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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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I am a counsellor and can confirm that there are counsellors nationwide, newly qualified, only looking out for clients, even if the Government subsidised such services, a sliding cheaper scale could meet the state funding meaning vulnerable persons would have someone to speak to at least. Better to sit on a counsellors chair than on a waiting list.
@Vincent Doyle: the government – and frankly most counsellors – don’t care about the poor.
Counsellors charge about 70/hour and most will hear a please for help coupled with a, ‘I don’t have 70/hour’ and say, ‘tough luck’.
Counselling, psychology and psychiatry in Ireland are money rackets largely. Not because people wouldn’t benefit from genuine help, but because the people in the system in Ireland are in it for themselves and their bank accounts.
So of course, vicious cycle, the rich get help and the poor end up suffering needlessly.
@Vincent Doyle: I am not a five-star chef, and I can confirm there are expensive restaurants nationwide, but nobody on minimum wage is able to eat in any of them, for the same reason that they are unable to access councillers nationwide to address their mental health care, because it is beyond their financial means to do so, regardless of the availability.
The solution is really quite simple, deal with the issues that are causing adults and children to fall through the cracks of our mental health care system, delays span months between someone reaching out for help to mental health care services and that help being given.
Nobody presenting to any A&E department bleeding out is being told to wait a month or more, a mental health crisis for a child or adult is the mental equivalent.
@Vincent Doyle: I have a qualification in counselling. But I haven’t used it yet. I want to get experience before I start off. I know there is a huge need for counsellors.
@Pat Corr: see question further down
@Chris O’Brien: Sorry Chris but your talking nonsense there. There are plenty of low cost and free counselling services provided through charities and other NGOs. Most Counsellors are also reasonable and will often charge on a sliding scale based on a person’s financial position. Not all in the private sector make this accommodation but many do
@Vincent Doyle: depends where these guys got their qualifications .
@Chris O’Brien: you don’t expect experts to offer their services for free or at cut costs ? You any idea as to how much to cost to run a practice with insurance and indemnities , annual fees to their professional body , and expenses for constant regular training and seminars . €70 is nothing . The “poor” just need to prioritise ; laying off the drugs would be a start for many of them and stop making excuses .
@Dvsespaña: why the f u c k do you assume that 5 star places ever intended to cater for the minimum wage sect ? Why are you whinging ? It’s not for you nor is it suppose to be for you . (Not you personally )
In every dept most people want the german system(works for all) , we keep getting the american one (works only for wealthy).
Time to bring our troops home from Lebanon. It’s quite clear peace has collapsed with Israel and Lebanon launching attacks against each other. I’d rather our troops brought home safely now instead of them sitting in bunkers with the conflict escalating.
Not properly regulated
And that’s the way the unions & the professional bodies want it
They also run a Monday to Friday health service but people are selfish & continue to get sick/have accidents/give birth at weekends
I am sick to my back teeth hearing of problems & failures in our health service. I’m also sick of muppet politico’s saying it needs more money.
It needs REFORM – real meaningful reform from a minister with the courage to face down all the vested interests
And it appears we haven’t had one of them for the last 40 years
Not properly regulated. Or funded.
Our economy loses 1.8B annually because ADHD isn’t diagnosed or treated.
For context, long term social welfare costs the state 550M. Which is less than a third lost just to ADHD.
And these issues exist because for generations Irish voters choose ‘out of sight out of mind’ for mental health issues. And politicians cynically took advantage of that.
And now we’re all reaping the rewards of our societal shame re mental health issues and our collective hatred of the poor.
Well guess what, pretending problems don’t exist isn’t public healthcare policy. It costs us all. And not a little. It costs us annually more than unemployment. It costs more than out healthcare ‘overspend’.
Until we behave like compassionate humans and fund services for EVERYONE we’ll all just suffer.
The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members
@RIP: bollox ! Pay your way or die . It’s up to clans and families to look after their own. Don’t expect strangers to do it . Thatcher was right about “society”. You want communism or socialism ? You won’t find it in Ireland (or anywhere else for that matter )
@Gerry Kelly, great comment, the whole public sector needs both massive reform and investment in proper IT systems. I wouldn’t mind if there were a few billion put aside for it but only if the management and staff are accountable afterwards. Any excess staff in one area could be offered retraining in other areas and if they don’t want that then there is compulsory redundancies. We now have a situation that management get paid the big bucks but can’t make a decision without getting outside consultants in and once they’re in the costs spiral. Time for a root and branch review of it all while we have the money.
There’s two types of Irish people:
- People who have never used mental health services in Ireland/the rich who simply buy what they need despite the high prices – this group has no issues with public mental heath services in Ireland
- People who have tried to use public mental health services in Ireland and aren’t rich – this group feels like they’re in a third world country and are usually treated like garbage.
FFFG has long been reelected by the first group. The second group typically won’t vote FFFG once they realise just how poor the HSE really is. And why.
@Chris O’Brien: mental health issues don’t care about a person’s pedigree or wealth. It effects everyone . The waiting lists effect everyone too . Can’t always buy one’s way out of them . Talking sh it e as usual. Shut the f u ck and do something about your evidentially whiney sh I Tty situation . No one cares about your ranting. You and your kind do nothing but sit on your arse and expect others to spoon feed you. Do us all a big favour and get off social media and do something constructive . Maybe get a job and take those chips off your shoulders towards people who are better than you or more successful. Alternatively , find a river or moving train and don’t look back. Either way, do one. Ranting here is doing you no favours .
So what is stopping you getting the experience?
@Antoni marr: meeting the criteria for registration ? Recognition of qualifications etc , High expense to run a practice ? Might be a bit of a closed shop eg only register practitioners from a certain organisation ? Funding and a lack of resources would be a big issue . Can’t do it for free and the State will have to intervene as those that really need urgent care don’t have the funds to pay for it
One final note, if this could be connected to refugees in ANY WAY the comments would be rammed. But since this only affects the poor and mentally ill all of those, ‘save Ireland from the refugees’ types are completely disinterested.
Go figure.
Save Ireland, unless it’s the poor or sick or elderly then who cares, right lads?
@Chris O’Brien: eh, THE ONLY PEOPLE who rant and rave on this platform about Refugees and the ills of them , which leads to closing down of the comment sections ; and the ONLY PEOPLE who have gone out protesting against refugees etc and acted violently ARE THE POOR ! So , your thesis is , as usual, nonsense . Sincerely get help where you can. Ranting and raving here isn’t the right way to go about it .
Ag we’re all mad
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