Erica Meslin is the Education Manager with AHEAD.  She is an experienced leader in the inclusion field bringing in a diverse background of working with marginalized and disadvantaged communities internationally.  Erica is passionate about accessibility and inclusion in education settings and is happy to play a key role with AHEAD’s education team.

Áine began working in SOLAS 3 years ago as a Project Assistant after a 10-year career working in Finance. She progressed to the role of Project Officer 2 years ago with the National Apprenticeship Office, where her work has involved the development and evaluation of new and existing apprenticeship programmes; developing and supporting the Apprenticeship Online portal; and working as a member of the Secretariat to the Access and Inclusion subcommittee which supports equity of access to apprenticeship. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College Dublin. 

Dr Órla Slattery is an assistant professor in the department of educational psychology, inclusive and special education at Mary Immaculate College and inclusion co-ordinator for adults with ID at MIC since 2011. She is currently the chair of the Inclusive National Higher Education Forum, which is dedicated to supporting the inclusion of learners with intellectual disability in higher education in Ireland. She has recently been appointed as Director of the MIC Ability Pathways (MAP) Project which aims to promote inclusive educational opportunities for adult learners with intellectual disability. The MAP project is funded through the Path 4-Phase 2 HEA access initiative and has commenced in September 2024.   

Dr Patricia McCarthy is Research Fellow in the School of Education TCD. Patricia’s ontological position as a disabled researcher is instrumental in her research, publications, academic work, and advocacy. Patricia is Co-Chair of TCD Staff Disability Working Group and Vice-Convenor of TCD Forum for Disabled Staff & Postgraduate Students