ATU is working towards Autism Friendly Status with Autism advocacy group AsIAm. We want to celebrate students and staff on the autism spectrum and to provide a learning environment to help all our students realise their potential.

TU are committed to providing an accessible and welcoming environment for autistic students, where they are provided with the opportunity to experience all aspects of university life.  Our students are at the heart of everything that we do and have informed each step of ATU Autism Friendly Initiative hitherto. Having led the ALTITUDE Charter development nationally, ATU strongly believes that ‘inclusion is everyone’s business’, and that all staff play a role in creating an environment in which the huge diversity of learners in our community can thrive. ATU is committed to its aim to reduce barriers to learning, student success, digital engagement and in the physical environment.  

ATU Sligo was the first Technology University to be awarded the Autism-Friendly Campus Status by AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity in 2022. ATU, Sligo will be adding the St Angela’s campus to their autism friendly campus plan in 2025. ATU Donegal hope to attain their status in 2025 while the other campuses are currently working on their applications. AsIAm’s vision and purpose is to advocate for an inclusive society for Autistic people that is accessible, accepting and affirming. This has been broken down into the following 9 key principles for working with all Autism Friendly Universities in Ireland. 

9 Principles of Autism Inclusion 

• Encourage and enable students with autism to transition into and participate in ATU programmes. 

• Support and build capacity to equip students with autism to meet the academic challenges of everyday ATU life. 

• Support and build capacity to equip students with autism to meet the social challenges of ATU life. 

• Seek to establish an autism-friendly operational environment. 

• Seek to combat the stigma around autism and recognise the diverse experiences of those with the condition. 

• Develop understanding and relevant knowledge and skills within the ATU community (staff and service providers). 

• Establish channels so that students with autism can have a voice in various aspects of ATU life. 

• Seek to increase future employability of students with autism. 

• Build capacity throughout the institution to support autistic employees. 

Research tells us the social side of student life is an important area for autistic students. The student-led Neurodivergent Society offers weekly meet ups and organises events each semester. In addition to Student Services’ Connect Café, Breakfast Club and Hangout Hub, there is a weekly Lunchtime Social open to all neurodivergent students and friends. This is a welcoming space for any students to drop in when it suits; take part in games/activities or just relax in friendly surroundings. 

Some autistic students can sometimes find the campus busy with a lack of quiet spaces. This is something that has been addressed by ATU with the designation of the Regulation Spaces along with Sensory Cubbies accross our campuses. We can offer a quiet lunch space to our autistic students on request and we direct any students who contact us so we can signpost to other quiet spaces around our campus.  

ATU has collaborated with the other HEI Autism Friendly Campus Universities in bringing about the annual Autism Acceptance Festival. This festival takes place over a week in March or April and is a series of public events to centre autistic people and promote autism acceptance. It has featured a range of speakers from the autistic community on topics such as employability, education, healthcare in the autistic community, women, libraries, LGBTQ+ and autism and more. The festival also includes ‘Divergent Minds’ an exhibition of art and creativity from autistic creators. Autism Acceptance Festival 2025  

ATU has developed a partnership with Specialisterne and AsIAm’s Employment Programme along with ATU’s Careers Office. All ATU autistic students are offered careers and employability support. ATU & AsIAm continue to develop strong links with partner companies in supporting all our students in their employment and career journeys. This partnerships are extending accross our many campuses as ATU integrates the services and supports offered to neurodiverse students.