Kildare County Council welcomes presentation on becoming an autism-friendly county

Kildare County Council was honoured to welcome Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, and William Nestor, National Autism Friendly Towns Coordinator, to deliver a powerful and informative presentation at this month’s full council meeting.

The presentation outlined the clear and achievable steps required for Kildare to become Ireland’s first Autism Friendly County, building on the success of towns like Maynooth, which was recently accredited under the AsIAm framework.

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Adam and William highlighted the vital importance of inclusive planning, community engagement, and leadership from both local government and businesses.

Their presentation offered a roadmap for council departments, community groups, and local employers to ensure Kildare becomes a place where autistic people are supported to live, work, and thrive.

Cllr. Donna Phelan, Chairperson of the Maynooth Autism Friendly Town Committee, welcomed the discussion, saying: “This presentation was not only inspiring but deeply practical. It reinforced that with the right leadership and small, meaningful changes, we can create a county where autistic people and their families feel understood, respected, and included.”

Kildare County Council is now exploring the next steps towards achieving autism-friendly accreditation, including internal training, improved accessibility, and cross-departmental collaboration.

This marks an important step forward in Kildare’s journey toward becoming a more inclusive and supportive county for all its citizens.