Celebrating the Launch of Autism Friendly Terenure

Thursday, November 21st, 2024 | News & Updates | Miriam Kenny

On Wednesday, November 20th, Involve Autism was thrilled to officially launch the Autism Friendly Terenure (AFT) initiative in association with AsIAm Ireland. Hosted at Terenure College RFC, the event was met with an overwhelming response, bringing together local leaders, community groups, and supporters to embark on this important journey toward inclusion and autism awareness.

A Night to Remember

The launch event was a showcase of collaboration, advocacy, and shared commitment to creating a more inclusive community. Highlights of the evening included:

  • Special Guests:
    We were honoured to have Cllr. Geoghegan and The Lord Mayor of Dublin launch the initiative, alongside a powerful keynote address by Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm Ireland. We were also delighted to welcome Baby Pereppadan, Mayor of South Dublin County Council, to the event.
  • Panel Discussion:
    Our inaugural AFT committee participated in a passionate panel discussion, sharing their personal motivations for joining the initiative and their hopes for its impact. Special thanks to committee members from:
    • Terenure Enterprise Centre
    • Dublin City Council
    • Terenure Community Support
    • Stuart Banks
    • And many more inspiring contributors!
  • Community Partners:
    Representatives from Terenure College RFC, Terenure Tigers, Ranelagh Rockets, and Libermann Spiritan Tempelogue School shared insights about the incredible work being done within their organisations. A special thank you to Brendan and all our community partners who continue to make a difference.

Advocacy and Gratitude

As always, Involve Autism took the opportunity to highlight the importance of advocacy and the ongoing efforts to support families within our community.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to:

  • Terenure College RFC for providing the venue and being so accommodating.
  • Irish Rugby Grassroots for the Sensaroam bus.
  • Dublin City Council and Will Nestor for their ongoing support.
  • Empire Group for sound management on the night.

A special thanks to Carol’s Cakes Dublin for the stunning cupcakes, and Foam Coffeehouse for the delicious food.

We were also delighted to welcome our friends from Embrace Autism D9 and Drumcondra Autism Friendly, whose presence added to the spirit of unity and shared purpose.

Recognizing Our Supporters

We are deeply grateful to the public representatives who showed their support on the night, including:

  • Jim O’Callaghan TD
  • John Lahart TD
  • Ivana Bacik TD
  • Ciarán Ahern TD
  • Cllr. Fiona Connelly

Finally, a big thank you to Mick Quinn (MQ Photography) for capturing the night and to Owens DDB for their invaluable help.

Looking Ahead

The launch of Autism Friendly Terenure is just the beginning. We are excited to take the next steps in making our vision of an inclusive and supportive community a reality across D6/D6W.

Together, we can create a space where everyone feels welcome and empowered to thrive.

#AutismFriendlyTerenure #Community #Inclusion #Terenure #Rathgar #Rathmines #Ranelagh #Templeogue #HaroldsCross

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