Mayo winner at AsIAm Autism Friendly Town Awards
CASTLEBAR town took home the Inclusive Events Award at the Autism Friendly Town Awards 2024.
Held by AsIAm, Ireland's autism charity, the award ceremony took place at the Aisling Hotel in Dublin, where Maynooth received the AsIAm Autism Friendly Town Award 2024 and five other communities, including Castlebar, were acknowledged with Special Recognition Awards.
The AsIAm Autism Friendly Town Awards is an annual event in which communities across Ireland are awarded for following a series of principles aimed at fostering autism inclusion and empowerment in local communities.
Castlebar town achieved several targets set by AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns, including organising and running autism-friendly events within the community, such as Mayo Autism Camp, sensory walks, a resource autism fair and a Library Autism Awareness Week. These successful initiatives earned the town the Inclusive Events Award.
Speaking about the win, John Page, chairperson of Castlebar Autism Friendly Town Committee, said: “Castlebar has made significant strides this year when it comes to making Mayo more inclusive for our autistic community and we’re committed to continuing this journey in the years to come.”
Adam Harris, CEO, AsIAm, added: “The new principles adopted by each of our winning towns will improve access for autistic people in day-to-day life, create supporting and accepting environments within the community and promote local business and tourism.”
All towns awarded this week achieved several key targets set out by AsIAm, including embarking on a three-year charter inclusion plan, staff training and the organising of autism friendly events, among other principles that support acceptance and participation of autistic people in their towns.
AsIAm Autism Friendly Town Awards criteria has been created in response to the barriers to inclusion faced by Autistic individuals in their local community, such as communication, predictability and control, sensory processing, and judgement.