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THIS MONTH OF April is traditionally known as Autism “Awareness” or ‘Acceptance’ month.
But ‘acceptance’ is a word that no longer seems appropriate. It is an archaic view of our neurodivergent community, that they must seek acceptance from neurotypical people. Instead, society needs to ask itself: Do we truly understand and learn about neurodiversity? Are we inclusive?
Neurodiversity Ireland was founded by a group of neurodivergent parents of neurodivergent children, who wanted to challenge how Irish society views neurodivergence. We launched a national campaign called “Let Me Be Me” back in 2022, grounded in the belief that people should be allowed, and encouraged, to be their true, authentic selves.
When you say ‘autism’, most people still don’t really understand what it means, or have an understanding of the autistic experience. Neurodiversity Ireland wants to explain to people in the simplest of ways. Neurodiversity describes the differences in the way people’s brains work.
There’s no ‘correct’ way for the brain to work and instead, there is a wide range of ways that people perceive, interact with and respond to the world around them. These differences are to be embraced and encouraged, they are not deficits!
Neurodivergent children’s minds work differently than their neurotypical peers. They are often viewed by others as acting differently, but we want to question the emphasis that is placed on being ‘normal’ there is no “normal.” We need to stop judging people by this standard of ‘typicality.’ There’s a lot of stigma attached to a diagnosis — it is still considered to be something negative – even the word ‘diagnosis’ itself implies a problem or something that needs to be ‘fixed.’ We want society to understand that these children are not broken and they do not need to change. In fact, they should be celebrated for who they are.
Ireland has changed so much in the last 10 to 20 years. There is a greater understanding that diversity comes in many forms, in terms of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion and gender. People are generally much more open minded about sexuality, family types and marital status – Ireland is opening up. However, neurodivergent people still experience stigma every single day; because we still don’t fully understand, therefore we are not yet fully inclusive. In 2024, why should neurodivergent people have to ask others to accept them as they are?
Too often, we hear of the lived experience of neurodivergent children who are excluded from preschool right through to primary and beyond. Parents are told not to bother seeking places in their local schools, as many schools feel that they don’t have the support systems in place to fully accommodate the needs of neurodivergent children. This of course has a knock-on-effect. No access to a local school means little or no access to school activities, extra-curriculars, playgroups, meetups; all the things a child should take for granted.
Whilst we celebrate the strengths that come with neurodivergence such as creativity, humour and alternative perspectives, Neurodiversity Ireland also believes that there is a lack of societal understanding of the challenges that may be faced by children who are autistic, ADHD, OCD, have Tourettes, Tics or are otherwise neurodivergent.
These may include differences with communication, or emotional regulation, or with processing sensory information for example, and that coupled with a feeling that they are “doing things the wrong way” brings mental health struggles for very many neurodivergent children. We would like to shine a light on the challenges experienced by the neurodivergent population. We want to show everyone that they can be part of a system and a community that can appropriately support neurodivergent people to ensure they can fully participate in society.
There has always been a stigma attached to a child who doesn’t act, sound, speak, walk or ‘operate’ like any other kid. An autistic child’s preferred way of playing may look slightly different to what people think is ‘normal.’ They may not talk directly with you, or make eye contact with you, they may not make the same sounds as you, and they may find and express joy in different ways. Everyone is different. There is so much beauty in that, why try to fix it? It’s so important that we move away from the tradition of ‘fitting in,’ from striving to be that kid in a uniform who performs really well and who doesn’t stand out of line.
I am happy to stand out of line on behalf of these children and their families. As an organisation, Neurodiversity Ireland is trying to step up and create the types of community-based support that neurodivergent children need. Since we were established in March 2022, we have provided information and educational materials to schools to start the conversation with the youngest children about what it means to be ‘different.’ We have created videos and animations that have been a catalyst for a national storytelling competition; through any media such as art or writing, signalling that there are many modes of expression and types of communication.
We work to empower parents with the confidence to support their children, by arming them with knowledge and connecting them with experts. They really need real-life, practical information now, because the waiting lists are huge. We want to ensure that parents have the confidence to promote connection with their neurodivergent children, that will foster the basis for their fulsome participation in life, by in turn, encouraging those connections within their communities.
One of the main supports we have created is our sensory centre in South Dublin. Here, almost 90 children per week have access to a fully supported social outlet with their peers including OT-led interactive play groups. These kids are establishing connections with other children and with the group leaders. They are part of a community and have a space designed for their needs, where they belong.
Unfortunately, we do not yet have a permanent space for our support services, but we are fundraising and seeking support from the public to help us create a permanent home for children and families and embed them in the local community. We know we could make these wrap-around supports a reality in the morning, for so many more children, if we just had the resources and the space.
We see our centre as a pilot that could and should be rolled out across the country. We believe the HSE model doesn’t work and we know what we need to do to support children, so that they can participate in life like any other child. So, ask yourself, are you truly inclusive, are you willing to learn, to understand neurdiversity?
Nessa Hill is the Director of Neurodiversity Ireland (NI).
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Brexausted.
Just get on with it.
The world will continue.
Too much drama.
@Trevor Hayden: So sorry for your troubles. Maybe have a sit-down and a cup of tea while the economic, social and political future of our home is decided by a shower of faithless opportunists to whom we are either an inconvenience or a means to an end. “Getting on with” is getting back to a century of shite that no-one wants.
@Tordel Back: The EU will throw us under a bus to protect their coffers.
We are merely an insignificant little plot of land on the edge of Europe, no matter how many times leo or simon tell us we have the backing of our EU counterparts.
@Tordel Back: I agree with you, but I also agree with the sentiment expressed by @Trevor Hayden.. We, well most of us, agree that what is finally agreed upon has repercussions for Ireland, but, at this stage I have to admit that I am imagining a group more like what you’d expect at the Mad Hatters tea party than a group of seasoned politicians.
@Trevor Hayden: call me naive, call me blindingly hopeful, but I have hopes that this will not happen.
@David Stapleton: Me too David, but we have to look back at the bailout, when Mr Sarkozy said we have to give up our corporation tax to get a bailout and we still need oir budgets approved by the EU before going ahead with them.
I hope I’m wrong too but I can see the EU telling Ireland they fdo not get involved in “personal matters” and to sort it ourselves similar to the water charges fiasco.
We’ve been a drain on the EU coffers since the bailout and are still taking the “Oliver Twist” approach every year with begging bo
@Trevor Hayden: bowl.
@Trevor Hayden: Trevor, you’re missing that we had the EU by the short and curlies when it came to the bailout. The EU banks were so heavily invested in our banks that if our banks had gone under it would’ve started a domino effect across Europe and sunk the EU. The idea that the EU isn’t glad to pay us off for not sinking them is a stretch, considering we have to pay back the bailouts anyway. The crap deal we got is down to the incompetence of Cowen and Lenihan.
What’s happening with the UK is that the EU are dumbfounded by the sheer buffoonery of the Tories and are aghast at the backwardness of the DUP. They see us as part of the club, an attack on us is an attack on them. We’re a poster boy as far as the EU are concerned. If we get treated badly in this and the UK are seen as getting a good deal, it will set off whispers of dissent in other countries over what use is there being in the EU. They simply won’t let that happen.
@Trevor Hayden: Our politicians ha e sold out all our resources to the EU like ,sugar,oil, gas, electricity,and fisheries. Most of our food comes from the UK including milk, butter, sugar, meat and flour and not forgetting electricity. Our Irish corrupt government and politicians don’t want to leave the gravy train of the EU richmans club
DUP say they don’t want a hard border but then they also say they want Northern Ireland to be treated like the rest of the UK which will have a hard border.
Theresa May wants to keep the EU/Ireland happy so they will sign off on the deals.
Boris wants to go back on a prior agreement, probably because if Theresa May pulls this off she has done the impossible.
@Stephen Devlin: The British Government have proven time and time again that their word is worth nothing.
Bit deluded that they think they can establish their own bi-lateral trade agreements in compettion to the EU as well as WITH the EU no?
The world won’t trust them even as far as you can throw them.
@Colm A. Corcoran: In regards to the backstop the EU wants it in legal form, not an agreement.
@Stephen Devlin: I think everyone will want everything in Legal form when dealing with the British in future.
Sad really, economics works best in a climate of trust. Attitudes like what the British are displaying seem to be becoming a thing lately and if thats true then we’re hurtling fast towards a world depression. It takes a couple of years to recover from bad financial decisions, it will take at least a generation to dispell the unilateral “Why can’t I have my cake and eat it?” attitudes that are growing.
@Stephen Devlin: Thought the backstop was already in legal form as per paragraph 45
@Joe Johnson: No it’s just a draft agreement I don’t think it can be held to account legally, it specifically states that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.
@Stephen Devlin: When did the DUP say they never wanted a hard border?
If the EU accept a deal with UK so they can keep some kind of advantages with Europe,then many other countries will just do the same.
This can not be accepted.
They wanted out they are out.
The last hope of agreement is to accept another referendum in UK.
And because this is a European matter allow the European in UK to vote as well. If the No wins the matter is over. If it is a yes then off they go. But they cannot be allow to have a special treatment.
@Dominic Leleu: http://flip.it/IQJP5I
Trying to put a border up north again is going to be interesting to watch.
@Sean Conway: we can pull it down
It’s a method by which political and regulatory policy over NI can be removed from London and placed with Brussels and Dublin.
The status changes are such that the main requirement of the rest of the UK to NI will be continued subsidy by the Barnett formula.
All without having to ask the people. A messy business that the EU would rather do without.
Effective reunification of Ireland without the mess of cost and democracy.
Gosh, I wonder what the EU will want in return for all this help.
@Damocles: We ARE the EU, it’s not them and us. We even have more influence proportionally to our population then Germany or France in the EU.
But let’s put that aside for the moment. What do you propose to resolve the NI situation, outside also leaving the EU that is because I get a bit of a whiff of euroscepticism from you.
And by the way, leaving the EU would instantly mean rejoining the UK if we’re to have ANY chance of establishing bilateral trade agreements. Technically you’d solve the NI issue but I don’t think it’s worth it.
@Colm A. Corcoran: I think it would be terrible for Ireland to leave the EU. The formula for Ireland is a low corporate tax rate and in Europe. Break that and you’d be stuffed.
As for joining the UK. You have to ask, after this shindig would the UK have you? And if they did, on what terms? Hiding to nothing if you ask me.
I’ve made plenty of suggestions as to how the NI border could be resolved. But it’ll need political will and cooperation from Dublin. Which I would have thought would be in the spirit of the GFA, but seems not to be forthcoming.
And yes, you do seem to have a fair amount of influence in Brussels right now, but quid pro quo.
@Damocles: Hahaha! The notion of joining the UK. Look what’s happened to NI under U.K. rule from being the economic powerhouse on the island of Ireland to being an economic basket case, which can’t govern or pay its own way and requires subvention from England. The Republic exports €100 billion, the UK exports €6.5 billion. The Republic has emerged into a modern, liberal European society with a broad economic base, while NI’s main city has shrunk in size along with its economy set in a society that is riven with division.
@Damocles: The GFA doesn’t absolve Britain from making a decision that so obviously puts it in danger. In the realm of sanity the situation calls for Britain to take responsibility and solve the challenge to the GFA, that they introduced, themselves.
This could all have been resolved if the Briitish Government agreed to regulatory alignment in the north with increased customs controls between NI and Britain. A solution I’d bet that would be supported by the majority of NI.
We’re only in this situation because the Tories value their jobs over the good of their nation.
@Colm A. Corcoran: There’s an underlying sense of a need for cooperation within the GFA of different parties putting aside their differences to work together for a common good.
That’s being ignored in any attempt to resolve this new dispute.
I think that’s a shame.
I don’t think a spirit of “You caused this, you sort it out.” would have ever led to an end to the Troubles.
@Damocles: If the parties involved didn’t take responsibility for their own actions then the GFA could be misused as a means of economical warfare.
No matter how you sell it you can’t convince me that Ireland should pay for Britain’s irresponsibility.
I really can’t believe how so many people are happy that their country is fast earning the reputation of being dishonourable, ungrateful and distrustable.
The six counties are effectively beyond the realistic reach of Brexit, because no one there wants to go back to a hard border, with customs posts & ancillary security, the Brits cannot afford the costs involved even if they had the will or resources for it, & the Republic can comply with any external trade & immigration controls at its own ports.
The sea oh the sea, is brea geal mo chroi!
When this is over the words brexit and backstop should be eradicated from the planet
Independence for the UK is simply not allowed.
@Martin Lintzgy: they have independence, they’ve always had it.
I assume you are incorrectly using the word and instead referring to UK leaving EU, they UK can leave. Nobody is stopping them.
They however cannot have the benefits of being in the EU without being a member of the EU. It’s that simple.
The UK is like a person quitting a gym membership but then demanding the gym still allows the person to use its equipment etc but without following its rules or paying for the use.
It’s been agreed, it’s simple.
BACKSTOP MEANS BACKSTOP.
@Peadar Farrell: Remarks: This report is put forward with a view to the meeting of the European Council (Article 50) of 14-15 December 2017. Under the caveat that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, the joint commitments set out in this joint report shall be reflected in the Withdrawal Agreement in full detail. This does not prejudge any adaptations that might be appropriate in case transitional arrangements were to be agreed in the second phase of the negotiations, and is without prejudice to discussions on the framework of the future relationship.
Note: The caveat
The problem with the backstop, from a UK perspective, is that it isn’t a backstop. It isn’t an insurance policy in case other means fail because it appears that it has already been decided that those means will fail.
It is not beyond the ken of reasonable people working together in good faith to come up with a solution that would work on this island, within the WTO, that would remove the need for a hard goods border. This is doable and only requires political will and cooperation from both sides of the border.
However reasonable suggestions so far have been dismissed out of hand without the slightest sign of will or cooperation.
So it is inevitable that the backstop would become the permanent default.
It is felt that the EU and Ireland are not negotiating in good faith here.
@Damocles: it’s not a negotiation. The UK is leaving the EU. There are agreements to be made to arrange for that but don’t fool yourself that the UK has any leverage at all.
@Colm A. Corcoran: there’s that spectacular lack of good faith again.
You talk about not trusting the UK but the EU and RoI are displaying a spectacular lack of ability to act in good faith here.
Trust has to go two ways.
Too many tea parties with Boris.
have your say