Researchers, carers, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities meet and debate in a huge Amsterdam-based event, 5-8 July

This Amsterdam-based online conference of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IASSIDD) will have over 800 prominent researchers from across Europe and the world meet to discuss the latest research on topics ranging from the huge impact of COVID-19 on these populations to everyday issues like education, work and family relationships. They will be joined in presentations, discussions and debates by parents, carers, policymakers and disabled people themselves.

There will be a symposium with presentations from the following INHEF members:

The ideas and practices being discussed at IASSIDD are of interest to anyone who works in fields like healthcare, care, disability support, education or family support—as well as to families and individuals who have a personal connection to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Please contact us for more information, and to arrange interviews with IASSIDD staff or presenters. The full conference programme is now available online.

The Editor and Editorial Board of REACH ( formerly the Journal of Special Needs Education in Ireland)  are pleased to announce an online event at 19:00  on Wednesday 19th May 2021 to mark the renaming of  REACH as the Journal of Inclusive Education in Ireland. The new title will more accurately reflect the national and international research and policy landscape and the scope of the journal. and the move to open access online publication. REACH provides an opportunity for those involved and interested in inclusive and special education to publish articles based on their practice, research and experience. Therefore we are delighted to announce that REACH now has a full online presence and is freely available online in open access format at reachjournal.ie.

Professor Michael Shevlin will make a short welcome address reflecting on inclusion in Irish education, the place of practitioner research in progressing this and the supportive role of the journal. A panel of invited guests will consider and debate the function of REACH in 2021 and how the online open-access format can contribute to the discourse around the education of students with additional needs.ISL Interpretation will be provided. 

The ESAI Inclusive Education Special Interest Group wish to invite you to the second in our Expert Lecture Series with Professor Richard Rose and Professor Michael Shevlin entitled Researching the Experiences and Outcomes for Students with Special Educational Needs in Irish Schools.

Prof. Rose of the University of Northampton is a researcher in the areas of inclusive education and children’s rights. He is the Principal Investigator on a project investigating knowledge, attitudes and practices towards children with disabilities in Bhutan, funded by UNICEF. He is also director of Project IRIS, a longitudinal study into special educational provision in the Republic of Ireland. Richard has conducted research for research councils, charitable trusts and government organisations in the UK, China, Estonia, Malaysia, Malta, Ireland, Georgia and India. 

Prof. Shevlin is a Professor in Inclusive Education at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin. He is Director of The Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities. His many research activities, nationally and internationally, include Project IRIS, which has culminated in the recent publication Establishing Pathways to Inclusion: Investigating the Experiences and Outcomes for Students with SEN, which he co-authored with Richard. He has also recently reported with Aston and Banks on Post-School Transitions for Students with Intellectual Disabilities in the Republic of Ireland. His collaboration with Stranmillis College, Belfast, on Initial Teacher Education and the conceptualisation of Special Education. 

Webinar Series in April 2021, Tuesdays 11-12. Use this link here to register.

April 6th, Decision Making

Alison Doyle from Caerus Education will present an overview on post school options in Ireland.

April 13th, Education

Des Aston from the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disability will present on third level options.

Speakers from five of the programs from the Inclusive National Higher Education Forum will also present.

April 20th, Employment

Marie Devitt from the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disability will present on the Pathways to Employment Programme and a student will share his experience.

Des Henry from WALK will present on employment and training options and students will speak to their experience.

April 27th, Community Supports

The Muiriosa Foundation, a HSE Service, will present on the policy of New Directions for a person living in community.

Avril Webster, a parent, and active in the newly formed Inclusive Living Network, will speak about an alternative vision for life in the community.

Please submit questions prior to the event to Petria Malone, petria@inclusionireland.ie, 086-8373454

For further information on Inclusion Ireland, click here or explore membership here.

The poster is available here.

The Easy to Read version is available here.