Autism focus in talk at festival

Nenagh film-maker to feature at event

Award-winning film-maker Nicholas Ryan Purcell released his documentary film ‘This is Nicholas: Living with Autism’ in 2018. It was screened in 28 Irish cinemas, featured on RTÉ’s Nationwide, and led to Nicholas appearing as part of a panel on the Late, Late Show.

Last year as a labour of love Nicholas wrote a book titled ‘Anything Is Possible - Learning To Live With My Autism’. The book describes the extraordinary support he has been given, which helped him live with his autism and prove that ‘Anything is Possible’. Looking through the eyes of someone living with autism, Nicholas tells his story of his struggles with life and how he has overcome them. Nicholas now understands his autism and looks back over his school life, teenage years and becoming an adult. He looks at what triggered darker times in his life and having a clear understanding has helped him see that anything is possible.

For this event Nicholas will be joined by Adam Harris, the Founder and CEO of AsIAm which is Ireland’s National Autism Charity. Adam founded the organisation based on his own experiences growing up on the autism spectrum. Today, AsIAm provides support to people with Autism and their families. Adam was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome from an early age, the condition was far less understood or even known as it is today. Having spent his initial school years within the special education stream, he moved to a mainstream school in Second Class and was supported by a special needs assistant. A Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awardee, Adam is a frequent contributor to media and conferences in Ireland and overseas. He has also sat and advised on many government consultative and policy committees on disability rights, including a recent meeting with the Government’s Joint Committee for Autism. Adam was appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in July 2020.

This event will be chaired by Noelle Lynskey who is Director of Shorelines Arts Festival. She is completing her MA (Creative Writing) in UL. She is published in many anthologies and works as a community pharmacist in Portumna.

The talk takes place on Friday, September 30, at 6pm in Nenagh Tourist Office. For booking see www.dnlf.ie