National Library of Ireland has obtained Autism Friendly Accreditation

Over the past year, NLI worked closely with AsIAm to ensure its spaces, services, and visitor experience are more inclusive and welcoming for Autistic people. As part of the accreditation process, the NLI implemented a range of important measures, including:

• Autism friendly awareness training for staff
• Visitor guides outlining what visitors can expect during their visit
• Sensory maps included within the visitor guides
• A dedicated webpage featuring visual guides and sensory maps
• The development of a Charter of Inclusion

Peter Devlin, Health and Safety Manager and Access Officer, who spearheaded the AsIAm accreditation campaign, welcomed the achievement:

“We were delighted to receive this certification, a meaningful milestone in the National Library’s ongoing efforts to make our spaces more accessible for all.”

He added:

“This marks the first step in our ongoing work to support and empower Autistic people. We look forward to making our behind-the-scenes achievements more visible and tangible in the near future.”

The accreditation reflects NLI’s continued commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and creating a welcoming environment for all visitors.

Caitlin Cruise, AsIAm’s Training and Accreditation Manager said:

“One of the key barriers for the Autistic community is finding safe spaces, where we are supported and understood. The goal of AsIAm’s Autism-Friendly Accreditation is to remove these barriers, ensuring Autistic individuals and families are welcomed and supported in public spaces. We extend a huge congratulations to the National Library of Ireland on all of the brilliant work they completed as part of their Accreditation process.”

You may read more about the Visual Guides here