Fondation Autisme Luxembourg Celebrates 30 Years, Plans Expanded Housing Support

On Tuesday 3 March 2026, the Fondation Autisme Luxembourg (FAL) held a press breakfast to mark its 30th anniversary, in the run-up to the main celebration planned for Saturday 9 May 2026 at the Place d’Armes in Luxembourg City.

According to the foundation, around 7,000 people in Luxembourg are on the autism spectrum, representing roughly one in 100 individuals. The foundation worked directly with approximately 1,500 people in 2025. It currently employs around 230 staff members, including educators, psychologists and social workers, to provide a broad range of services and support to individuals with autism and their families.

In an interview with Chronicle.lu, Marcel Deravet, President of the Fondation Autisme Luxembourg, acknowledged that, while the foundation has developed residential facilities and expanded access to diagnosis and support services over the years, significant needs remain: “There are still many people with autism who are waiting for a place to stay for their entire lives. Our next project is to build a new centre where we would be able to accommodate around 20 people with high support needs and, in the same location, provide places for others with lower support needs.” He added: “We first need to find suitable land to build on, and we are currently looking in different parts of the country, but we have not yet secured a site. It will likely take about five years to complete the project, including financing, but we believe there are good opportunities to make it happen.”

The foundation provides a wide range of services, including multidisciplinary diagnostic assessments, post-diagnostic support, training sessions for professionals and families, structured day-care activities and extra-school programmes for children held at its Belvaux premises on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, as well as on Saturdays and during school holidays. It also organises leisure stays and adapted sports activities to promote autonomy and social inclusion. Residential accommodation is currently available in Munshausen and Rambrouch, where six households host 39 people, with year-round supervision and tailored support aimed at fostering daily living skills and well-being.

Among the projects highlighted during the press breakfast was the development of new assisted housing structures aimed at strengthening autonomy, security and quality of life for people on the autism spectrum.

Another initiative “Atypik Space”, co-financed by the European Social Fund, seeks to improve professional inclusion for autistic adults through online training, a dedicated communication platform and virtual reality tools designed to support job retention and working conditions.

The foundation is also developing “Kalm Stuff – The Mobile Sensory Tent”, a travelling sensory space intended to provide a calm environment at public events and help prevent overstimulation, enabling autistic individuals to participate more fully in social life.

In addition, a new video series is being produced to inform and support families affected by autism. The short clips will address nine key themes from daily life, including recognising early signs of autism, creating routines, facilitating communication, managing challenging behaviour, adapting the home environment, supporting siblings, navigating administrative procedures before and after diagnosis, and parental well-being.

The anniversary programme will continue throughout 2026 with a series of cultural and awareness-raising events, including a public celebration at the Place d’Armes on 9 May, a Solidarity walk in Munshausen on 7 June, a Jazz evening at the Artikuss in Soleuvre on 3 October and a Public closing conference in 12 November. Further details are available on the foundation’s website.