When you consider becoming a foster carer, it is natural to wonder if you have the right skills to meet a child's needs. If a child has an autism diagnosis, that well-intentioned concern can sometimes intensify into a fear of not being "expert" enough.
But what if the skills you already have, like patience, the ability to create routine, and a willingness to offer a safe space are exactly what an autistic child needs to thrive?
In our latest episode of Voices – The Origins Foster Care Podcast, I'm joined by Adam Harris, the founder and CEO of AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity. Adam brings a wealth of personal and professional insight, sharing his own journey of growing up autistic in Ireland and his relentless advocacy for a society where every autistic person is accepted as they are.
Listen to the full episode below, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
One of the most reassuring takeaways from this episode is Adam’s mission to remove the "mystique" around autism. He points out that many people falsely assume they need advanced qualifications to care for an autistic child.
In reality, the adaptable skills that foster carers are trained to embrace are incredibly transferable. Autistic children often thrive in environments that offer structure, predictable routines, clear communication, and emotional safety. By simply providing a calm, non-judgmental home, foster carers are already doing the heavy lifting of inclusion.
For too long, the language surrounding autism has been rooted in a medicalised, deficit-based model, focusing on what a child cannot do. Adam challenges foster carers and educators to flip the script and adopt a strengths-based approach.
"Often what we frame in our society as negatives or as challenges or as deficits, really are just a matter of perspective... I might hear that autistic people are naive and I might say autistic people are loyal and trusting."
He shares a moving example from his own childhood. When he transitioned into mainstream primary school, his reading and writing skills were behind his peers. However, instead of forcing standard learning methods, his school leaned into his intense special interest: history. They used history books to teach him to read and allowed him to present history projects to his classmates, giving him the opportunity to be the "best" at something rather than the child who was always struggling.
This neuroaffirmative approach doesn't ask a child to change who they are to fit the world; it adapts the world to help the child shine.
At the heart of Adam’s message is a simple, undeniable truth: every child in Ireland deserves the same chance to live, learn, and play in their communities.
For an autistic child who finds themselves interacting with the care system, the barriers they face are often doubled. They need understanding across the board, advocates who will support them, and most importantly, they need people who are willing to meet them halfway.
If you are a parent who has already raised a neurodivergent child, Adam highlights that your lived experience would be an incredible asset for a neurodivergent child in your care. Likewise if you yourself are neurodivergent. And if you are entirely new to neurodiversity, organisations like AsIAm are there to support you in addition to the robust supports that Origins offers each of our foster carers.
To make a difference for an autistic child, you don't need to have all the answers. You just need to be willing to offer them the same chance.
Ready to take the next step? If you have space in your heart and home, Origins Foster Care would love to hear from you. You can have a look at some of the links below or get in touch to take your next step:
→ Learn more about the supports Origins provides every foster carer
→ Explore our Become a Foster Carer page to see how you can get started fostering
→ Join one of our upcoming online Fostering Info Sessions
→ Or Apply Online to Become a Foster Carer if you're ready to take the next step
Reach out for any questions and enquiries. A member of our fostering team will get back to you as soon as possible.
.avif)
