10th Oct 2024

CCT College Dublin Receives ‘Autism Friendly HEI’ Status

CCT College Dublin was delighted and honoured to be recognised as an Autism Friendly HEI, by Ireland’s national autism charity – AsIAm. This award is a milestone development in a never-ending journey for CCT to enhance our student experience and our universal accessibility. CCT received this award on 1st October 2024 from Adam Harris, Founder & CEO of AsIAm, with the launch held at our new Loft space in our campus on Westmoreland St., Dublin.

 

Speaking at the official launch, Adam Harris said the designation of CCT College Dublin as an Autism Friendly HEI was a significant occasion for autistic students who face challenges others do not experience:  “We are so delighted to recognise CCT College Dublin as a recipient of our Autism-Friendly HEI Award. This Award recognises the commitment of CCT College Dublin to implementing a whole of campus approach to autism accessibility through our principle framework. Today marks the end of the beginning. The team in CCT College Dublin have created an ambitious 3-year plan to ensure that autistic students have the same chance to attend the higher education, excel there and access employment upon completing their studies. The very purpose of the three-year plan, is that the college will raise the bar every three years, in terms of what is possible and what can be achieved. AsIAm are looking forward to supporting CCT College Dublin on this journey’.

President of CCT College Dublin, Neil Gallagher stated that ‘CCT College Dublin is delighted and honoured to receive the AsIAm accreditation status of Autism Friendly.  Since the establishment of the College we have continuously invested as much as we can for all our students, to provide a learning environment which includes everyone regardless of thinking and processing style, circumstance, background, or stage in life.  CCT has been on a learning journey with AsIAm over the last three years to help enhance how the College in all it’s functions can become more universally accessible.  This journey is never-ending and we are currently working through a three-year Action Plan with AsIAm to build and implement an institution-wide approach to Autism understanding and accessibility through the Principle Framework.  Our aim is to continuously work towards creating a college environment where neurodivergent students are accepted, understood, and celebrated. We believe that all further and higher education providers need to do what they can to improve their learning environments to enable greater accessibility,  accommodation, inclusion, diversity and provide the same chance for autistic students.  It is on us all as a society to do more to facilitate opportunities for our autistic community to access, engage with and excel in education and employment.’