On April 2nd, 2025, Portobello Institute joins the global community to mark the 18th annual World Autism Awareness Day, a United Nations-sanctioned event dedicated to increasing understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) worldwide.
This day serves as a reminder of the importance of embracing neurodiversity and fostering inclusive communities.
In Ireland, autism prevalence has been a topic of ongoing interest and research.
In 2022, according to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Policy Advice Paper on Special Schools and Classes “An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society”, the NCSE examined its own data, which validated research reporting a prevalence rate of autism of 3.38% in Ireland which is a significant change to the previous reported rate of 1.55% in 2018.
An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Page 7
These statistics underscore the need for increased awareness, support, and resources for individuals with autism and their families.
According to the same report, the impact of this changing demographic of autistic students
in Irish schools is clearly demonstrated by the year on year substantial increase in the
demand for special classes.
Drivers of growth in special education needs provision can be attributed to the underlying change in the school age population, changes in policy and diagnostic criteria, the increasing proportion of students who can avail of SNA and special educational supports, as well as an increase in autism diagnoses.
Funding for 768 additional special education teachers and 1,600 more special needs assistants was approved by the government as part of Budget 2025.
It said this will support 350 building projects currently underway, as well as a further 200 new school projects which advocate groups, parents, teachers and SNAs around the country have been calling for.
Increased prevalence and investment in the sector means more SNAs and inclusive education teachers will be needed and recruited in the coming years. Portobello Institute is proud to provide advanced, high quality training and education in these areas.
Fran Trehy, an expert in Special Needs Assisting and Inclusive Education at Portobello Institute, emphasises the importance of Autism Awareness Week as a time to celebrate neurodiversity and foster inclusion.
"As we enter Autism Awareness Week, we are reminded of the wonderful world of difference we have in our lives.
"Autism Awareness Week is more than just a time to recognise autism; it is also an opportunity to celebrate neurodiversity, challenge the misconceptions within our society, and promote inclusion, examining it deeper than we ever have before.
"Whether you are personally connected to autism or simply want to learn more, this week is about embracing different ways of thinking, communicating, and experiencing the world," she said.
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person perceives the world and interacts with others. Because autism exists on a spectrum, each autistic individual experiences it uniquely.
"Some may have heightened sensory sensitivities, others may communicate differently, and many have unique strengths, but one thing that rings through every time is the beautiful individuality of every child that we are lucky enough to have in our lives or in the environment in which we may work," Fran added.
The need for greater awareness and support is evident.
"In Ireland, we have approximately 1 in 20 school-aged children diagnosed with ASD; this figure highlights further the need for greater awareness and support. In a world filled with unconscious and conscious bias, the perceptions around autism as a 'problem to fix' need weeks like this to change this mindset.
"By incorporating the idea of inclusion, true progress can begin. Inclusion is not only creating environments where the child feels valued, supported, and loved, but also an environment where that vine of flowers blossoms into the most magnificent splendour our gardens have ever seen," she said.
Autism Awareness Week is a time to celebrate individuals with ASD and advocate for a more inclusive world.
"Let’s move beyond awareness to acceptance and action. By embracing neurodiversity, we create a society where everyone, autistic or not, can thrive," she said.
The Irish Society for Autism Remind Us What We Can Do to Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day
- Speak to the Autistic people in your life, find out how they would like to mark the day.
- Promote understanding and acceptance of Autism within your friend and family circles.
- Learn more by reading a book or watching a video relating to Autism or Autistic people’s experiences.
- If the Autistic person in your life has a particular interest/hobby, why not organise a family day out/activity centred around that.
- Remember that every Autistic person is different, every person has their strengths and challenges, treat each person with respect and as an individual.
The UN is hosting a virtual event on April 2nd under the theme "Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You can register here.
To learn more about special needs assisting and inclusive education, visit our faculty here.
