Blarney recognised at Autism Friendly Towns Awards

A Cork community has been awarded for demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering autism inclusion, understanding and acceptance.

Blarney has been officially recognised at the AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns Awards 2025. This year’s awards mark a significant milestone in Ireland’s journey toward greater inclusivity with Blarney, who won in the New Community and Community Engagement categories, joining a growing number of locations that have taken practical steps to make their spaces, businesses, and services more accessible for autistic individuals and their families.

A spokesperson for Autism Friendly Blarney said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition for Blarney. Over the past year, our community has worked together to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive.”

Adam Harris, CEO and Founder of AsIAm, said: "An autism-friendly community is one that sees, understands, and values autistic people. We are proud to recognise Blarney for its commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment and for the steps it has taken to ensure that autistic individuals and their families can participate fully in everyday life. These efforts set an example for other towns and cities across Ireland, and we look forward to continuing this.”

The AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns Programme provides a structured framework for communities to promote autism inclusion.

To earn and retain Autism Friendly status, towns and cities must demonstrate progress over a three-year cycle, which includes establishing a voluntary Autism Friendly Town Committee, implementing a three-year action plan, engaging local employers to support autistic individuals through work experience or employment, training Autism Friendly Champions across key sectors and ensuring businesses and organisations are assistance dog-friendly to enhance accessibility.

Started in 2018, the AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns Awards is an annual initiative recognising communities that commit to a framework of autism inclusion, understanding, and acceptance.