Here at Super Calm Sensory Products our aim is to educate parents, carers, teachers and children on neurodiversity and the impact it can have on the person caring for the child with a neurodiverse difference. We aim to increase understanding on what is happening in the body of a neurologically different person resulting in greater empathy in understanding certain behaviours. By developing sensory diets and activities aimed towards their specific sensory needs the child should reach optimum levels of arousal to allow them to be present during school and home life.
Someone who has neurologically diverse differences may react differently to others around sensory stimuli and other environmental factors. The overall goal is to promote understanding and increase empathy resulting in a more harmonious environment for all.
We have compiled a list of organisations aimed at supporting neurodiverse people and their families here in Ireland. If we have missed out on any please let us know.
Feel free to share this information with anyone who may find it useful!
National Disability Authority: Purpose: Provides information and advice to the Government on policy and practice relevant to the lives of persons with disabilities.
Services: Assist the Minister for Justice and Equality in the coordination of disability policy. Research, develop and collaborate on the development of relevant statistics. Assist in the development of standards, develop codes of practice and monitor the implementation of standards, codes and employment of persons with disabilities in the public service. The National Disability Authority has free online resources for helping public sector staff. These include a library, an online accessibility toolkit, an eLearning module for disability equality training, and videos of conferences and interviews.
Who should avail: Any member of the public can avail of the resources available on their website.
Type: Independent statutory body.
Entitled/Criteria/Means Tested: N/A.
Contact: Phone: 016080400 Email: nda@nda.ie
Link to webpage: http://nda.ie/
AHEAD: Purpose: create inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities. The main focus is further education and training, higher education and graduate employment.
Services: Provides information on disability issues, contributes to forums, provide professional development opportunities to develop the capacity of staff in FET and higher education to be more inclusive.
Who should avail: Students, graduates, Those who work in education and Employers.
Entitled/Criteria/Means Tested: N/A.
Contact: Phone: + 353 1 7164396 Email: ahead@ahead.ie
Link to webpage; https://www.ahead.ie/index
Sunflower Clinic: Purpose: The Sunflower Clinic was setup by Julie O’Sullivan in 2006, in order to deliver independent Occupational Therapy services for children in the Cork area.
Services: MDT services; multi-disciplinary team to provide an assessment and diagnostic service. OT services; Screening assessment, Full OT assessment, OT Review assessment, SIPT assessment. Handwriting assessment, Pre-school OT assessment.
Who should avail: Those with ASD, families of those affected.
Type: Independent service.
Entitled/Criteria/Means Tested: Those wanting a screening/diagnosis/assistance.
Contact: Phone: 021 4321 729 Email: info@sunflowerclinic.ie
Link to webpage: https://staging.sunflowerclinic.ie/about-us/
ICARE: Purpose: Supporting families of children with Autism in Inishowen.
Services: Provide support, respite care and training to families of children with Autism in Inishowen.
Who should avail: Families of children with Autism in Inishowen.
Type: Local parent run organisation.
Entitled/Criteria/Means Tested: Child diagnosed with Autism.
Contact: Phone: 074 93 62226 10.00am-12.30pm Monday and Wednesday, 10.00am-4.00pm Tues and Friday or 086 108 1200. Email: centremanager@icare.ie
Link to webpage: https://icare.ie/
The Cork Association of Association of Autism: Purpose: The service provides person centred support and skill development programs to adults on the Autism spectrum throughout the Cork and Kerry region. The service is the preeminent Autism Specific Service Provider in the region. The core objective of the Association is to provide best-in-class services, delivering individual focused care plans for the people availing of our services.
Services: Day service facilities, Respite care, Residential care, Aspect, Home care.
Who should avail: Adults on the autism spectrum. Should you wish to apply for residential, respite, day service or home support you should contact the main office by emailing info@corkautism.ie or calling 021 453 3642 . Should you wish to apply for the outreach supports provided by the ASPECT programme please write to or phone the Outreach Coordinator (Please see details on the ASPECT section of the site).
Type: Section 39 organisation substantially funded by the HSE but supported by a fully voluntary Board and a host of volunteers.
Entitled/Criteria/Means Tested: For respite care- from the area in Cork and be on waiting list.
Contact: Phone: 021 239 3678 Email: info@caaspect.ie
Link to webpage: http://corkautism.ie/
Galway Autism Partnership: Purpose: One of the objectives of GAP is to provide information for families and individuals living with ASD. This ranges from general ASD information and interventions to building an extensive local knowledge which is beneficial to our members. This includes road mapping the “post-diagnostic” route, services available for those living with ASD and activities such as sport, recreation, etc. which may add quality to members' lives.
Services: Autism awareness talks, Peer to peer support, Coffee mornings, Family Days, GAP camps and clubs.
Who should avail: Parents, people on the autism spectrum, family members, teachers, volunteers and those working with people who are living with ASD and other additional needs e.g. Intellectual Disability.
Type: Voluntary organisation.
Entitled/Criteria/Means Tested: All activities depend on resources-financial and people.
Contact: Phone: 091588899 Email: info@galwaysutismpartnership.com
Link to webpage: https://www.galwayautismpartnership.com/
Sensational Kids: Purpose; delivering life-changing, accessible and affordable, timely interventions to 6,800+ children of all abilities over the last 10 years, saving their families over €1.5 million in therapy fees.
Services: Early Intervention for children with additional needs, with and without a diagnosis (all abilities), Professional development training for those who work with children with additional needs. Access to learning resources for organisations in education, and clinical service provision, child development, professionals, individuals, and educators
Who should avail: Parents, teachers, schools (anyone affected by ASD).
Type: Non-profit organization.
Entitles/Criteria/Means Tested: Children with additional needs-tested or untested.
Contact: Kildare: Phone 045 520900 Email info@sensationalkids.ie Mayo: Phone 094 9357005 Email Claremorris@sensationalkids.ie Monaghan: Phone 047 52671 Email Clones@sensationalkids.ie West Cork: Phone 023 887 8208 Email Clonakilty@sensationalkids.ie.
Link to webpage: https://www.sensationalkids.ie/
Inclusion Ireland: Purpose: Inclusion Ireland provides a central forum for its members to identify priorities and formulate nationally agreed policies to present to government, statutory bodies, other relevant groups as well as the general public. Inclusion Ireland campaigns for changes in services and legislation that will improve the quality of life and participation of people with an intellectual disability in Irish Society.
Services: Promotes Advocacy for people with an intellectual disability, particularly self-advocacy. Provides an information and advice service by phone, post and through its website. Publishes information leaflets/booklets. Publishes a quarterly newsletter and organises seminars and conferences on intellectual disability. Gives information, training and talks to a range of groups. Represents the intellectual disability sector in Ireland at an international level by its membership of Inclusion International & Inclusion Europe. Promotes research into intellectual disability.
Who should avail: Individuals such as people with an intellectual disability, parents and family members, those working in services, students, or any person with an interest in intellectual disability can become an individual member of Inclusion Ireland. Parent and Friend Associations and Support Groups, Self-Advocacy Groups, Voluntary and Statutory organisations providing services to people with an intellectual disability, Trade unions, Professional Bodies, Societies, Special interest groups.
Type: Not for profit organisation.
Entitled/Criteria/Means Tested: Application form on website- €10 charge.
Contact: Phone: You can call Inclusion Ireland on 01 855 9891 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays. Email: info@inclusionireland.ie
Link to webpage: http://www.inclusionireland.ie/
Please share this information around, our aim is to increase knowledge and awareness of these services to those in Ireland.