Our Story
We’re Aoife and Áine, twin sisters and the founders of Emerge.
Our journey began 16 years ago when our cousin Aaron was diagnosed with autism at just two years old. Watching him grow and experience the world sparked our interest in autism and the importance of understanding and supporting children as individuals.
That interest became our careers. After completing our undergraduate degrees, Aoife went on to complete a Master’s in Early Intervention at Trinity College Dublin, while Áine completed a Master’s in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Queen’s University Belfast.
Over the years, we gained experience across schools, preschools, home-based programmes, specialist services, multidisciplinary teams and international settings. Working with so many children and families exposed us to different approaches and helped shape our own beliefs about how children should be supported.
Emerge grew from years of experience, conversations and a shared vision of doing things differently. We wanted to create something that was child-led, relationship-focused and neuroaffirming, where children could develop meaningful skills without being expected to change who they are. While ABA formed part of Áine’s academic background, it has never been used at Emerge or formed any part of our approach.
Throughout our careers, we noticed a gap in services for autistic children who continued to need support with friendships, confidence, emotional regulation and everyday social experiences, often long after individual therapies had finished. We also recognised how overwhelming navigating services and information could be for parents, particularly following a new diagnosis.
After years of discussing what this service could look like, we brought our vision to life with Emerge.
What began as an idea has grown into an established, five-star-rated service, supporting children and families for the past five years. Our carefully matched, specialist-led groups provide opportunities for children to build friendships, develop confidence and navigate social experiences in a supportive environment where they feel understood and accepted.
Becoming mothers ourselves has only deepened our appreciation for the trust families place in us and the importance of working closely with parents.
As Emerge continues to grow, we welcome experienced, qualified professionals who share our values. Every team member receives training, guidance and ongoing support in our approach, ensuring that the relationships, respect and understanding at the heart of Emerge remain consistent across everything we do.
Aine O’Carroll, Co-Founder of Emerge
Áine holds an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education from Mary Immaculate College and a Master’s Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Queen’s University Belfast. She has over 12 years of experience supporting autistic children and their families across home-based, educational and specialist settings.
Áine pursued her Master’s at a time when there was less awareness of the concerns surrounding traditional ABA practices. Throughout her career, however, her priority has always been the wellbeing of the children she supports, building meaningful relationships, working closely with families and ensuring that every child feels understood, respected and valued.
Her professional experience, ongoing learning and the perspectives of autistic individuals have shaped her firmly neuroaffirming, child-led and relationship-focused philosophy. This shared understanding inspired the approach she and her twin sister, Aoife, developed when establishing Emerge, where ABA has never formed part of the services provided.
Since welcoming her daughter in March, Áine continues to work behind the scenes, contributing to the development, direction and daily operations of Emerge.
Aoife - Co-Founder of Emerge
Aoife holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Care and a Master’s Degree in Early Intervention from Trinity College Dublin. With over 12 years of experience supporting autistic and neurodivergent children and their families, she has worked across educational, specialist and international settings.
Her role as an Inclusion Coordinator for children aged 5–12 in an international school was particularly influential in shaping her approach. Working closely with children, families and educators, and a multi-disciplinary team, she recognised the importance of supporting children within their everyday environments, helping them navigate friendships, social situations, emotional challenges and school life while celebrating their individual strengths.
These experiences shaped Aoife’s commitment to a neuroaffirming, child-led and relationship-focused approach, and the importance of children having a space where children feel understood and accepted while developing confidence, meaningful relationships and everyday skills.
Alongside her twin sister Áine, Aoife co-founded Emerge to bring their shared vision to life. Since welcoming her son in 2024, her appreciation for the trust families place in Emerge has grown even further.
Aoife now leads the development of Emerge in South Dublin, working closely with the team to ensure the service reflects Emerge’s values and specialist approach. She remains actively involved in supporting families, providing ongoing guidance and helping create a welcoming, collaborative environment where children and parents feel genuinely supported.
Kelly - Lead Group Facilitator (Limerick)
Kelly — Lead Group Facilitator
Kelly holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Limerick and a Master’s Degree in Behaviour Analysis from the University of Galway. She has 7 years of experience supporting autistic and neurodivergent children and their families across home-based and community settings.
Her experience includes working in a Family Resource Centre, supporting children's emotional wellbeing, confidence and everyday skills through individual and group programmes. She also helped develop sensory spaces and previously worked as a home tutor, building strong relationships with children and their families.
Throughout her career, Kelly has placed great importance on recognising each child’s individuality and creating environments where children feel comfortable, accepted and free to be themselves. She is passionate about helping children build genuine friendships, develop confidence and enjoy meaningful experiences alongside their peers.
As Lead Group Facilitator, Kelly brings warmth, compassion and enthusiasm to every session. Her understanding of the Emerge approach, alongside her natural ability to build trusting relationships, ensures children feel respected, understood and supported to develop confidence, friendships and everyday skills at their own pace.