Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today we will resume our consideration of autism policy, especially regarding the services and supports provided by the State to autistic people. I would like to welcome our witnesses: Ms Julie Tonge, who is a disability officer in the access and lifelong learning centre in University College Dublin; and Ms Lisa Marie Clinton, who is the director of strategy and business development of adult transition and employment in CentralReach.

Further and higher education can represent an important milestone in the lives of autistic people and their development into adulthood. It is essential that the committee continues to engage with institutions at third level. It is imperative that autistic people get the opportunity to participate in college and university life on an equal basis with their neurotypical peers and feel fully included.

The committee looks forward to hearing how it can ensure that autistic people are fully included in third level education and training and university life. Entry into employment is another significant milestone in the lives of autistic people. However, 85% of them are currently unemployed or under-employed. The committee wishes to learn more about how this situation can be rectified and to make sure autistic people have the same opportunities to work and how barriers to accessing employment can be removed. The committee is interested in hearing how augmentative and alternative communication strategies and software could help autistic people to communicate.

Before we start our meeting I propose that we publish the opening statements on the the committee website. Is that agreed? Agreed.