Minister of State for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, has announced that new funding has been allocated to two AsIAm “Autism One Stop Shops’. These locations will operate as hubs to provide coordinated, effective, neuroaffirmative evidence-based destinations where Autistic adults, children and their families can receive information and direct support. This offering will expand the reach and range of group-based and advisory supports already delivered by AsIAm nationally.
Confirming the funding, Minister Rabbitte stated:
“I am delighted to announce this funding for AsIAm as I want to ensure greater supports are being provided to Autistic people and their families. These One Stop Shops will enable people access to information on the right supports at the right time.
“The initiative has been developed while work on the Autism Innovation Strategy has been continuing, but as the One Stop Shops have to be staffed and opened, I was keen to advance this as quickly as possible to allow that preparation commence.
The One Stop Shops will be serving people in Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 7 and CHO 2, and will provide ‘drop in’ and structured supports for both Autistic individuals and groups and their families.
Bernard O’Regan, Head of Operations in Disability Services in the HSE said:
“The HSE is supporting a number of initiatives with AsIAm including the development of a phone line to provide supports to the Autistic community and the recently announced Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Programme to make devices available to children to assist in communication and education. The HSE looks forward to working with AsIAm in the development of this new initiative to improve access to information and support for the Autistic community.”
Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm said:
“We are delighted to work with the HSE to provide this new support which we have long campaigned for and which was recently recommended in the Final Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism. Autistic people face invisible barriers across community life – from availing of public services to accessing social opportunities and securing employment. The One Stop Shop model is based on a proven record of success in Scotland and will enable Autistic people and families to access barrier-free advice and support in the community. These supports will be complementary to those which individuals and families require from CDNTs or Disability Services and will play a key role in building capacity, fostering connectivity and enabling participation, with the lived experience of Autistic people at the heart of both the design and delivery of the offering. Critically the one stop shops will enable families to access support across the life cycle and the range of policy areas – breaking down silos which cost families precious time, energy and support. We will operationalise this new support system in 2024 with a view to national expansion in the years ahead. In designing the offering provided we will be consulting closely with Autistic people and families in the CHO2 and CHO7 areas.”
Minister Rabbitte further remarked:
“We recognise the need for family-focused provision and acknowledge that the family is the primary educator, advocate and mentor for a child. This is a position adopted in both the 2012 National Review of Autism Services and the 2017 Review of Irish Health Services for Autistic Individuals. This will also address one of the core issues highlighted in the ‘Final Report of the Joint Committee on Autism’ published in 2023 around the clarity on where to access reliable information and services.”
AsIAm have been a key partner for the HSE in the Autism space as well as an incredible advocate for Autistic people in Ireland and I look forward to seeing their success in the One Stop Shops over the coming years.”
