[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] imagine what it would be like for you
imagine what it would be like for you
imagine what it would be like for you right now to be picked up and to be
right now to be picked up and to be
right now to be picked up and to be dropped into a culture or into a world
dropped into a culture or into a world
dropped into a culture or into a world that seemed to be totally unbuild for
that seemed to be totally unbuild for
that seemed to be totally unbuild for you imagine right now if you were to be
you imagine right now if you were to be
you imagine right now if you were to be dropped onto a subway in the middle of
dropped onto a subway in the middle of
dropped onto a subway in the middle of Tokyo imagine the huge amount of people
Tokyo imagine the huge amount of people
Tokyo imagine the huge amount of people in your personal space at once no
in your personal space at once no
in your personal space at once no personal space at all you can barely
personal space at all you can barely
personal space at all you can barely move everybody’s talking at once so you
move everybody’s talking at once so you
move everybody’s talking at once so you probably can’t even keep your thoughts
probably can’t even keep your thoughts
probably can’t even keep your thoughts together maybe one person forgot to
together maybe one person forgot to
together maybe one person forgot to brush their teeth that morning and maybe
brush their teeth that morning and maybe
brush their teeth that morning and maybe someone else is wearing yaki perfume and
someone else is wearing yaki perfume and
someone else is wearing yaki perfume and it’s just a really horrible environment
it’s just a really horrible environment
it’s just a really horrible environment and you can’t wait for that train to
and you can’t wait for that train to
and you can’t wait for that train to pull into the station so you can get off
pull into the station so you can get off
pull into the station so you can get off as quickly as possible and get some
as quickly as possible and get some
as quickly as possible and get some relief so the train pulls in and you get
relief so the train pulls in and you get
relief so the train pulls in and you get off and everybody else goes about their
off and everybody else goes about their
off and everybody else goes about their day but for you this is a new world you
day but for you this is a new world you
day but for you this is a new world you don’t know what the next step is you
don’t know what the next step is you
don’t know what the next step is you don’t know where to go next so you have
don’t know where to go next so you have
don’t know where to go next so you have to try and navigate this world alone so
to try and navigate this world alone so
to try and navigate this world alone so what you do a course is a logical thing
what you do a course is a logical thing
what you do a course is a logical thing you ask somebody for help
you ask somebody for help
you ask somebody for help you ask somebody for directions and
you ask somebody for directions and
you ask somebody for directions and let’s even pretend for a second that you
let’s even pretend for a second that you
let’s even pretend for a second that you speak a little bit of the language but
speak a little bit of the language but
speak a little bit of the language but maybe when you go up and try to
maybe when you go up and try to
maybe when you go up and try to communicate with somebody it seems that
communicate with somebody it seems that
communicate with somebody it seems that they’re speaking very very fast maybe
they’re speaking very very fast maybe
they’re speaking very very fast maybe there’s certain things like body
there’s certain things like body
there’s certain things like body language and facial expression are
language and facial expression are
language and facial expression are different so you’re not actually sure is
different so you’re not actually sure is
different so you’re not actually sure is this person too happy to help me or are
this person too happy to help me or are
this person too happy to help me or are they really annoyed that I’ve stopped
they really annoyed that I’ve stopped
they really annoyed that I’ve stopped them so this stage you’re highly anxious
them so this stage you’re highly anxious
them so this stage you’re highly anxious because you’re in an environment that’s
because you’re in an environment that’s
because you’re in an environment that’s totally uncomfortable for you and you’re
totally uncomfortable for you and you’re
totally uncomfortable for you and you’re not able to effectively communicate with
not able to effectively communicate with
not able to effectively communicate with other people around you so what you have
other people around you so what you have
other people around you so what you have to do you have to try and go it alone
to do you have to try and go it alone
to do you have to try and go it alone you have to try and find signs around
you have to try and find signs around
you have to try and find signs around the station visual signs so you can
the station visual signs so you can
the station visual signs so you can navigate your way out and as you begin
navigate your way out and as you begin
navigate your way out and as you begin to do this you begin to relax you have
to do this you begin to relax you have
to do this you begin to relax you have certainty you’re feeling control again
certainty you’re feeling control again
certainty you’re feeling control again but even as you get to the cusp of the
but even as you get to the cusp of the
but even as you get to the cusp of the door of the train station even though it
door of the train station even though it
door of the train station even though it may seem so obvious where to go next
may seem so obvious where to go next
may seem so obvious where to go next if there’s no sign it’s not obvious to
if there’s no sign it’s not obvious to
if there’s no sign it’s not obvious to you it’s like going back to square one
you it’s like going back to square one
you it’s like going back to square one and imagine after you step over the
and imagine after you step over the
and imagine after you step over the threshold of the train station this is
threshold of the train station this is
threshold of the train station this is the world that you have to live in on a
the world that you have to live in on a
the world that you have to live in on a day-to-day basis this is the world that
day-to-day basis this is the world that
day-to-day basis this is the world that you’re expected to go to school this is
you’re expected to go to school this is
you’re expected to go to school this is the world where you’ll have to try and
the world where you’ll have to try and
the world where you’ll have to try and get a job and this is the world where
get a job and this is the world where
get a job and this is the world where how society will measure your success in
how society will measure your success in
how society will measure your success in this is what life is like for people
this is what life is like for people
this is what life is like for people living with autism
living with autism
living with autism because people who have autism live in a
because people who have autism live in a
because people who have autism live in a world that isn’t really built for us
world that isn’t really built for us
world that isn’t really built for us it’s a world where those of us with
it’s a world where those of us with
it’s a world where those of us with autism may be communicated little bit
autism may be communicated little bit
autism may be communicated little bit differently experience the world a
differently experience the world a
differently experience the world a little bit differently and understand
little bit differently and understand
little bit differently and understand the world a little bit differently to
the world a little bit differently to
the world a little bit differently to other people the reason I use this
other people the reason I use this
other people the reason I use this analogy is because I like to explain
analogy is because I like to explain
analogy is because I like to explain autism as a different culture not a
autism as a different culture not a
autism as a different culture not a right way of thinking or a wrong way of
right way of thinking or a wrong way of
right way of thinking or a wrong way of thinking just a different way of
thinking just a different way of
thinking just a different way of thinking in this story the person was
thinking in this story the person was
thinking in this story the person was constantly adapting to this world but it
constantly adapting to this world but it
constantly adapting to this world but it seemed this world was never prepared to
seemed this world was never prepared to
seemed this world was never prepared to meet this person halfway what if I told
meet this person halfway what if I told
meet this person halfway what if I told you one in six th people in the Irish
you one in six th people in the Irish
you one in six th people in the Irish school system currently has a diagnosis
school system currently has a diagnosis
school system currently has a diagnosis of autism let’s just reflect on that
of autism let’s just reflect on that
of autism let’s just reflect on that figure for a moment sixty-eight people
figure for a moment sixty-eight people
figure for a moment sixty-eight people think your family your friends your
think your family your friends your
think your family your friends your extended family we all know a lot more
extended family we all know a lot more
extended family we all know a lot more than 68 people do we always know
than 68 people do we always know
than 68 people do we always know somebody who has autism yes are we
somebody who has autism yes are we
somebody who has autism yes are we always aware of it no because autism is
always aware of it no because autism is
always aware of it no because autism is an invisible condition and is it six is
an invisible condition and is it six is
an invisible condition and is it six is it acceptable in our society that so
it acceptable in our society that so
it acceptable in our society that so many people with autism are blocked from
many people with autism are blocked from
many people with autism are blocked from inclusion because of how the world works
inclusion because of how the world works
inclusion because of how the world works I know from my work and from meeting
I know from my work and from meeting
I know from my work and from meeting thousands of people with autism that
thousands of people with autism that
thousands of people with autism that every person with autism can succeed and
every person with autism can succeed and
every person with autism can succeed and can make a contribution but people with
can make a contribution but people with
can make a contribution but people with autism autism often face huge barriers
autism autism often face huge barriers
autism autism often face huge barriers to achieving this or are excluded from
to achieving this or are excluded from
to achieving this or are excluded from society’s definition of inclusion
society’s definition of inclusion
society’s definition of inclusion because of how our society operates if
because of how our society operates if
because of how our society operates if we take the word success if I was to ask
we take the word success if I was to ask
we take the word success if I was to ask you to describe to me a successful
you to describe to me a successful
you to describe to me a successful person I imagine most of you will cite a
person I imagine most of you will cite a
person I imagine most of you will cite a very successful business person or maybe
very successful business person or maybe
very successful business person or maybe a celebrity maybe somebody who does very
a celebrity maybe somebody who does very
a celebrity maybe somebody who does very good in school or who’s amazing at a
good in school or who’s amazing at a
good in school or who’s amazing at a particular sport or somebody who’s
particular sport or somebody who’s
particular sport or somebody who’s really achieved the height of their
really achieved the height of their
really achieved the height of their profession and I believe all of those
profession and I believe all of those
profession and I believe all of those people may be good examples of success
people may be good examples of success
people may be good examples of success but that’s all that they are examples
but that’s all that they are examples
but that’s all that they are examples because I believe the only way we can
because I believe the only way we can
because I believe the only way we can meaningfully in justifying inclusion is
meaningfully in justifying inclusion is
meaningfully in justifying inclusion is that it’s a personal journey towards a
that it’s a personal journey towards a
that it’s a personal journey towards a person reaching their own personal
person reaching their own personal
person reaching their own personal potential fulfilling their own goals and
potential fulfilling their own goals and
potential fulfilling their own goals and having contentment and happiness for
having contentment and happiness for
having contentment and happiness for them there is no typical infusion just
them there is no typical infusion just
them there is no typical infusion just as there is no typical purse
as there is no typical purse
as there is no typical purse with autism I was looking at the word
with autism I was looking at the word
with autism I was looking at the word success and when we look at the word
success and when we look at the word
success and when we look at the word success it comes from the Latin meaning
success it comes from the Latin meaning
success it comes from the Latin meaning to come soon after so what does that
to come soon after so what does that
to come soon after so what does that mean what it basically means is that we
mean what it basically means is that we
mean what it basically means is that we need to actually look at our people with
need to actually look at our people with
need to actually look at our people with autism in Ireland on pathways that when
autism in Ireland on pathways that when
autism in Ireland on pathways that when they follow those pathways when they do
they follow those pathways when they do
they follow those pathways when they do their best when they show their skills
their best when they show their skills
their best when they show their skills that they then have an opportunity to
that they then have an opportunity to
that they then have an opportunity to fully participate in society when I was
fully participate in society when I was
fully participate in society when I was younger a big movement from parents like
younger a big movement from parents like
younger a big movement from parents like my own and others right across the
my own and others right across the
my own and others right across the country was the need for people with
country was the need for people with
country was the need for people with autism to have access to the same skills
autism to have access to the same skills
autism to have access to the same skills as everybody else to have the
as everybody else to have the
as everybody else to have the opportunity to participate fully in
opportunity to participate fully in
opportunity to participate fully in their community to live in their
their community to live in their
their community to live in their community for their whole lives to be
community for their whole lives to be
community for their whole lives to be able to work in the mainstream labor
able to work in the mainstream labor
able to work in the mainstream labor force that’s so important and it’s a
force that’s so important and it’s a
force that’s so important and it’s a vital first step on the road to
vital first step on the road to
vital first step on the road to inclusion but what comes after and I
inclusion but what comes after and I
inclusion but what comes after and I think a statistic tells us very well we
think a statistic tells us very well we
think a statistic tells us very well we know that eighty-six percent of people
know that eighty-six percent of people
know that eighty-six percent of people with autism are either now in a
with autism are either now in a
with autism are either now in a mainstream school or a mainstream class
mainstream school or a mainstream class
mainstream school or a mainstream class or an autism class within a mainstream
or an autism class within a mainstream
or an autism class within a mainstream school and yet what comes after that
school and yet what comes after that
school and yet what comes after that eighty percent of people with autism
eighty percent of people with autism
eighty percent of people with autism still experiencing unemployment this
still experiencing unemployment this
still experiencing unemployment this tells a story of real change that is
tells a story of real change that is
tells a story of real change that is required and I believe that is because
required and I believe that is because
required and I believe that is because we have to actually look at how we
we have to actually look at how we
we have to actually look at how we measure success having inclusion means
measure success having inclusion means
measure success having inclusion means more than allowing a person access it
more than allowing a person access it
more than allowing a person access it means enabling a person to reach their
means enabling a person to reach their
means enabling a person to reach their full potential and to fully participate
full potential and to fully participate
full potential and to fully participate in a meaningful way an example that I
in a meaningful way an example that I
in a meaningful way an example that I would use is if we consider how we
would use is if we consider how we
would use is if we consider how we currently measure success in the same
currently measure success in the same
currently measure success in the same way as a society we have this Blum
way as a society we have this Blum
way as a society we have this Blum definition we use blunt instruments to
definition we use blunt instruments to
definition we use blunt instruments to measure perhaps the best of these is
measure perhaps the best of these is
measure perhaps the best of these is leaving search results or league tables
leaving search results or league tables
leaving search results or league tables our idea of a good student our idea of a
our idea of a good student our idea of a
our idea of a good student our idea of a good school and yet we know there’s so
good school and yet we know there’s so
good school and yet we know there’s so much more to happiness there’s so much
much more to happiness there’s so much
much more to happiness there’s so much more to success it’s about friendship
more to success it’s about friendship
more to success it’s about friendship it’s about being able to pursue what
it’s about being able to pursue what
it’s about being able to pursue what you’re interested in it’s being able to
you’re interested in it’s being able to
you’re interested in it’s being able to pursue and achieve your personal
pursue and achieve your personal
pursue and achieve your personal potential whatever that might be and
potential whatever that might be and
potential whatever that might be and whatever that might look like and yet we
whatever that might look like and yet we
whatever that might look like and yet we know but this isn’t measured and this
know but this isn’t measured and this
know but this isn’t measured and this isn’t how we actually understand what
isn’t how we actually understand what
isn’t how we actually understand what success is in Ireland presently
success is in Ireland presently
success is in Ireland presently the example that I would use is it’s the
the example that I would use is it’s the
the example that I would use is it’s the equivalent of if we decided we were
equivalent of if we decided we were
equivalent of if we decided we were going to decide what a happy home was on
going to decide what a happy home was on
going to decide what a happy home was on the basis of its BER aging now of course
the basis of its BER aging now of course
the basis of its BER aging now of course that’s pretty useful a good for a step
that’s pretty useful a good for a step
that’s pretty useful a good for a step is to have the place nice and warm but
is to have the place nice and warm but
is to have the place nice and warm but if that’s it alone that’s not enough
if that’s it alone that’s not enough
if that’s it alone that’s not enough that’s not getting to the root of the
that’s not getting to the root of the
that’s not getting to the root of the issue so what are the ingredients for us
issue so what are the ingredients for us
issue so what are the ingredients for us to build a truly inclusive society for
to build a truly inclusive society for
to build a truly inclusive society for people with autism we still face huge
people with autism we still face huge
people with autism we still face huge challenges in the education system but
challenges in the education system but
challenges in the education system but at least we have a structure to work
at least we have a structure to work
at least we have a structure to work within but when people leave school
within but when people leave school
within but when people leave school they’re stepping out into the unknown
they’re stepping out into the unknown
they’re stepping out into the unknown often with very little support and we
often with very little support and we
often with very little support and we need to ensure that our society has a
need to ensure that our society has a
need to ensure that our society has a holistic approach to autism that engages
holistic approach to autism that engages
holistic approach to autism that engages everybody in the discussion just like
everybody in the discussion just like
everybody in the discussion just like Ireland is already done with issues like
Ireland is already done with issues like
Ireland is already done with issues like mental health or LGBT there’s a need for
mental health or LGBT there’s a need for
mental health or LGBT there’s a need for a real movement and there’s a number of
a real movement and there’s a number of
a real movement and there’s a number of ingredients to this of course there’s a
ingredients to this of course there’s a
ingredients to this of course there’s a need to give people with autism the
need to give people with autism the
need to give people with autism the supports and the tools for them to help
supports and the tools for them to help
supports and the tools for them to help to manage some of the challenges that
to manage some of the challenges that
to manage some of the challenges that they face for themselves but the message
they face for themselves but the message
they face for themselves but the message that we must take from our experiences
that we must take from our experiences
that we must take from our experiences in the education system to date either
in the education system to date either
in the education system to date either we’ve mainstreamed people in a very
we’ve mainstreamed people in a very
we’ve mainstreamed people in a very Irish way which is of course we’ll have
Irish way which is of course we’ll have
Irish way which is of course we’ll have people in regard let’s not talk about it
people in regard let’s not talk about it
people in regard let’s not talk about it and we won’t change anything and that
and we won’t change anything and that
and we won’t change anything and that simply doesn’t work what we need to
simply doesn’t work what we need to
simply doesn’t work what we need to ensure is that as people move beyond
ensure is that as people move beyond
ensure is that as people move beyond school system that Ireland moves beyond
school system that Ireland moves beyond
school system that Ireland moves beyond autism awareness towards autism
autism awareness towards autism
autism awareness towards autism understanding I’m aware that Mandarin is
understanding I’m aware that Mandarin is
understanding I’m aware that Mandarin is a language I don’t understand it it’s
a language I don’t understand it it’s
a language I don’t understand it it’s therefore it’s not a very good
therefore it’s not a very good
therefore it’s not a very good communication tool for me I can’t
communication tool for me I can’t
communication tool for me I can’t actually include somebody if I’m only
actually include somebody if I’m only
actually include somebody if I’m only using the English language Ireland we’ve
using the English language Ireland we’ve
using the English language Ireland we’ve come a long way we’ve all heard the word
come a long way we’ve all heard the word
come a long way we’ve all heard the word but I bet we all have different images
but I bet we all have different images
but I bet we all have different images in our head different stereotypes
in our head different stereotypes
in our head different stereotypes different strange ideas of what autism
different strange ideas of what autism
different strange ideas of what autism is but do we know how we can actually
is but do we know how we can actually
is but do we know how we can actually communicate with somebody with autism do
communicate with somebody with autism do
communicate with somebody with autism do we know how we can get the environment
we know how we can get the environment
we know how we can get the environment to be actually correct for a person do
to be actually correct for a person do
to be actually correct for a person do we know how we can actually enable a
we know how we can actually enable a
we know how we can actually enable a person to fully participate I think the
person to fully participate I think the
person to fully participate I think the answer to that is no and it’s not just
answer to that is no and it’s not just
answer to that is no and it’s not just for teachers it’s not just for
for teachers it’s not just for
for teachers it’s not just for psychologists it’s not just for doctors
psychologists it’s not just for doctors
psychologists it’s not just for doctors if we want meaningful inclusion so
if we want meaningful inclusion so
if we want meaningful inclusion so people can succeed in our society that
people can succeed in our society that
people can succeed in our society that means everybody it starts with the
means everybody it starts with the
means everybody it starts with the person who answers the phone in your
person who answers the phone in your
person who answers the phone in your organisation and it finishes at the desk
organisation and it finishes at the desk
organisation and it finishes at the desk of the CEO
of the CEO
of the CEO it must be an entire
it must be an entire
it must be an entire holistic process the second thing that
holistic process the second thing that
holistic process the second thing that we need to do is we need to really learn
we need to do is we need to really learn
we need to do is we need to really learn how to spell the word disability because
how to spell the word disability because
how to spell the word disability because it’s spelt D is a bi L ity the majority
it’s spelt D is a bi L ity the majority
it’s spelt D is a bi L ity the majority of the word is ability but we only talk
of the word is ability but we only talk
of the word is ability but we only talk about the dis
about the dis
about the dis indeed it’s often comfortable for us to
indeed it’s often comfortable for us to
indeed it’s often comfortable for us to just focus on what the person can’t do
just focus on what the person can’t do
just focus on what the person can’t do sometimes our discussion around people
sometimes our discussion around people
sometimes our discussion around people who have disabilities literally just
who have disabilities literally just
who have disabilities literally just becomes a list of the things that the
becomes a list of the things that the
becomes a list of the things that the person isn’t actually good at or the
person isn’t actually good at or the
person isn’t actually good at or the things that the person isn’t able to do
things that the person isn’t able to do
things that the person isn’t able to do but every single person has talents has
but every single person has talents has
but every single person has talents has abilities has contributions that they
abilities has contributions that they
abilities has contributions that they can make I’ve already told you the
can make I’ve already told you the
can make I’ve already told you the people with autism think differently
people with autism think differently
people with autism think differently that’s another way of saying are
that’s another way of saying are
that’s another way of saying are individual they think outside the box a
individual they think outside the box a
individual they think outside the box a lot of people with autism are visual
lot of people with autism are visual
lot of people with autism are visual thinkers a lot of people with autism
thinkers a lot of people with autism
thinkers a lot of people with autism have specific areas of interest that
have specific areas of interest that
have specific areas of interest that they can devote themselves to and learn
they can devote themselves to and learn
they can devote themselves to and learn absolutely everything about people with
absolutely everything about people with
absolutely everything about people with autism because of the way we think in a
autism because of the way we think in a
autism because of the way we think in a black and white way often are extremely
black and white way often are extremely
black and white way often are extremely loyal and honest workers so we need to
loyal and honest workers so we need to
loyal and honest workers so we need to actually think outside the box and say
actually think outside the box and say
actually think outside the box and say how can we look at the person’s
how can we look at the person’s
how can we look at the person’s abilities and use them to address what
abilities and use them to address what
abilities and use them to address what the person finds difficult not just stop
the person finds difficult not just stop
the person finds difficult not just stop there the next thing that we have to
there the next thing that we have to
there the next thing that we have to actually be prepared to do is to be
actually be prepared to do is to be
actually be prepared to do is to be flexible and to be adaptable when this
flexible and to be adaptable when this
flexible and to be adaptable when this country took a step towards being more
country took a step towards being more
country took a step towards being more inclusive and enabling people with
inclusive and enabling people with
inclusive and enabling people with autism to an eight to participate in the
autism to an eight to participate in the
autism to an eight to participate in the education system those of us who had
education system those of us who had
education system those of us who had autism had to make huge changes
autism had to make huge changes
autism had to make huge changes I myself moved from a special school
I myself moved from a special school
I myself moved from a special school where there was six children in a class
where there was six children in a class
where there was six children in a class and three adults to a mainstream school
and three adults to a mainstream school
and three adults to a mainstream school twenty-something students and me and all
twenty-something students and me and all
twenty-something students and me and all this noise in this busy environment in
this noise in this busy environment in
this noise in this busy environment in this uncertainty but everyday people
this uncertainty but everyday people
this uncertainty but everyday people with autism are doing that put in return
with autism are doing that put in return
with autism are doing that put in return there needs to be a little bit of a tap
there needs to be a little bit of a tap
there needs to be a little bit of a tap turbidity the example I always use is
turbidity the example I always use is
turbidity the example I always use is that it’s like when we Irish go on our
that it’s like when we Irish go on our
that it’s like when we Irish go on our holidays and even though we might
holidays and even though we might
holidays and even though we might maintain the local customs and we’ll be
maintain the local customs and we’ll be
maintain the local customs and we’ll be very polite and everything when we go
very polite and everything when we go
very polite and everything when we go out for dinner in a restaurant in the
out for dinner in a restaurant in the
out for dinner in a restaurant in the evening we always expect the waiter to
evening we always expect the waiter to
evening we always expect the waiter to be able to speak English we need little
be able to speak English we need little
be able to speak English we need little ad adaptions to enable us to participate
ad adaptions to enable us to participate
ad adaptions to enable us to participate there’s no typical adaption there’s no
there’s no typical adaption there’s no
there’s no typical adaption there’s no typical thing you can do there’s some
typical thing you can do there’s some
typical thing you can do there’s some standard things that people with autism
standard things that people with autism
standard things that people with autism find difficult or yes and there’s some
find difficult or yes and there’s some
find difficult or yes and there’s some standard programs that can help but
standard programs that can help but
standard programs that can help but rather it’s actually getting to know the
rather it’s actually getting to know the
rather it’s actually getting to know the person it’s encouraging them to feel
person it’s encouraging them to feel
person it’s encouraging them to feel confident in their own skin and be open
confident in their own skin and be open
confident in their own skin and be open with you about what their challenges are
with you about what their challenges are
with you about what their challenges are and it’s being willing to think outside
and it’s being willing to think outside
and it’s being willing to think outside the box about how you can do that how
the box about how you can do that how
the box about how you can do that how can we employ someone with autism but
can we employ someone with autism but
can we employ someone with autism but assess their abilities in a different
assess their abilities in a different
assess their abilities in a different way how can we enable a person with
way how can we enable a person with
way how can we enable a person with autism to come to school even if the
autism to come to school even if the
autism to come to school even if the environment is uncomfortable how can we
environment is uncomfortable how can we
environment is uncomfortable how can we ensure that if a person chooses to come
ensure that if a person chooses to come
ensure that if a person chooses to come to our college of further education that
to our college of further education that
to our college of further education that it’s not just that they come to their
it’s not just that they come to their
it’s not just that they come to their classes and that they leave but they are
classes and that they leave but they are
classes and that they leave but they are actually also able to make friends and
actually also able to make friends and
actually also able to make friends and that there are college societies are
that there are college societies are
that there are college societies are inclusive they’re also able to go for a
inclusive they’re also able to go for a
inclusive they’re also able to go for a cup of coffee in the canteen because our
cup of coffee in the canteen because our
cup of coffee in the canteen because our canteen is inclusive and the final piece
canteen is inclusive and the final piece
canteen is inclusive and the final piece I think that’s really really important
I think that’s really really important
I think that’s really really important for this is that we realize that each
for this is that we realize that each
for this is that we realize that each and every one of us has a role to play
and every one of us has a role to play
and every one of us has a role to play because each and every one of us
because each and every one of us
because each and every one of us everyday meets somebody with autism we
everyday meets somebody with autism we
everyday meets somebody with autism we have a scenario where we have thousands
have a scenario where we have thousands
have a scenario where we have thousands of people with autism now the first
of people with autism now the first
of people with autism now the first generation who are diagnosed as children
generation who are diagnosed as children
generation who are diagnosed as children now reaching adulthood and we have a
now reaching adulthood and we have a
now reaching adulthood and we have a choice to make
choice to make
choice to make do we want to repeat the mistakes of the
do we want to repeat the mistakes of the
do we want to repeat the mistakes of the past and leave these people to become
past and leave these people to become
past and leave these people to become isolated to slip out of the education
isolated to slip out of the education
isolated to slip out of the education system to remain unemployed to not be
system to remain unemployed to not be
system to remain unemployed to not be able to participate or are we going to
able to participate or are we going to
able to participate or are we going to meet the person where we’re at and are
meet the person where we’re at and are
meet the person where we’re at and are we going to say that Ireland can become
we going to say that Ireland can become
we going to say that Ireland can become a society that every single person with
a society that every single person with
a society that every single person with autism can participation thank you
autism can participation thank you
autism can participation thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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