The Laura Dowling Experience21 Aug 2025

Breaking Barriers: Adam Harris on Autism Awareness and Advocacy #133

Adam Harris, an influential autism advocate from Ireland, shares his personal journey from childhood through to establishing the organisation 'As I Am'. The discussion touches on his early life, the challenges he faced as a child with autism, his education experience, and the development of his advocacy to promote autism awareness and inclusion. Adam highlights the significant progress made in Ireland, the ongoing need for better support and services, and the various societal and personal challenges faced by autistic individuals and their families. He also talks about the impact of autism on family life, the intersectionality of being autistic and LGBTQ+, and the importance of continued advocacy and education in ensuring equality and acceptance for autistic people.

Find all the information on the upcoming Autism Europe International Congress, taking place in Dublin from 11th-13th September 2025, here: https://autismcongress2025.org/

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming

03:36 Early Childhood and Autism Diagnosis

04:58 Challenges in School and Social Life

06:51 Transition to Mainstream Education

09:16 Adolescence and Self-Advocacy

11:48 Founding 'As I Am' and Advocacy Work

13:44 Progress and Challenges in Autism Awareness

15:24 Autism Friendly Communities

21:19 The Importance of Data and Diagnosis

26:33 Support for Non-Verbal Autistic Individuals

28:39 Resources and Future Plans

29:14 Funding Challenges and Community Support

30:08 Addressing Misinformation About Autism

30:43 Public Attitudes and International Perspectives

34:43 Mental Health and Autism

35:57 Structural Discrimination in Healthcare

39:24 Personal Experiences with Autism

41:27 Financial Strain on Families

43:43 Supporting Autistic Families and Friends

44:59 Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism

46:01 Debunking Myths About Autism

47:58 Genetics and Autism

48:31 Intersectionality: Autism and LGBTQ+

51:17 Corporate Support and Advocacy

53:07 Upcoming Autism Europe Congress

54:12 Final Thoughts and Advice

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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