Adam Harris (autistic advocate)

Adam Harris
Born (1994-11-27) 27 November 1994[1][2]
OccupationCEO of AsIAm
Known forFounding AsIAm
Autism advocacy
Spouse
Daniel O'Driscoll
​
(m. 2025)​
RelativesSimon Harris (brother)

Adam Harris (born November 1994) is an Irish disability advocate and non-profit executive known for founding the autism advocacy organization AsIAm.

Early life and education

Adam Harris was born to Mary, a Montessori preschool teacher and SNA, and Bart Harris, a taxi driver.[3] His brother is Simon Harris, the former taoiseach of Ireland. He also has a sister named Gemma. He grew up in Greystones.[1]

From an early age, Harris displayed autistic traits, such as being speech delayed and having poor coordination. His mother, who worked at Harris's preschool, recognised the traits as autism, and he was diagnosed as autistic at age five.[4] After his diagnosis, he attended a special school in Ballyboden for three years.[1] After returning to Greystones, he attended St. Patrick's National School Greystones, completing his schoolwork with the help of an SNA. He later attended St. David's Secondary School.[1] In 2013, Harris began a social studies degree at University College Dublin, but he dropped out in December in order to focus on AsIAm.[5][6]

Career

AsIAm

Harris founded AsIAm, a charity focused on autism education, support and advocacy, on 21 August 2014, at the age of 19.[7] The following November, he won the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Elevator Award for his work, receiving €30,000 in funding.[4][5] In 2016, Harris was involved in the pilot project to make Dublin City University an autism-friendly campus.[8][5]

On 17 June 2026, Harris announced he would be stepping down from the role of CEO of AsIAm, in order to take up the position of CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.[9]

Advocacy work

Harris is a disability advocate and serves on multiple boards and commissions. He has been a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission since 2020, a member of the board of Rethink Ireland since 2022, and a member of the Autism-Europe Council of Administration since 2019.[10][11][12] In 2025, he was the chairman and ambassador of the 14th Autism Europe Congress.[13][14]

Television appearances

Harris's first television appearance was on the The Late Late Show.[6] He was interviewed on The Saturday Night Show in 2015.[15]

In 2014, Harris took part in filming for the RTÉ documentary Autism and Me. He made an appearance on The Late Late Show to promote the documentary's March 2017 release.[15][16]

In 2020, Harris was one of six entrepreneurs featured in RTÉ One documentary Changing Ireland: My Big Idea.[17]

Personal life

Adam Harris is gay. He met his husband Daniel O'Driscoll in 2017, and they got engaged in 2023. They married in a private ceremony on Fota Island in 2025.[18] He currently lives in Dublin city-centre.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Medcalf, David (31 July 2025). "Adam Harris talks life with autism and turning the tide on inclusion". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  2. ↑ "Facebook post". Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  3. ↑ Caden, Sarah. "Interview With A Man: Adam Harris Discusses Growing Up with Autism, Social Change and Men's Mental Health". The Gloss. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Adams's AsIam.ie collects social entrepreneur award". Irish Independent. 22 November 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Kidd, Rachel (21 April 2016). "Speaking With: Adam Harris". University Times. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  6. 1 2 Fennell, Hilary (3 October 2020). "This Much I Know: Adam Harris". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Autism - Today with Seán O'Rourke". RTÉ Radio. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "Creating Europe's first autism-friendly campus". DCU. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "AsIAm Announces Founder-CEO Transition". AsIAm.
  10. ↑ "Executive Committee". Autism Europe. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Adam Harris". Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Galvin, Tom. "Tánaiste's brother and transgender activist among those appointed to Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Autism Congress 2025". Autism Europe. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Autism Europe Congress 2025 – Championing Inclusive Event Design". Meet in Ireland. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Autism and Me's Adam Harris has his say on Autism Awareness". RTÉ. 2 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Tonight's Late Late Show lineup". Entertainment.ie. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Changing Ireland: My Big Idea - Meet Adam Harris". PTSB Blog. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  18. ↑ Horan, Niamh. "Tánaiste Simon Harris is best man as his brother Adam marries long-term partner". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
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