Leading autism campaigner to address Buncrana conference

Leading autism campaigner Adam Harris is to address a conference on the disorder later this month.

iCARE, the local parent-run organisation which provides respite, training, support and information for families who have children with autism, is hosting the conference, its first-ever, in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana on April 29.

The iCare Autism Conference 2023 is being held to mark World Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month.

Mr Harris, who is the founder and CEO of ASIAM, Ireland’s National Autism Charity, will be the keynote speaker at the event. He founded the organisation based on his own experience growing up on the autism spectrum.

The organisation provides support to people, their families, advocates on behalf of the community, and works to support public and private sector organisations and communities in becoming inclusive and accessible.

Mr Harris, who is the brother of Government minister Simon Harris, was appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in July 2020.

Also at the conference, Joan McDonald, a trainer for educational staff, families and organisations, will speak on how to best understand and support autistic people.

Dylan Clark, a young autistic adult and member of iCare will speak on how autism affects him.

Doreen Friel, iCARE chair and autistic class teacher, will speak on teenage years and dual diagnosis.

Denise Doherty will tell the conference about employment for autistic adults.

Other speakers include Shane McKenna, autism professional and researcher into parental support; Dr Susan Crawford, an autism and movement impairment consultant and creator of Get Autism Active and Sally Murphy, a communications strategist and founder of Welltold.

The event is open to parents, professionals, educators, and anyone with an interest in learning about autism, and offers an opportunity to learn from the lived experience of autistic individuals and the expertise of recognised campaigners and leaders in the field.

The aim of the conference is to share practical strategies and solution-focused tools that can improve the quality of life for autistic children and adults.

The conference will focus on, removing barriers for autistic people, developing the key regulating skills of movement for autistic children and adults, positive learning examples for autistic people, the transition to second-level and the challenges facing autistic teenagers and employment for autistic adults and supporting parents of autistic individuals. Workshops will be held as part of the day.

iCARE chair Doreen Friel said the conference “will provide a full day of actionable, proven, insightful content from those who have been in your shoes, as a parent, professional or an autistic individual”.

“You will leave this Autism Conference feeling inspired with creative  practical resources and interventions which you can implement in your home, school, organisation or company to best support autistic people in Inishowen.”

Anyone interested in exhibiting at the autism conference should can contact centremanager@icare.ie or 086 1081200.

Tickets, which cost €20 and include a light lunch, can be purchased online at Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/icare-autism-conference-2023-tickets.