Is Waterford autism friendly?

Yes. In February 2025, Waterford became Ireland’s first Autism Friendly City, recognised by AsIAm, Ireland’s autism charity. More than 60 local businesses and organisations have completed autism training, and the city now has a sensory hub, autism-friendly match days and calmer spaces at its biggest festivals.

Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city, and now it’s leading the way in a very modern sense too. When AsIAm presented the award, its CEO said it was fitting that Ireland’s oldest city was showing others how it’s done.

This guide covers how Waterford got there, what autism friendly means across the city, and the places and events where autistic children, teenagers, adults and their families can expect a calmer, more welcoming day out.

Status: AsIAm Autism Friendly City

Awarded: February 2025, the first city in Ireland

Trained organisations: More than 60 businesses and organisations

Run by: Autism Friendly Waterford, a volunteer group of parents and allies

More information: autismfriendlywaterford.com

How Waterford became Ireland’s first Autism Friendly City

Autism Friendly Waterford began in 2023, when four mothers of autistic adults came together with one clear goal: to make Waterford Ireland’s first Autism Friendly City. More than 200 people came to the launch at the Tower Hotel.

The group worked in partnership with Waterford City and County Council and Waterford Chamber, with support from Healthy Ireland and Waterford Lions Club. Over three years, they set out to train at least 20 businesses, 20 public services and 20 voluntary groups, and to encourage local employers to offer work placements and jobs to autistic people.

They went well past that. By the time Waterford was recognised at the AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns Awards in the Mansion House in February 2025, the committee had trained more than 60 businesses and organisations. Along the way, it also won AsIAm’s Innovative Campaign Award in 2024.

The work didn’t stop with the award. The group now has Young Adult Ambassadors, autistic young people who help plan events and share their own experiences, and it keeps training new Champions every year.

What does autism friendly mean in Waterford?

In an autism-friendly city, businesses, services and events think about the small things that can make a day out hard, like noise, bright lights, crowds, waiting and not knowing what to expect.

Organisations in Waterford become Autism Friendly by following four steps:

• signing up with Autism Friendly Waterford
• completing autism training with their staff
• making sensory and environmental changes, such as quieter spaces, softer lighting or visual guides
• committing to support autistic people in employment, where they can

Autism Friendly Waterford also shares free guides for businesses on sensory accommodations, visual communication and workplace adjustments, along with a free training video.

Autism friendly places and events in Waterford

These are the places and events with published autism-friendly features. Supports and event details can change, so it’s always worth checking before you go.

Parent Child Sensory Hub, City Square Shopping Centre

If a shopping trip gets too much, the Parent Child Sensory Hub is a calm, quiet space where children can relax and reset. It’s upstairs in City Square Shopping Centre, between the toilets, and it’s open during the shopping centre’s opening hours.

The hub was a joint project between Autism Friendly Waterford and City Square, and money raised at the Mayor’s Ball helped fund it. The Metropolitan Mayor officially opened it in April 2026.

How it works:

• visits last 20 minutes and start on the hour and half hour
• a parent or guardian stays with their child the whole time
• before the first visit, a parent or guardian fills in a short form, which is available on the Autism Friendly Waterford website
• no food or drink is allowed in the hub

Where: City Square Shopping Centre, Waterford city centre (upstairs)

Waterford FC Autism Friendly Match Day

Live football can be loud and unpredictable, so Waterford FC created an autism-friendly match day experience at the RSC, its home ground. It includes:

• a separate entrance away from the main crowd, where volunteer Club Ambassadors greet you
• a reserved area in the main stand
• Ambassadors on hand during the game to help with refreshments or anything else you need
• a quiet room where children can take a break with a parent, officially opened by AsIAm’s CEO

The club has also run Football Friends, weekly football sessions for autistic children aged 6 to 16 at Ozier Park. Contact Waterford FC for current match dates and sessions.

Where: Regional Sports Centre (RSC), Waterford

Winterval

Winterval, Waterford’s much-loved Christmas festival, has added autism-friendly touches with Autism Friendly Waterford. Recent festivals have included:

• an autism-friendly viewing area for the official opening and Christmas lights switch-on
• a Sensory Santa, a calmer, more relaxed way to meet Santa
• a mobile sensory unit provided by Nua Healthcare, where visitors can take a break

Check the Winterval and Autism Friendly Waterford websites each autumn for the latest plans.

Waterford Harvest Festival

The Harvest Festival each September has partnered with Autism Friendly Waterford and Nua Healthcare to add sensory spaces. In 2026, families could drop in to the Parent Child Sensory Hub at City Square or pre-book a visit, and Nua Healthcare’s mobile sensory unit was stationed at the corner of O’Connell Street and Gladstone Street for the whole weekend.

Theatre Royal Waterford

In December 2025, Autism Friendly Waterford supported a sensory-friendly relaxed performance of Waterford Panto Society’s Cinderella at the Theatre Royal. Relaxed performances usually have gentler sound and lighting, and audiences are free to move around or make noise. Keep an eye on the theatre’s programme for future relaxed shows.

Waterford Libraries

Waterford’s libraries are a great free option for sensory play:

• Sensory Toys and Equipment Collection: more than 100 sensory items, from tactile toys to light and sound equipment, that families can borrow for free and take home. You can borrow from any of Waterford’s 12 library branches with a free library card.
• Tovertafel magic table: Central Library has a Tovertafel, an interactive table that projects light games onto a surface, designed for children and adults with sensory needs.
• Carrickphierish Library sensory garden: an accessible outdoor space designed for people of all ages and abilities, including autistic people.
• Sensory play sessions: Central Library has run sensory play hours for children aged 0 to 3. Check the library events page for current dates.
  
  

Businesses and organisations

More than 60 Waterford businesses and organisations have completed Autism Friendly training. They include employers such as Teva, and recent training days have brought in new Champions, including the team at Keogh Practice. The Viking Hotel has also hosted Champion training for local organisations.

Autism Friendly Waterford works closely with local groups that support the autistic community, including the National Learning Network, Brill Family Resource Centre and its 50 Shades of Exceptional service, ASD Dungarvan, Waterford Disability Network and Bohemians Football for All.

Planning an autism friendly day out in Waterford

A little preparation makes a big difference. Here are some tips based on how the city’s supports work:

• Know where the sensory hub is. If you’re shopping in the city centre, the hub at City Square gives you a calm place to take a break.
• Fill in the hub form before you go. It saves time when you arrive.
• Pick your timing. Festivals and Saturdays are busiest. If crowds are hard, a weekday visit is usually calmer.
• Look for autism-friendly areas at events. Winterval and the Harvest Festival have offered viewing areas and sensory units, so check the plans before you go.
• Borrow sensory toys from the library. They’re free and great for the car or a quiet moment at home after a busy day.
• Ask staff. Trained businesses and venues are happy to help, whether that’s a quieter spot or a bit more time.
  
  
  

Frequently asked questions

Is Waterford autism friendly? Yes. Waterford became Ireland’s first Autism Friendly City in 2025, recognised by AsIAm, Ireland’s autism charity. More than 60 local businesses and organisations have completed autism training.

What is the first autism friendly city in Ireland? Waterford. It was named Ireland’s first Autism Friendly City at the AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns Awards in February 2025.

Is there a sensory room in Waterford city centre? Yes. The Parent Child Sensory Hub is upstairs in City Square Shopping Centre. Children can use it for 20-minute visits, starting on the hour and half hour, with a parent or guardian.

Does Waterford FC have autism friendly match days? Yes. Waterford FC’s autism-friendly match day at the RSC offers a separate entrance, a reserved area in the main stand, volunteer Club Ambassadors and a quiet room.

Is Winterval autism friendly? Winterval has included an autism-friendly viewing area for the lights switch-on, a Sensory Santa and a mobile sensory unit, organised with Autism Friendly Waterford.

Who runs Autism Friendly Waterford? A volunteer group of parents and allies of the autistic community, working with AsIAm, Waterford City and County Council and Waterford Chamber.

Find autism friendly things to do in Waterford

Do Stuff! lists classes, activities and events across Waterford, with icons that show when an activity is accessible or can support additional needs. Browse What’s On in Waterford on Do Stuff! to plan your next day out.

Do you run an autism friendly class, club or activity in Waterford? Help local families find you. Add Your Autism Friendly Activity to Do Stuff!

We aim to provide up-to-date, useful information to readers. Email contact@dostuff.ie if any information here needs updating, or to tell us about a new place we can add.