The Organisation:

AsIAm is Ireland’s National Autism Charity based in Blackrock, Co. Dublin.  AsIAm is a fast paced, growing organisation with a vision to create a society where every autistic person is accepted “as they are” – equal, valued, and respected. The organisation’s purpose is to advocate for an inclusive society for autistic people that is accessible, accepted and affirming.  AsIAm works to support the Autistic community and our families to fully engage in Irish life and build the capacity of society to facilitate true inclusion.

Our Values:

A key expectation of everyone who works for AsIAm is that they demonstrate our values; Perseverance, Same Chance and Service. Our values come into play throughout everything we do at work – how we work together and how we deliver services to the people we support and to the people we work alongside.

The Role:

AsIAm is seeking an Autism Healthcare Accessibility Officer, who will report to the Autism Healthcare Accessibility Co-ordinator, will play an integral role in making HSE facilities, services, and overall healthcare environments more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive for Autistic individuals and their families. The Autism Healthcare Accessibility Advisor will be a suitably qualified clinician who will support health service employees by developing relevant training on autism-specific issues and providing advice and guidance to queries received from health service employ

The role will suit a passionate, empathetic, and innovative individual who is committed to advancing the inclusion and well-being of autistic individuals within the healthcare system. The post-holder will have experience of successfully delivering impacting training programmes and of supporting Autistic people and family members.

We particularly welcome applications from within the autism community.

Key Responsibilities:

General Responsibilities:

• Enhance the Patient Experience - By creating Autism-Friendly environments and supporting autistic individuals throughout their healthcare journey to improve the overall patient experience. This includes ensuring autistic individuals feel respected, accommodated, and empowered to advocate for their needs.
• Foster Community Collaboration - work closely with disability advocates, autistic individuals, and their families to ensure a collaborative, community-driven approach to creating Autism-Friendly healthcare environments.
• Drive Systemic Change – develop policies, guidelines, and training programmes to drive systemic changes within the HSE to embed inclusive practices and a neuroaffirmative culture across the entire healthcare system.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Staff Training and Development: Design and deliver advanced understanding autism, sensitivity, and inclusive service delivery training programs for HSE staff
• Responding to requests for training based on identified need by local services across the country
• Offering support and guidance on autism related queries from HSE healthcare settings
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentorship, and support to help staff implement accessibility practices as they relate to Autism
• Create accessible, user-friendly resources (e.g., toolkits, templates, online guides) to support the implementation of autism accessible practices.
• Promote the dissemination of these resources across the HSE and within the broader healthcare community.
• Analyse data, gather stakeholder feedback, and drive continuous refinement of the HSE's Autism-Friendly efforts
• Promote the sharing of best practices and learnings across the HSE and the broader healthcare sector
• Development of Best Practice for Autism Accessibility in Healthcare Guidelines

Key Requirements:

Experience, Education, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Extensive Knowledge of Autism- relevant degree in occupational therapy, nursing, disability studies, or a related field, with a focus on autism or accessibility. Alternatively, a combination of lived experience, autism-related certifications, and a demonstrable track record of success in similar roles could also be considered.
• Healthcare Sector Experience- Substantial experience working within the healthcare industry, preferably in a patient-facing, clinical or client services role.
• Strong understanding of healthcare systems, policies, and service delivery models.
• Accessibility and Inclusive Design Expertise.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering engaging, interactive training programs for diverse audiences.
• Ability to foster staff buy-in and create a culture of Autism-Friendly practices.
• Proven track record of building partnerships and fostering meaningful connections with the autism community.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with autistic individuals, families, and advocacy groups.
• Experience in working within a Section 39 organisation and understanding of compliance in this regard.

Contract Duration

This is a 1 Year fixed term contract.

Salary & Benefits

Salary will align with HSE Consolidated Pay Grade for relevant clinical qualification.

Location / Working Hours

The role is based in AsIAm’s head office in Blackrock, Dublin and is Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with a requirement for travel. Given the nature of the role, the role holder is required to have a degree of flexibility with regard to working hours as the role will require some evening and weekend work. Hybrid working arrangements can be facilitated for this role in agreement with the line manager.