About us
We’re Aoife & Aine, twin sisters from Limerick who opened Emerge in August 2021. We both always had an interest in working and learning about autism since our cousin Aaron was diagnosed 10 years ago when he was 2 years old. We had little exposure to autism at the time and were just starting our undergraduate degrees in Social Care and Early Childhood Education. This encouraged us to focus our studies on adults and children with additional needs and completed our chosen placements in these areas - which we both really enjoyed and benefitted from. These experiences resulted in us deciding on our Masters degrees which focussed on children who were on the spectrum and the supports available to them. Aine studied Applied Behavioural Analysis in Queens University Belfast and Aoife studied Early Intervention in Trinity College Dublin.
Watching Aaron grow up and our exposure to many other kids on the spectrum through our time as home tutors under the Department of Education, we became increasingly more interested in the different ways each child learns, communicates and interacts with those around them. No two children were the same and we loved forming and building meaningful relationships with the children and their parents.
Once we completed our Master Degrees it quickly became apparent to us that there was a lack of readily available supports outside of the state-supported programs which are evidently under-resourced and have long waiting times for both a diagnosis and subsequent acceptance to state supported therapies. We also became increasingly aware of how little families may know about a new diagnosis. From where we were looking, the internet was filled with a lot of negative language, perceptions and generalisations about children on the spectrum and we want to show families that many of these misconceptions are far from the truth.
Therapies for children on the spectrum are often 1:1 with an adult, which is hugely beneficial. However, often times we felt we couldn’t teach certain skills without the presence of other children and wanted a space where we could create groups of neuro-divergent children and allow them to form real relationships and friendships through shared interests. This could be a group of kids who enjoy lining toy farm animals up together, rather than playing make believe with them! This allows children on the spectrum feel understood and that their way of play is accepted and others like to play this way too.
We want to be a service which puts parents minds at ease and bring positivity to families who are learning about their neurodivergent children. Each child we have met over the years is amazing and brilliant in their own unique ways. We have seen the most special and meaningful friendships form in Emerge and we are so proud of all our kids. We look foward to hearing from you!
Aine O’Carroll, BCBA
Aine completed her honours bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Care and Education in Mary Immaculate College. Following this she went on to complete her Masters Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Queens University Belfast. Áine is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst.
Aine has worked with children on the spectrum for 10 years and has been able to adapt her approach to best support each individual child. She has seen the benefits of using a child’s natural and special interests to promote interaction and build on social relationships with peers. She has experience working as a Home Tutor under the Department of Education and also worked in an autism school for children aged 5-18 as a Special Needs Assistant while in college.
Aoife completed her Bachelors Degree in Social Care in Limerick Institute of Technology where she focussed on Special Education and Disabilities. Following this she went on to complete her Masters Degree in Education in Early Intervention in Trinity College Dublin. She then worked as a Home Tutor under the Department of Education with children under 5 years old. She moved to Vietnam in 2018 and worked as head of the Special Needs Department in an American International School. This involved assessing the needs and support children required within the classroom from primary to secondary school. She assisted teachers with strategies and ideas which could be used during class time and also implemented strategies to accommodate children’s needs, which were then used within the classroom. She then moved to Australia where she worked as a Behaviour Therapist under the supervision of a BCBA. Here she worked with children aged 3 to 6 years old in their homes and implemented individualised programmes. She also trained parents on how to use the skills taught during sessions into their everyday home life.
