Mayo town wins national recognition for inclusion efforts
Community-led initiative Westport Autism Friendly Town was honoured with a special award from AsIAm at Dublin City Hall
Westport has received national recognition for its commitment to inclusion after the Westport Autism Friendly Town initiative received a Special Award by AsIAm.
The award was presented at a ceremony in Dublin City Hall, recognising the group’s outstanding community engagement and the progress made over the past year in making Westport a more inclusive place for autistic people and their families.
Organisers said the award reflects the collective efforts of the entire Westport community, highlighting the collaboration behind the initiative’s success.
“This award belongs to every partner in Westport who has walked alongside us,” the group said. “Nothing we do happens in isolation. It is built through partnership.”
A wide range of local organisations, businesses and community groups have contributed to the project, including local schools, retailers, hospitality providers, sporting organisations, financial institutions and cultural venues.
Among those recognised were Westport Chamber, Westport House, Westport Library, Westport GAA and numerous other local stakeholders.
Organisers said national recognition of the project is a significant milestone, but stressed that the work is far from complete.
“This is just a milestone, not a finish line,” they said. “The plan now is to deepen the partnerships we have built, widen the circle, and continue turning shared ideas into real change on the ground.”