About Neurodiversity Ireland
Welcome to Neurodiversity Ireland. We are a community group made up of mostly neurodivergent parents of neurodivergent children. We originally came together to build a neuroaffirmative community in the village of Sandymount, Dublin. As we spread the word about this wonderful place that welcomes different brains and unique thinkers, other communities around Ireland asked how they could follow suit! The response has been amazing! We are delighted that nationwide, other communities want to celebrate and support neurodivergent kids and their families. Our message is: everyone belongs.
We are passionate about making our communities places where neurodivergent people feel seen, supported and included. We are not ‘experts’, in fact we are continuously learning how we can improve the support we provide to kids and their parents. We are all learning how to do this, together. We want everyone in the community to feel that they have a safe space to talk, ask questions and better understand how we can help one another.
Our vision
Our vision is an Ireland where Neurodivergent children and their families have the freedom to live the life they choose, fully supported by their community.
Establish Sandymount as our flagship neuroaffirmative community, driving education about, understanding and inclusion of neurodivergent individuals and encourage the development of other neurodiversity-friendly communities throughout Ireland, using our blueprint.
Break stimga by educating our community and society on how everyone can play a part in making Ireland more inclusive. Ask yourself, do you understand? Are you open to learning about neurodiversity and are you fully inclusive?
Support neurodivergent children and their families, by working with local communities, schools, and sports clubs to become more inclusive of all brain types. Everyone belongs!
Establish the Neurodiversity Ireland Sensory centre providing an eclectic range of supports including much needed speech and language & AAC assistance, sensory processing support and occupational therapy for neurodivergent children and support for parents and carers.
Meet the Neurodiversity Ireland board
Dairine Kennedy
Director
Nessa Hill
Chair/Director
Emma Weld-Moore
Director
Cathie Hynes
Director/Secretary
Rethink Ireland Report
Neurodivergent children encounter challenges in many aspects of life, due to their support needs and a lack of societal understanding of neurodiversity. They are frequently marginalised, separated within schools or excluded from social activities. The prevailing medical model of disability has contributed to the stigma surrounding neurodivergent children, with a harmful focus on what needs to be “fixed” so that they might “fit into” society.
At Neurodiversity Ireland, we believe that changing society’s view of our children will shape their futures. Rethink have allowed us to act decisively, bringing a new approach to children’s disability services. We have reimagined the supports that our children need, turning exclusion into inclusion. Rethink allowed us to deliver!
We are delighted to share our report from our project backed by the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund and Rethink Ireland. With this backing, we have been able to achieve far more than we ever could have done alone.
Join our mission. Donate, volunteer, advocate. Get started today.
Want to get involved? Email us anytime:
info@neurodiversityireland.com