“It’s been four years now and it’s been amazing, it’s primarily a social space for kids to enhance their socials skills and have fun with everything from dance to arts and sports,” she said.
“But it’s really become a safe space for parents to share their stories and rely on each other as well.”
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the name for a range of conditions which affect how a person communicates and interacts with the world around them, as well as their interests and behaviour.
Lesley, one of the parents who attends AUsome Kids, said it had been a “safe haven” for both her and her daughter Lilly-Jane.
“Before we just found that a lot of places can be overwhelming for Lilly-Jane, too much noise, too many crowds, but she feels so comfortable at AUsome Kids, there’s no pressure on her,” she said.
“There can be a lot of doubt and uncertainty when your child receives a diagnosis , so to get relate to other parents going through the same journey, there’s no judgement, it just means a lot.”
Cathal and his son Ruairí have been coming to the group’s activities for a number of years.
“It’s been a game-changer for Ruairí, whenever he is in this environment, he becomes so upbeat and that carries through for a few days,” Cathal said.
“So as a parent that it is just amazing to see, it has helped our son so much.”
