Autism Schools in Dublin offer children access to a range of supports and services to help them achieve their goals within a natural environment.
If you are a parent in Dublin in search of promoting independence and a sense of achievement for your special child, an Autism School is the right step towards achieving this and even more.
Dublin, the vibrant capital of Ireland, is home to a range of specialized educational institutions dedicated to providing support and guidance for individuals with autism.
These autism schools in Dublin are at the forefront of creating nurturing environments where children and young adults on the autism spectrum can flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.
Below, we will delve into these remarkable schools, each with its unique approach and unwavering commitment to helping students with autism reach their full potential.
The List of Top Autism Schools in Dublin
Top Autism Schools in Dublin include:
- Abacas Special School
- ABA Preschool Academy
- St. Paul’s Special School
- The Red Door School
- Setanta Special School
- Benincasa Special School
- Ballyowen Meadows Special School
- St. Joseph’s Special School
- St Michael Special School
- St Declan’s School, Dublin
- PALS PreSchool
- Saplings Special School – Ballyboden EDÂ
- St. John of God Special School – Kilmainham B ED
- Foxfield Special School, SwordsÂ
- Brothers of Charity Child Development Centre
Abacas Special School
ABACAS Special School Kilnamanagh is a non-denominational school dedicated to children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and complex needs.
With a child-centered, evidence-based curriculum, they offer tailored education to 30 pupils across five classes, each with an Individual Education Plan (IEP). ABACAS operates under the patronage of Autism Ireland, following the Regulations of Primary Schools in Ireland.
Contact info:
Visit the website: https://www.abacasspecialschool.ie/Â
Phone:01 4599585 Email: abacasspecialschool@gmail.com
Address: Treepark Rd, Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24, D24 A2XF, Ireland
ABA Preschool Academy
ABA Preschool Academy is an educational center for preschool children with autism and related disorders. ABA Preschool Academy uses behavior analytic principles to teach children new skills.
They focus on teaching children in a fun environment, with two locations in Shankill and Tallaght.
ABA Preschool Academy creates personalized individual educational programs for each need of the child. This is achieved through a broad curriculum incorporating: language, communication, play, social interaction, fine motor, and gross motor skills.
Contact info:
Visit the website: https://abapreschoolacademy.ie/Â
Phone: 015571205.
Email: abacasspecialschool@gmail.comÂ
Address: Stonebridge Community Facility,2-38, Stonebridge Grove, Shankill, Dublin 18
St. Paul’s Special School
Saint Paul’s is a school that caters solely to children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. They aim to provide an education to each child, which reflects their needs and is delivered holistically.
The staff at the school works closely with the multidisciplinary team in St Paul’s Child and Family Care Centre, which is based on the same campus.
The team based on St. Paul’s site, comprises Psychiatry, Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Nursing Staff.
Contact info:
Visit the website: http://stpaulsspecialschool.ie/Â
Phone: (01) 836 9630
Email: info@stpaulsspecialschool.ieÂ
Address: Beaumont Woods, Beaumont, D 9
The Red Door School
The Red Door School provides a child-centered, evidence-based education for students on the Autism Spectrum.
The Red Door School provides an inclusive environment where all students develop independence, through an individualized approach to both educational and personal development.
They offer a broad and balanced curriculum that is child-centered and evidence-based to all pupils, taking into consideration individual learning styles, in addition to, individual needs and abilities.
Contact info:
Visit the website: http://www.thereddoorschool.com/Â
Phone: 01-6637532
Email: admin@thereddoorschool.comÂ
Address: Beaumont Woods, Beaumont, D 9
Setanta Special School
Setanta School is a co-educational day school specifically for children on the Autistic Spectrum.
The School was originally founded in 1965 by the HSE and was called St Loman’s Special School and is temporarily located at Limekiln Road, Greenhills, Dublin 12.
Contact info:
Visit website: https://www.setantaschool.ie/Â
Phone: +353 1 4509746/ +353 1 288 4594
Email: info@setantaschool.ieÂ
Address: Limekiln Road,​ Greenhills, Dublin 12
Benincasa Special School
Benincasa Special School, based in South Dublin enrolls children aged between 5 and 16, who have been referred to the school due to the child’s special needs and inability to thrive in mainstream education.
With multi-talented, and highly trained staff they are dedicated to nurturing students and encouraging them to realize their full potential.
They provide the students with a varied array of activities and resources such as Arts and crafts, Sports, and Transportation.
Contact info:
Visit website: http://benincasa.ie/Â
Phone: (01) 288 7066
Email: info@benincasa.ie
Address: Blackrock, Co. Dublin
Ballyowen Meadows Special School
Ballyowen Meadows Special School, situated in South Dublin, dedicates itself to delivering specialized education to children aged 4 to 12 with autistic spectrum disorders.
Their focus lies in offering tailored teaching and learning experiences in an autism-specific environment to accommodate a diverse range of needs and abilities among students.
The school’s mission involves equipping each child with skills for self-managing behavior, communication, transitions, choice-making, independence, and social interactions.
This objective is pursued by implementing a customized primary school curriculum, adapting it to each child’s unique requirements, with the ultimate goal of enabling students to reach their maximum potential in both education and life.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: http://www.bmss.ie/
Phone: 01 2393010
Email: office@bmss.ie
Address: Ballyowen Meadows Special School, Loughlinstown Drive, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
St. Joseph’s Special School
St. Joseph’s, situated within the Archdiocese of Dublin, is a Catholic school known for its inclusive environment, embracing students from various denominations or those with none.
This special school primarily serves students with mild general learning disabilities and those diagnosed with ASD.
Currently, the school’s enrollment stands at 84 pupils, organized into four classes tailored to accommodate students with ASD.
In these specialized classes, the student-teacher ratio is maintained at six pupils to one teacher, further supported by two or three SNAs.
Contact Info -St. Joseph’s Special School
Visit the Website: https://sjss.ie/Â
Phone: 01 451 5961
Email: admin@sjss.ie
Address: St . Joseph’s Special School, Castletymon Road Balrothery, Tallaght, Dublin
St Michael Special School
St. Michael’s School specializes in educating students with Mild General Learning Disabilities. Currently, the school boasts an enrollment of around 166 pupils, spanning ages from 5 to 18 years.
At St. Michael’s, they hold a deep appreciation for each individual’s uniqueness. Their dedication revolves around providing students with diverse avenues for self-expression, actively involving them in various school activities.
The school takes pride in the educational opportunities it offers and the strong sense of community that characterizes it.
Contact Info- St Michaels Special School:
Visit the Website: https://www.stmichaelsholyangels.com/Â
Phone: 01 8201859 / 01 8128435
Email: principalgorevan@gmail.com, schoolsecretarystmichaels@gmail.comÂ
Address: St. Michael’s Holy Angels, Glenmaroon, Chapelizod, Dublin 20 D20 A072
St Declan’s School, Dublin
St. Declan’s specializes in providing support to children who, due to various reasons, are not reaching their full potential in their academic endeavors.
Primary school-age boys and girls facing personal or educational challenges in their previous schools can be referred to St. Declan’s.
If these children have issues that can be addressed through a period of one or a few years at St. Declan’s, they have the option to transfer here until they are prepared to reintegrate into mainstream educational institutions.
St. Declan’s Special School is situated in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, operating under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Dublin and the trusteeship of the Jesuit Society. The school was established in 1958.
St. Declan’s primarily caters to children dealing with emotional and behavioral difficulties. The typical class size consists of six children, one class teacher, and two Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).
Children typically attend St. Declan’s for two years before transitioning back to mainstream education or into a specialized class within mainstream schools.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: http://www.stdeclans.ie/Â
Phone: +353-1-6678141
Address: St Declan’s School, Dublin, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
PALS PreSchool
PALS Preschool, established in September 2008 and now located in Hampton Wood, Finglas, is dedicated to providing a secure and inclusive educational environment for autistic children.
They prioritize respecting each child’s strengths, valuing contributions, and using evidence-based practices to help them reach their potential.
PALS adopts a child-centered approach, collaborating with families and professionals, including a consultant Speech and Language Therapist, Olive Gormley, who specializes in various speech and language assessments and techniques.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: http://www.palspreschool.ie/
Phone: 085 842 5660
Email: info@palspreschool.ie
Address: Hampton Wood Dr, Point, Co. Dublin, D11 X62D, Ireland.
Saplings Special School – Ballyboden EDÂ
Saplings Special School in Ballyboden ED is dedicated to supporting individuals diagnosed with autism and their families.
Their mission is to help these individuals reach their full potential and actively engage in family and community life by offering holistic, evidence-based services.
The school emphasizes the dignity, uniqueness, and educational rights of each individual. Children attending the school benefit from access to its unique facilities.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://saplingsdublin.ie/Â
Phone: 014951620
Email: saplingsrathfarnham@saplings.org
Address: 16 The Crescent, Rathfarnham, Ballyboden, Co. Dublin, D16 Y3F1, Ireland
St. John of God Special School – Kilmainham B ED
St. John of God School, situated in Islandbridge, Dublin, serves students aged four to eighteen with moderate, severe, or profound general learning disabilities.
They also have specialized classes for students with ASD and moderate to severe/profound general learning disabilities.
The school’s primary goal is to equip each student to the best of their abilities, recognizing and nurturing individual talents through an experiential learning approach that makes education enjoyable and engaging.
St. John of God School is dedicated to tailoring education to the unique needs of each student. They employ suitable teaching methods, a developmental life skills program, and a range of learning materials to achieve this mission.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: http://stjohnofgodschool.com/
Address: St John of God School, Islandbridge, Dublin 8, D08 P89W
Phone: 01 6741534 / +353 1 674 1500
Email: info@stjohnofgodschool.com
Foxfield Special School, Swords
SMH Foxfield is a co-educational school, welcoming children with a dual diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and a moderate general learning disability.
Their approach emphasizes treating students with dignity and respect, fostering their active participation, and tailoring educational programs to meet their individual needs.
At Foxfield School, the focus is on creating a nurturing, positive, and secure environment for students to achieve their full potential.
They utilize specific ASD-oriented approaches like TEACCH, Social Stories, Floortime, and C-ABA, supported by tailored environmental and teaching aids.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: http://www.foxfieldsmh.ie/Â
Phone: 01 832 5009
E-mail: sandra.wallace@smh.ie
Address: Foxfield Special School, Briarfield Villas, Greendale Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5.
Brothers of Charity Child Development Centre
The Brothers of Charity Child Development Centres in Co. Galway, including Burrenview CDC, Fairlands CDC, and Stepping Stone CDC, offer educational services to children aged 2 years and 8 months to 5 years.
These services are tailored for children with significant learning and physical disabilities, as well as those on the Autism Spectrum. The duration of a child’s placement depends on their assessed needs.
Each child receives an ‘Individual Education Plan’ (IEP) and Personal Outcome goals. These goals are based on the child’s current abilities, family preferences, and educational objectives.
The curriculum covers various program areas, including cognitive skills, fine and gross motor skills, language and communication, social skills, play skills, interpersonal skills, personal skills, and self-help skills. Additionally, the centers offer other extracurricular activities.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://west.brothersofcharity.ie/services/childrens-services/child-development-centres-and-early-childhood-rc/
Phone: (091) 721400
Email: info@bocsi.ie
Address: Brothers of Charity Services Ireland, West Region, Kilcornan House, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway, H91 K2E9
Conclusion:
Autism Schools in Dublin serve as beacons of hope and inclusion for individuals on the autism spectrum.
With their tailored programs, dedicated staff, and nurturing environments, these schools have become places where students with autism not only learn but also thrive.
The journey toward understanding, acceptance, and empowerment continues, and these schools in Dublin are playing a pivotal role in paving the way for a brighter future for all individuals with autism.
