Information for Autistic Adults
The information below on services and supports may be of assistance to Autistic adults and their families/carers:
Transitions
Information regarding important transitions in an autistic person’s life where services and supports may change.
Department of Children, Disability and Equality
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has responsibility for policy, laws, funding and overseeing specialist disability services.
HSE Services
Information regarding HSE health and social care services that may be available in your area.
Employment Support
Information regarding employment supports for Autistic adults that may be of assistance.
Advocacy Services
Information regarding advocacy services for Autistic Adults.
Decision Support Service
The Decision Support Service is a service established under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act. They provide an essential service for people who need support exercising their decision-making capacity.
Transitions
At certain ages in an autistic person’s life, they will transfer from one service to another and may cease receiving certain benefits in place of alternatives. It is important to be aware of these changes to ensure continuity of support, if applicable.
At each point of transition, it is important to engage and communicate with the relevant services/government departments – these changes may not take place automatically and may require active involvement from the person and/or their families.
Department of Social Protection Payments
Domiciliary Care to Disability Allowance
Those in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) for a child will stop receiving the payment when the person turns 16. When a child reaches the age of 16, they can apply for Disability Allowance in their own right. DCA stops automatically when your child reaches 16, and the last DCA payment will be for the month of their 16th birthday. The Department of Social Protection will write to you 3 months before your child’s 16th birthday to remind you that DCA will soon stop and to inform you about the available options.
Disability Allowance to State Pension
When a person turns 66, their disability allowance will stop and they will need to apply for the State Pension. Receipt of the State Pension will not take place automatically. You will need to apply to the Department of Social Protection and it is recommended that you do so six months before you wish to start claiming your pension. For further information, please see – https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/disability-and-illness/disability-allowance/ and https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/publications/apply-for-my-state-pension/.
Changes in Services Provided to You
- In relation to services/education, at age 18 an Autistic person may transfer from HSE children’s services to HSE adult services. They may move from a Children’s Disability Network Team to Adult Disability Services for example.
- Likewise, they may move from an educational setting such as a mainstream school or special school to a HSE funded day service etc. It is important to make and maintain contact with all of the relevant bodies in advance to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for your circumstances.
- When a person turns 66, they will transfer from HSE Adult Disability Services to Older Person’s Services – you may not receive any notification of this and it may affect any disability related services you receive. Again, it is recommended that you contact your local HSE office in advance for clarification on the supports that are accessible to you.
Disability Services – Department of Children, Disability and Equality
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has responsibility for policy, laws, funding and overseeing specialist disability services and workforce which serve 95,000 children and adults with a disability in Ireland.
There are a range of specialist disability services provided by the HSE and a range of voluntary organisations and other providers. These include residential, day service, and respite settings, as well as through children’s therapy services, personal assistance, home support, and other community services.
For further information, please see – https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/services-and-supports/
HSE Services
The HSE National Service Plan 2025 notes that:
“people with a disability attend and are supported by every single service within the Health Service Executive and its funded agencies. The best outcomes for people with a disability occur when all of the services they access, both specialist and other, operate in a co-ordinated and integrated way…Specialist disability services are delivered through the alignment and collaboration of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the HSE, people with disabilities and their families, organisations for people with a disability, service providers and a wide range of other stakeholders”.
To view the full document, please see – https://about.hse.ie/publications/hse-national-service-plan-2025/
Primary Care
Primary care centres provide primary care services from one site. Services include GP, public health nurse, home help, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and a range of other services – https://www.hse.ie/search/?q=primary+care+services
The services available from each individual primary care centre can vary. To find out what is available from your local centre, please contact them directly. You can find the details of your local Primary Care Centre at https://www2.hse.ie/services/primary-care-centres/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=primary_care
HSE Disability Day Opportunities Service
The Disability Day Opportunities Service offers community-based supports to adults with disabilities. Supports include day services and rehabilitative training. These supports help people with disabilities to live independently, develop skills and take part in community activities.
Most of the community-based services are provided by voluntary organisations, and funded by the HSE.
A person may be eligible for disability day services if they are age 18 or older and have:
- an intellectual disability
- a complex physical disability
- a sensory disability – such as being deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired
- autism
You can make a referral for disability day services at any time if you or the disabled person is eligible for the service and would benefit from it.
Day service options include:
- rehabilitative training programmes
- adult day services
Rehabilitative programmes are training courses that help a young person develop life skills, social skills and basic work-related skills. These courses can help people access mainstream education or training options. They usually last 2 to 4 years.
Adult day services support people to make everyday choices and plans. They help them live independent lives and be part of their community.
Not all areas offer the same services. Contact your local Adult Disability Day Opportunities Office to find out about the day services available in your area. For a list of Disability Day Services Offices, please see – https://www2.hse.ie/services/disability/adult-disability-services/contact-a-disability-day-opportunities-office/
HSE Occupational Guidance Service
The HSE Occupational Guidance Service can help you to find a training course that is suited to your needs. They will meet you and your family or advocate and look at your options. The type of
training and support available may differ from centre to centre.
Contact your local HSE Disability Office or service provider for specific information on the programmes they run and to check if you are eligible to attend – https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health-services/health-services-for-people-with-disabilities/rehabilitation-and-training-services-for-people-with-disabilities/
The National Council for Special Education(NCSE) leaflet “Leaving School? Information on some Post-School Options for Rehabilitative Training and Adult Day Services” may also be of interest. You can view the document at – https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/NCSE-Post-School-Options.pdf
Employment Supports
There are a number of supports available for Autistic adults and employers that may be of assistance.
Please see our Employment Supports page for an outline of these supports which may be of interest – https://autism.ie/information/employment-supports/
Advocacy Services
The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities.
The National Advocacy Service (NAS) is an organisation which helps adults with disabilities. If you have a disability, like a physical or intellectual disability, one of their staff could help you with an issue you are having. The NAS provides a free and confidential advocacy service to adults with a disability, aged 18 years and over.
The NAS has a particular remit to work with people with disabilities who are in vulnerable situations, such as people who are isolated from their community of choice or mainstream society, may communicate differently and who have limited formal or natural supports.
For further information on the services they offer, please see – https://advocacy.ie/.
SAGE Advocacy
At SAGE advocacy, Representative Advocacy is at the heart of their work. They provide a voice for people who may be vulnerable; independent of family, service provider & systems interests.
Their nationwide team of advocates works in all settings: homes, day centres, respite facilities, congregated care settings/nursing homes, hospitals, hostels, hospices and in the process of transition between them.
For further information, please see – https://sageadvocacy.ie/.
Decision Support Service
The Decision Support Service (DSS) is a service established under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (as amended).
They provide an essential service for people who face difficulties and need support exercising their decision-making capacity. This may include, but is not limited to, people with an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, mental health difficulty or dementia. This also includes all people who want to plan for a time when they might lose their capacity.
They help to protect and uphold people’s rights to make their own decisions about their personal welfare, property, and affairs.
Their role is to:
- promote awareness and provide information about the Act
- regulate and register decision support arrangements
- maintain a searchable register of decision support arrangements
- supervise the actions of decision supporters
- maintain a panel of suitable persons who act as decision-making representatives, special visitors and general visitors
- investigate complaints
The Decision Support Service also acts as the Central Authority for matters relating to the Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults.
The establishment and operation of the DSS is an important part of Ireland’s compliance with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
For further information, please see – https://www.decisionsupportservice.ie/.
Banking
If you are an autistic adult, or the family member/carer of an autistic adult who needs help or assistance with banking, the below information may be of interest:
- Bank of Ireland Help Centre: https://www.bankofireland.com/help-centre/
- Bank of Ireland Carers Package (the carer package helps you manage everyday banking for someone who cannot currently make financial decisions) https://personalbanking.bankofireland.com/financial-wellbeing/extra-help/carers-package/
- AIB supports for those who need additional assistance – https://aib.ie/help-and-guidance/need-extra-help
- PTSB Enhanced Customer Support Team for those who require additional support – https://www.ptsb.ie/help-and-support/help-with-banking/enhanced-customer-support/
- EBS – Additional Supports for customers who require extra assistance – https://www.ebs.ie/support/additional-support-for-our-customers
Travel
There are various levels of assistance available to help support independent travel on public transport.
Independent Travel Support Service
The Independent Travel Support helps people with disabilities to use public transport in the greater Dublin area and in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford cities. The scheme is free and is available for people over 18 years.
Under the scheme, a travel assistant can travel with you the first few times you are travelling and offer advice on how to plan your journey. The assistant will help you get used to travelling along that route on your own. You can contact them when you are starting a new route.
Independent Travel Support in Dublin is available for Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, DART and Luas services. It is run by Dublin Bus, but they provide the service across different transport providers.
To find out more, contact:
Phone: Dublin Bus on 01 703 3204 or 0818 294 015
Email: independent.travel@dublinbus.ie
The Wayfinding Centre
The Wayfinding Centre has indoor replicas of public transport services, such as buses, the Luas, the DART, and a plane. People with disabilities can practice using public transport in a safe environment.
Professionals who support people with disabilities can also use The Wayfinding Centre to strengthen and enrich their own travel training programmes.
The centre is located at:
The Wayfinding Centre
Botanic Road
Glasnevin
Dublin 9
DO9 TC67
You can contact them Tel: (01) 467 5215
For further information on the above mentioned services and more, please see – https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel-and-recreation/public-transport/travelling-publictransport-with-disability/
Housing
There are a number of different housing options available that autistic adults may find helpful to explore. Please see the information below for a general outline, and contact the bodies listed for further information.
Note: It is important to notify/apply to your Local Authority (County Council) to make them aware of your housing requirements. It may also be necessary to consult with local HSE Disability Services if you have supported housing needs of any kind, so that they can coordinate with your Local Authority.
Social/Local Authority Housing
(Information taken from the Citizens Information website)
Social housing is housing provided by local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs – please see Approved Housing Body section below) for people who cannot afford to buy a home or rent accommodation privately.
Social housing is allocated according to your eligibility and need and the rent you pay is based on your household’s ability to pay.
To qualify for Social Housing;
- You must have a have a long-term right to remain in Ireland.
- You must be eligible (The housing authority will assess your eligibility)
- You must need social housing
To apply for local authority housing, download an application form from your local authority’s website. Or contact your local authority’s housing department and ask for an application form. You can find a list of Local Authorities at – https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/publications/local-authorities/
Applying for disability or medical priority
If you have a disability or medical condition, you may be prioritised on your local authority’s housing list. There is a supporting Disability or Medical Information Form (HMD Form) for people applying for social housing with a medical or disability need.
The form has 3 separate parts.
- You complete Part 1 of the form
- Your healthcare professional completes Part 2 of the form
- Another healthcare professional completes Part 3 of the form
The 3 parts of the form should then be submitted to your local authority together. This is a standardised form that you can get from your local authority.
The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027
The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People sets out the vision for the cooperation and collaboration of Government departments, state agencies and others in delivering housing and the related supports for disabled people.
As part of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People, Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) have been established in each local authority area. The individual Local Authorities may have their own Disability Housing Strategic Plan, for further information regarding your Local Authority’s Housing and Disability Steering Group (HDSG) and/or their Disability Housing Strategic Plan, please contact your local authority directly – https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/publications/local-authorities/
A key element is a focus on co-ordinating provision of housing for disabled people with the social supports provided through HSE-funded disability services – see https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/new-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027-launched/.
To view the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027, please see – https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027/.
Approved Housing Bodies
(Information taken from the Citizens Information website)
Approved housing bodies (AHBs) are independent, not-for-profit organisations. They provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay rent in the private sector or buy their own homes.
Some AHBs provide housing specifically for particular groups of people, such as:
- Older people
- People with disabilities
- People who are homeless
- Families on low income
AHBs are also known as housing associations or voluntary housing associations.
If you want to be housed by an AHB, you need to be on the local authority housing waiting list in your area. If you want an AHB to provide you with housing, make sure you tick the box marked ’approved housing body (AHB)’ in the ‘Housing Requirements’ section of the social housing support application form.
Your local authority can tell you if there are approved housing bodies in your area. In most cases, the local authority will refer you to an AHB if they have an appropriate home available. A very small number of AHBs may accept direct applications.
Housing Agency Home and Supports Hub
The Housing Agency has developed a website, which brings together useful information and resources for disabled people. The Home and Supports Hub website is a tool for people to find information on housing and the supports they need to facilitate independent living. You can find further information at – https://www.homeandsupportshub.ie/
