In Galway, I noticed a heightened sense of cultural community, tradition, and a deep historical awareness. People in the city seemed very in tune with their family names, the history of their city, and the Irish history of injustice. With this cultural community enshrined in daily life, it was interesting to see how this extended into the realm of disability and accessibility.
When visiting the Autism in Galway Partnership, there was a sense of togetherness and a tight-knit community for autistic individuals and their families. The family respite programs took on the “it takes a village” approach, releasing some of the stress of raising a child while building a community of people with similar experiences. Further, the Partnership fosters an inclusive community for autistic individuals, who may experience social isolation or discrimination in other sectors of life.
It was also great to see them take an approach that emphasizes the importance of matching the program to the individual. Often, educators emphasize meeting high standards, regardless of individual differences. The significance that is placed on performance assessments detracts from learning and makes education appear intimidating, particularly for disabled individuals, like asking someone to touch the top of a building just by jumping. The Galway Autism Partnership stated that they “meet kids where they’re at,” which I appreciated. By building off of what people already know and developing confidence and community, they provide foundational assets that allow them to reach the top of the metaphorical building with a flight of stairs (or accessible elevator). This approach also addresses the fundamental truth that learning is not ubiquitous and that each person (disabled or not) has different needs to maximize their potential. Meeting someone where they are, defining what the person is good at and what they would like to improve, and building the best possible environment to achieve these goals. GAP does this while also building a close support circle, and it was really interesting to see what they have done for the Autistic Community in Galway.