people. Instead, we are proud of having a part to play in building a more inclusive community -- one that values diversity.

06/09/2025

Along with Sligo and Donegal DPOs, AsIAm CRO, Adam Harris also addressed special rapporteur Rosemary Kayess at this briefing. AsIAm, the Independent Living Movement of Ireland, Disabled Women, Ireland, the Irish Deaf Society and the National Platform of Self-Advocates are all part of the DPO Network, which made a collective submission to the CRPD Committee in addition to their individual ones. All of this information will help inform the committee as they compile their list of questions for our Government to answer ahead of our first periodic review.

15/07/2025

Sorry to report that the silent disco has been cancelled