Communities across Ireland were recognised at the AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns Awards 2025, which took place at the Mansion House, Dublin. Launched in 2018, the initiative celebrates towns and cities across Ireland that have demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering autism inclusion, understanding, and acceptance.
A landmark moment in this year’s ceremony was the recognition of Waterford City as the first-ever city in Ireland to achieve Autism Friendly status, marking a significant step in ensuring urban areas are accessible and inclusive for autistic individuals. Killarney and Drumcondra were also awarded Autism Friendly Town status, joining established leaders such as Clonakilty and Maynooth in creating more inclusive spaces for autistic people and their families.
The event was attended by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, who welcomed guests, and Adam Harris, CEO & Founder of AsIAm, who highlighted the growing momentum for autism-friendly communities nationwide.
Lord Mayor Emma Blain said: “It was an honour to welcome communities from across Ireland to the Mansion House to celebrate their dedication to autism inclusion. Dublin is proud to be on the journey towards becoming an Autism Friendly City, demonstrating our commitment to creating an environment where autistic individuals and their families can fully participate in city life. Over the coming three years, we will work closely with AsIAm and local communities to build a more accessible and inclusive capital for everyone. The AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns initiative is making a real impact, and today’s awards are a testament to the power of community-driven change. I congratulate all of this year’s recipients on their achievements and their commitment to creating a more inclusive Ireland."
AsIAm CEO Adam Harris added: “An autism-friendly community is one that sees, understands, and values autistic people. The recognition of Waterford as the first-ever autism-friendly city is a major milestone for the programme, demonstrating that large urban centres can lead the way in accessibility and inclusion. Today, we celebrate three incredible winners – Waterford, Killarney, and Drumcondra – who have shown leadership in making their communities more inclusive.
"Their achievements set an example for other towns and cities to follow, and Waterford’s success is an important step forward in our vision for a truly autism-friendly Ireland. This awards ceremony is a testament to the incredible work being done nationwide to make inclusion a reality, and we look forward to continuing this journey together."
In addition to Waterford, Killarney, and Drumcondra achieving full Autism Friendly status, several other communities were recognised for their outstanding contributions in specific areas:
New Community Recognition Awards
• Neurodiversity Navan
• Westport Autism Friendly
• Blarney Autism Friendly
• Trim Autism Friendly
• Dublin 10 Autism Friendly
• Ballina Autism Friendly
• Enfield Autism Friendly
• Cobh Autism Friendly
• Howth/Sutton Autism Friendly Community
Community Education Awards
• Neurodiversity Navan
• Howth/Sutton Autism Friendly Community
Sensory Accessibility Awards
• Listowel Autism Friendly
• Ballina Autism Friendly
• Maynooth Autism Friendly
Community Engagement Awards
• Dublin 10 Autism Friendly
• Blarney Autism Friendly
Inclusive Event Award
• Waterford Autism Friendly City
A special presentation was also delivered by Donna Phelan, Chairperson of Maynooth Autism Friendly Town, who shared insights into how her community successfully embedded autism-friendly initiatives at a grassroots level.
AsIAm’s Autism Friendly Towns Award provides a structured yet achievable framework for communities of all sizes to foster inclusion. Towns and cities earn and retain Autism Friendly status by demonstrating progress over a three-year cycle, guided by clear criteria. This includes:
• Establishing a voluntary Autism Friendly Town Committee
• Implementing a three-year action plan
• Engaging local employers to support autistic individuals through work experience or employment
• Training Autism Friendly Champions across key sectors
• Ensuring businesses and organisations are assistance dog-friendly to enhance accessibility
Started in 2018, the AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns Awards is an annual initiative recognising communities that commit to a framework of autism inclusion, understanding, and acceptance.
