12:30 Session 1: Pathways to Employment [Lightning Sessions] [Wicklow Hall 2]
12:30 Session 1: Pathways to Employment [Lightning Sessions] [Wicklow Hall 2]
Lightning 1.1: Pathways to the Professions - a model to improve access and inclusion for early career success
- Kathie Orr, University College Dublin
Kathie Orr University College Dublin
UCD Access and Lifelong Learning.
Pathways to the Professions Coordinator.
Kathie has worked in Further and Higher Education since 2012. She worked as an instructional designer on the development of the HEA National Forum AHEAD UCD Digital Badge in Universal Design Beyond the Classroom and is currently working on the Pathways to the Professions project.
Kathie’s areas of interest include Universal Design for Learning and fostering inclusion through accessible design.
Lightning 1.2: The Cuimsiú Programme: A WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme
- Nicole Lonican, Cuimsiú
Nicole Lonican Cuimsiú
Nicole Lonican is the Cuimsiú Programme Coordinator with Fast Track into Information Technology (FIT).
Nicole is an ADHDer and has a background in law, disability advocacy, coproduction and capacity building.
Cuimsiú (Kwim-shoo) means inclusion.
The Cuimsiú programme is a Workability: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme co-financed by the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training Programme (EIST) 2021-2027 and the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
The programme is dedicated to supporting neurodivergent and disabled people on a path to tech employment that works for them, through training and 1:1 mentor support. The Cuimsiú Team also supports employers in their own efforts to create inclusive workplaces.
Lightning 1.3: The Role of University in Preparing Students with Special Needs for Future Work
- Katarzyna Jach, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland
Katarzyna Jach Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland
Katarzyna Jach is the Rector’s Plenipotentiary for Persons with Disabilities at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (Wroclaw Tech), Poland. She is an associate professor and a head of Laboratory of Ergonomics at the Faculty of Management at Wroclaw Tech. She has been specializing in different ways of including people with special needs into work and educational environment.
Lightning 1.4: MTU’s Ready Steady Work (RSW): A Framework for Developing Student Employability Skills
- Olga Mitchell, Munster Technological University
Olga Mitchell Munster Technological University
Olga is a Careers Advisor in MTU Careers Service, who firmly believes that a career should energise, fill with inspiration, fire curiosity, while matching with personal strengths, interests and values. She has an MA in Applied Psychology (GC) from UCC , and a Professional Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy(IICP), as well as previous qualifications in science and engineering. Through her therapeutic counselling training she is particularly invested in strengthening student's self awareness and reflective practice for growth. She is interested and involved in supporting all abilities, in recognising the amazing strength diversity offers any organisation. Previous careers in laboratory and engineering roles.
15:00 Session 2: Options Abound [Lightning Sessions] [Meeting 1]
15:00 Session 2: Options Abound [Lightning Sessions] [Meeting 1]
The Student Transformative Learning Record (STLR)
- Dr Aiden Carthy, TU DublinAmanda Dixon (BBS, MBS), TU Dublin
Dr Aiden Carthy TU Dublin
Aiden is a psychologist and educator with over 25 years’ experience working in the education sector. His dual competencies in research and teaching enable him to contribute significantly to the education sector both nationally and internationally. His primary area of research expertise is wellbeing, with a particular focus on conducting research that focuses on wellbeing in educational contexts. Aiden is particularly interested in research that is beneficent, that focuses on working with marginalised and vulnerable populations and that adopts a participatory approach. Aiden founded and directs The Research Centre For Psychology, Education and Emotional Intelligence (PEEI) at TU Dublin, which was officially launched in 2018.
Amanda Dixon (BBS, MBS) TU Dublin
Amanda Dixon (BBS, MBS) is a lecturer in the School of Global Business and lectures on multiple cross Faculty programmes in the Business Regulatory space. Amanda is also Operations Lead on the Student Transformative Learning Record (STLR) project.
Currently, Amanda delivers modules on the Bachelor of Business (Honours) in International Business programme, the Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Information Technology programme and the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Digital Marketing programme.
In her capacity as an operations lead on the Student Transformative Learning Record (STLR) team, Amanda presented at the Valuing Ireland’s Teaching and Learning Event and contributed to the first cross faculty Teaching and Learning Publication in the Faculty of Business and presented at the 13th Annual Transformative Learning Conference in Oklahoma City.
Amanda is a member of the following entities TU Dublin’s Academic Council, the Authentic Assessment Community of Practice (TU Dublin) and the Rethinking Assessment Community of Practice (QQI).
Her research interests include authentic assessment, transformative learning and sustainability.
Empower Employment: AsIAm Employment Programme
- Mairéad McHale, AsIAm
Mairéad McHale AsIAm
Mairéad is an Employment Officer with AsIAm. In this role, she supports Autistic adults seeking
employment, and potential employers engaging with Autistic talent. In addition, Mairéad lectures
in Inclusive Education, Critical Disability Studies, and Equality Studies.
MyCareerPath Supports Inclusive Employability Module for all students
- Bridie Killoran, Atlantic Technological UniversitySally Reidy, Atlantic Technological University
Bridie Killoran Atlantic Technological University
ATU Career and Learning Pathways Manager (HCI HigherEd 4.0 Project) managing the MyCareerPath Service for Careers and Learning Pathways, including Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for people in the workplace. Using an innovative digital learning Career Development Platform, MyCareerPath, and a well-established employability framework, ATU have set out the ways in which we give opportunities to students to develop their employability skills.
Bridie has over 20 years’ experience of managing, developing and delivering excellent outcomes for the careers advisory and guidance services in higher education.
Sally Reidy Atlantic Technological University
Sally Reidy has been lecturing at Atlantic Technological University (formally Galway Mayo Institute of Technology) since 2000 and recently completed a Master of Arts in Guidance Counselling. Lately she is focused on enhancing students' employability skills through delivering "The Next Step" employability module.
15:45 Storytelling [Lightning Sessions] [Wicklow Hall 2]
15:45 Storytelling [Lightning Sessions] [Wicklow Hall 2]
Lightning 2.1: Learner Spotlight
- Rosalind Threadgold, Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB)Sarah Lavan, Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB)
Rosalind Threadgold Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB)
My current role involves supporting people with disabilities and people from minority or disadvantaged backgrounds access our Further Education and Training provision and encompasses supporting WWETB whole organization implementation of the Human Rights Public Sector Duty and Equality/ Disability Legislation and leading in initiatives that promote and celebrate Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and provide Equity for all learners in FET.
Sarah Lavan Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB)
Sarah Lavan is an Adult Education Officer with Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB). Her work is focused on the areas of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Access and Learner Supports. Sarah has worked in Adult and Community Education for over 20 years, and is interested in equality, diversity, culture, literacy, and transformative education. She holds a MA in Adult & Community Education from NUI Maynooth, an MA in Poetry Studies from the Irish Centre for Poetry Studies, Mater Dei, and a post graduate Diploma in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion with University of Limerick.
Lightning 2.2: Tertiary Education as Accessible Workplaces
- Connor Duignan, Innopharma Education
Connor Duignan Innopharma Education
Connor Duignan is a computer scientist by training and currently works as a technical software developer and project lead in Innopharma education. He has a keen interest in education, teaching, and inclusion.
Lightning 2.3: Supporting Your Neurodivergent Colleagues from the Perspective of an Autistic Person
- Sarah Pattison, Munster Technological University
Sarah Pattison Munster Technological University
Sarah Pattison is an Instructional Designer in the Technology Enhanced Learning department of Munster Technological University, who is passionate about inclusion and creating engaging learning materials.
Lightning 2.4: Psychological Adjustment and Educational Support: Experiences of Students with Dyslexia
- Dr Ciara Egan, University of GalwayCaoimhe O’ Malley, Dyslexia Ireland
Dr Ciara Egan University of Galway
Dr Ciara Egan is a lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Galway. Prior to her appointment she completed her PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at Bangor University. She is currently Co-Director of the MSc in Clinical Neuroscience, and her research focuses on neurodiversity, the cognitive neuroscience of language, and open science. She is passionate about educational inclusion in her research and teaching.
Caoimhe O’ Malley Dyslexia Ireland
Caoimhe O’Malley is the Senior Adult Dyslexia Coordinator with Dyslexia Ireland. She is responsible for the development of dyslexia supports for adults including the development of training to be delivered across the Adult Education sector (including FE, HE and Community Education) and the Employment/Workplace sector. Prior to joining Dyslexia Ireland, Caoimhe worked in education, her main focus being the non-traditional student, ensuring equal access to education for all and that the correct supports are in place so that all students can reach their full potential and enjoy their educational journey.