AsIAm, Ireland's National Autism Charity, has been working to support our community through the COVID-19 public health emergency. Over the past number of weeks we have generated support materials and a webinar to help autistic people and family members through the uncertainty, anxiety and lack of routine we are all presently experiencing.
We have created a snap survey that seeks to investigate how autistic students and their families are managing the return to school this year.
As students begin preparing in the weeks ahead, we're conscious a number of crucial questions remain unanswered. This is particularly the case around whether or not autism classes will be able to operate at usual capacity, whether or not returning autistic students will be entitled to the same supports they were receiving pre-lockdown, and if they can be guaranteed that they will not have to sacrifice opportunities for transitioning between specialised settings into mainstream, or vice versa.
We are conscious that as the situation evolves the needs of our community will increase and new challenges will emerge. We have been contacted by autistic adults and families who have lots of "what if" questions around continuation of services, what to do if someone becomes sick and managing the situation at home.
It is our ambition to see these concerns reflected and allayed in any new guidance for re-opening issued schools and parents from the Department of Education and Skills.
This survey will feed into AsIAm's research, where we wish to:
Produce further supports to assist our community online;
Help support our community across the country, and;
Highlight to policy-makers and public representatives the particular issues facing our community and any accommodations or supports which will be required.
The survey will be open until
6:00pm on
Friday 14th August 2020. Have your voice heard by filling it out today!
We are incredibly conscious that this is a difficult and stressful time for everyone. We know some of the questions in our survey may be upsetting to even think about. If you are feeling distressed please consider contacting one of the below helplines or services.
HSE YourMentalHealth.ie Information Line: Call 1800 111 888 (Operates 24/7 and free to call)
Samaritans: Call 116 123 (Operates 24/7) /Email
jo@samaritans.ie (responses within 24 hours)
Pieta House: Text HELP to 51444 (Operates 24/7)/ Call 1800 247 247 (Operates 24/7 and free to call)
If you have specific questions about COVID-19 you can contact the HSE using the following details (please note this is not an emergency line):
HSE Live (Phone): Call 1850 24 1850
Finally if you have specific concerns around COVID-19 and autism which you wish to discuss you can contact our team below (please note this is an information, advocacy and signposting service operated during office hours by email and is not a helpline or mental health support):
HSE YourMentalHealth.ie Information Line: Call 1800 111 888 (Operates 24/7 and free to call)
Samaritans: Call 116 123 (Operates 24/7) /Email
jo@samaritans.ie (responses within 24 hours)
Pieta House: Text HELP to 51444 (Operates 24/7)/ Call 1800 247 247 (Operates 24/7 and free to call)
If you have specific questions about COVID-19 you can contact the HSE using the following details (please note this is not an emergency line):
HSE Live (Phone): Call 1850 24 1850
