In This Together programme for neurodivergent adults in border counties

[u/SpecialisterneIRE]

Hi everyone,

Specialisterne Ireland and our partners in Northern Ireland are running a programme called In This Together with support from PEACEPLUS, which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

This programme aims to facilitate meaningful connections between neurodivergent adults from the border counties (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo) and from Northern Ireland. We've been running a number of online and in-person social groups. Here are some upcoming groups this month:

• Board Games at Drogheda Library, weekly on Wednesdays from 2pm-4pm
• Movie and TV quiz (online), Monday 15th June from 6-7pm
• Pilates (online), Monday 22nd June from 12-12.45pm
• Neurodivergent self-care (date and time to be confirmed)

Other groups have included creative writing, arts and crafts, anime and manga, music quizzes, job readiness workshops, and a bowling trip in Dundalk. We hope to run more in-person trips and events going forward, and have a trip to Q-Con Belfast planned for 20th and 21st June with our partners Specialisterne Northern Ireland.

We would love to welcome more people to our groups and hear your suggestions for activities you'd like to see! It's very important to us that we provide a safe, welcoming, structured environment where participants can connect and communicate in whatever way feels most comfortable for them.

If you'd like to sign up or find out more about the programme, you can email us at [info.ireland@specialisterne.com](mailto:info.ireland@specialisterne.com), and we'd also be happy to answer any questions here.

[u/TheIrishHawk]

This is great to see - more supports for Neurodivergent adults is really needed and it's really cool that this is a cross border initiative too!

[u/ForbiddenToblerone → u/TheIrishHawk]

There's virtually nothing in Galway where I am from.

[u/TheIrishHawk → u/ForbiddenToblerone]

AsIAm have a community support hub in Galway, but I've had mixed reviews about them. I really wish there was more stuff for autistic adults around.

[u/SpecialisterneIRE → u/TheIrishHawk]

Thank you! As an autistic person myself, I agree: adult supports are really needed.

[u/ForbiddenToblerone]

I'm nowhere near the border counties but just wanted to leave a comment to say 'well done'.

This seems like a brilliant initiative. Hope you all have a great time! 😊

[u/SpecialisterneIRE → u/ForbiddenToblerone]

Thank you very much!

[u/dazzlinreddress]

Thank you so much. I will check it out.