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News | 22 November 2025
Dublin City Council Culture Company has been accredited Autism Friendly by AsIAm
Through consultations, environmental audits, accessibility improvements, staff training and best practise implementation, AsIAm have accredited Dublin City Council Culture Company as Autism Friendly.
Over a period of 18 months, Dublin City Council Culture Company has been working with AsIAm, Ireland's Autism Charity, towards certification of Autism Friendly, their national programme to help organisations, businesses and communities make adjustments to their existing services to make them more accessible to Autistic people, or by creating specific services which aim to address the Autism community’s support needs.
This accreditation certifies that the Culture Company has developed expertise in "recognising the social interactions and environmental factors that influence Autistic individuals and making adjustments to communication styles and physical spaces to better meet each person's unique support needs."
The AsiAm pathway to accreditation involves Autism understanding and acceptance training, Autism-Friendly environmental audits and reports of recommendations, consultation with the AsIAm team and the adoption of a Charter of Inclusion.
"An Autism-Friendly space is one that considers the unique needs of Autistic individuals. It provides a calm and welcoming atmosphere that reduces sensory overload, uses clear communication, and respects personal space. This type of environment helps Autistic individuals feel more at ease, allowing them to participate fully and enjoy their experiences.
AsIAm believe that genuine equality can only be achieved by increasing public understanding of Autism and by supporting organisations, businesses, public services, and other institutions to become more inclusive and accessible.”
Dublin City Councillor Cat O Driscoll, Culture Company Board Chairperson Owen Keegan, CEO Iseult Dunne, Dublin City Autism Friendly Officer Maeve Gilmore, DCC Community and Social Development Officers Brenda O'Reilly and Danielle Phelan and Board member Dr Ciaran Wallace receive the Culture Company AsIAm Certification.
We have worked with AsIAm on accessibility audits of our buildings and programmes, on training and awareness development for our staff and team members and on creating a suite of communications, including Visual Guides to Richmond Barracks and to 14 Henrietta Street to help people with various access requirements feel comfortable in our spaces. This has been one part of the Company's journey towards Accessibility.
Iseult Dunne, CEO of the Culture Company welcomed Maeve Gilmore, the Dublin City Autism Friendly Officer, to present the Certification to members of the Culture Company Board of Directors, in recognition of the Certification.
Iseult said: “Our work with our whole company team, programmes and within the buildings we operate from, with the support of AsIAm, has been very fulfilling for everyone involved.
Further, we are delighted with the support of the Community and Social Development team within Dublin City Council in our work in this area, and we are hugely supportive of their objectives towards Dublin becoming designated as an Autism Friendly City.“
Congratulations from AsIAm
On presentation of the Autism Friendly accreditation, Maeve Gilmore, Dublin City Autism Friendly Officer said:
“We are delighted to welcome Dublin City Council Culture Company to our Accredited organisations and we commend their dedication and enthusiasm to enhance their organisation to provide accessible and enjoyable experiences for Autistic people.
I want to extend my congratulations to the Dublin City Council Culture Company team for their immense work and commitment to establishing inclusive practices as they continue to promote positive experiences for all.
In November 2023, Dublin City Council partnered with AsIAm to commit to making Dublin City the first Autism-Friendly Capital in the world.
As an accredited partner, Dublin City Culture Company will automatically be considered a Champion within the plan and will play a central role in amplifying the importance of inclusive and sensory considerate activities across the city."
Dublin City Autism Friendly City Initiative
Of the Dublin City Autism Friendly City Initiative Maeve Gilmore said:
"The Dublin City Autism Friendly City Initiative advocates and creates for a more inclusive understanding for the Autistic community where they can live as they are; equal, valued and respected.
In order to be considered an Autism Friendly Capital, sixty Autism-friendly champions must be recruited and trained across the city. Furthermore, the city commits to making numerous sensory adaptations and strengthened pathways of inclusivity in the creative and employment sectors.
Through our work with Dublin City Council Culture Company, we will collaborate to reach many cultural organisations and community groups who will commit to making small sensory, communication or predictability adaptations to improve accessibility for Autistic people."