Trim to host major conference on Autism

Trim Autism Friendly Town Committee (TAFT) will host its first community neurodiversity conference 'Let's Talk Autism' on Sunday, 9th August from 10am to 3pm at Trim Castle Hotel. The conference has been created for parents, educators, SNAs, healthcare professionals, therapists, and anyone who wants to learn more about autism through both lived experience and professional expertise.

Since it was founded just over two years ago, TAFT has been working on many projects to support autistic and neurodivergent individuals and their families throughout the year.

TAFT is a volunteer-led community group committed to making Trim a more inclusive and understanding place for neurodivergent children, adults, and their families.

They believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to take part in community life, and are committed to organising affordable, sensory-friendly events that are accessible to all.

Throughout the year, TAFT hosts sensory-friendly Christmas experiences, St Patrick's Day celebrations, family events, and parent wellbeing mornings offering activities such as yoga, Reiki, and sound baths.

These mornings provide parents and carers with an opportunity to take some time for themselves while connecting with others who understand the unique challenges and joys of raising neurodivergent children.

"One of our proudest initiatives this year was our TAFT Glimmer Awards, through which we donated sensory swings to four schools in the Trim area. Our hope is to continue growing this initiative each year so that even more schools can benefit from sensory resources that make a real difference to children," the committee said.

"Our next project is Let's Talk Autism, our very first community Neurodiversity Conference, taking place on Sunday 9th August from 10am to 3pm at Trim Castle Hotel.

"Our incredible speakers include autistic adults, parents of autistic children, psychologists, speech and language therapists, and autism specialists."

Speakers include Anne Hessman (Epiphany Coaching), Julie Holmes (Be Me Therapy), Lynn Mitchell (The Sensory Spot) , Dr Emma Bagnall (Chartered Senior Clinical Psychologist and Holistic Sleep Coach) and Amanda McGuinness (Flourish Autism Consultancy).

Topics that will be covered throughout the day include: Persistent Drive for Autonomy (PDA); Declarative Language; Parent advocacy; Choosing the right educational setting; Neuroaffirming approaches; Supporting autistic children through lived experience.

One of the core values of TAFT is that cost should never be a barrier to support. Thanks to fundraising and the generosity of local sponsors, the committee has been able to price tickets at just €10 per person, making the conference as accessible as possible for families and professionals alike.

As a voluntary committee, TAFT receive no funding from a charity or external organisation. and everything they do is made possible through fundraising, sponsorship, and the incredible support of the local community.