Dublin City Council adopts plan to become world’s first Autism-Friendly Capital City
Dublin City Council has approved an ambitious action plan to make Ireland’s capital the first Autism Friendly Capital in the world, in partnership with AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity.
In 2023 Dublin City Council announced its partnership with AsIAm to adopt the Autism-Friendly Town framework aimed at removing barriers in day-to-day life so that Autistic people have the same chance to live, learn, work and play in their local community. The Dublin City Autism Friendly Action Plan places this commitment and builds on a series of activites and initiatives that Dublin City Council and AsIAm have already progressed in advancing towards the goal. The Action Plan is a three-year strategy with a clear vision to create a city where Autistic people can thrive, barriers are removed, and everyone has the same chance to engage with all that Dublin has to offer. Built around six high-level goals, the plan focuses on participation, education, recreation and accessible infrastructure across the city.
The high-level goals of the Dublin City Autism Friendly Action Plan where identified through a series of consultations with Autistic people and families in Dublin’s Mansion House and with Dublin-specific data from AsIAm’s annual Same Chance Report. The goal are:
• Establishing a strong sense of community for Autistic people in Dublin City and championing their advocacy
• Enhancing public knowledge and understanding of Autism to reduce stigma and misinformation
• Improving infrastructure to become more inclusive, accessible and safe
• Creating a city that welcomes the Autistic community to visit, live and study
• Celebrating the strengths of Dublin’s Autistic community
• Promoting inclusive workplaces and pathways to meaningful employment
Key actions include the recruitment of Autism-Friendly champions across business, voluntary and public sector organisations, the development of a citywide sensory map highlighting trained businesses, organisations and accessibility measures, the establishment of an Autism Friendly Committee in each of Dublin’s 11 local electoral areas, and increased opportunities for Autistic people in the arts, education and employment.
Commenting on the plan, Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam said:
“I welcome Dublin City Council’s adoption of the Dublin City Autism Friendly Action Plan 2026 to 2028. This is a practical, city wide commitment to make Dublin more inclusive for Autistic people and their families through better understanding, better design, and better everyday access to services and spaces. It also strengthens our ambition to be recognised as the first Autism Friendly capital city in the world.
This ties directly to my pillar of a Living City because inclusion is not an add on, it is the standard we should set for how our city works. The plan focuses on what will make the biggest difference in daily life, improving public knowledge, reducing stigma, and making our streets, buildings and services more accessible through simple, thoughtful measures.
It also supports an Active and Engaged City by helping more people participate fully in Dublin’s civic, cultural and community life. From training and Autism Friendly Champions, to sensory supports in public spaces and more accessible city events, this is about breaking down barriers and building a city where everyone has the same chance to live, learn, work and play. As Lord Mayor, I look forward to chairing the Steering Group and working with AsIAm, Council teams, communities and businesses to drive real delivery over the lifetime of this plan.”
The action plan is modelled on AsIAm’s Autism Friendly Towns framework, a national programme with over 45 voluntary steering committees across Ireland which commenced in Clonakilty in 2018. To achieve Autism Friendly status, Dublin City must recruit 60 Autism Friendly Champions, each of whom will complete Autism Friendly Training and make practical sensory adaptations within their premises and demonstrate implementation of the action plan outlined above. Progress will be assessed annually by an independent judging panel. In addition to Dublin’s overall bid to become an Autism-Friendly capital, the programme is also supporting individual communities within Dublin to apply the framework locally with Drumcondra receiving recognition as an Autism-Friendly Village in 2025 and communities in Terenure, D12, D10, D20 and Darndale currently working towards recognition.
CEO of AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity, Adam Harris said:
“We are delighted to see Dublin City make a formal commitment to breaking down the often invisible but pervasive barriers which Autistic people can face in day-to-day life in our city. This plan is both ambitious and achievable and has been co-created with Autistic people and families across Dublin, building on the significant success of local Autism-Friendly Towns committees across the capital and initiatives such as Dublin City Council’s Sensoria Festival and the Relaxed Space at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade annually. By implementing this plan, Dublin has an opportunity not only to make day to day life more accessible but to reduce stigma, combat misinformation and promote the visibility and participation of Autistic people across all aspects of city life. We believe Dublin’s efforts to become an Autism-Friendly Capital City will make for a better place to live, study, work, visit and do business in.”
Findings from AsIAm’s Same Chance Report 2025 underline the need for this initiative, with 90 percent of Autistic people in Dublin saying the public does not understand Autism, and 79 percent feeling they do not have the same chance to be themselves. Establishing Dublin as the world’s first Autism Friendly Capital provides a strong platform to challenge misinformation and champion the rights of the Autistic community.
The approval marks a major milestone in the partnership between AsIAm and Dublin City Council, launched in 2023 following consultation with the Autistic community at the Mansion House in 2024. Oversight of the project will be provided by a Dublin City Autism Friendly Steering Group, chaired by the Lord Mayor, and bringing together key stakeholders including autistic advocates and local parent support groups.
Photo Caption: Maeve Gilmore (Dublin City Autism Friendly Officer), Adam Harris (AsIAm CEO), Councillor Ray McAdam (Lord Mayor of Duiblin),Shauna McIntyre (DCC Senior Executive Officer), William Nestor (Autism Friendly Towns Manager)