AHEAD and the Union of Students in Ireland are happy to present the Power of Disability 2024: a conference for students and by students taking place February 7th and 8th.
This two-day online event will include discussions, presentations and feedback sessions encouraging students with disabilities to be leaders on their own campuses and will build practical skills on self-advocacy and constructive advocacy.
Day 1 of the conference will focus on the student voice including sessions on sharing what it's like to be disabled, with an introduction to the students with disabilities advisory group, and session about postgraduate experience and assistive technology.
Day 2 of the event focuses on student empowerment and advocacy. Getting involved in student politics, constructive advocacy and two legal sessions on knowing your rights as a disabled person both on a personal level, as well as an EU level.
Registration is free to attend, but registration is limited so you must book a spot in advance.
Day 1 - Student Focus
Day 1 - Student Focus
11:15 AM- 11:45 AM: Welcome and Introduction with the Students with Disabilities Advisory Group
11:45 AM- 12:35 PM: Diversity of Learners/ Social Engagement
- Dara Ryder, CEO, AHEADDr Richard Healy, Research and Policy Officer, AHEAD
Dara Ryder CEO, AHEAD
Dara Ryder is Chief Executive Officer of AHEAD, having previously managed AHEAD’s digital presence and developed a suite of online CPD programmes relating to inclusive practice in his role as Digital Media and eLearning Manager there.
After graduating from Queens University in 2005, Dara joined Dun Laoghaire College of Further Education as a lecturer, where he became interested in inclusive education when working first-hand with students with disabilities in his classroom. When the opportunity arose in 2008, he joined AHEAD where he has been working ever since on creating inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities.
Dr Richard Healy Research and Policy Officer, AHEAD
Richard received has a PhD from Maynooth University. His research was informed by the current drug service user narrative in Ireland, primarily methadone maintenance treatment and he continues to advocate for the human rights of those who engage with Irish services. Most of this work is carried out with the Service User Rights in Action, a group of which Richard is a member. Richard works in AHEAD as Policy and Research Officer. He conducts research projects such as our annual participation rates data on students with disabilities engaged in disability support services and is responsible for writing policy submissions.
12:35 PM Small Comfort Break
13:00 PM-14:30 PM: Developing of a disabled postgraduate advocacy community
- Dr Vivian Rath, National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory CommitteeAlexa MacDermot, University College Dublin
Dr Vivian Rath National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee
Dr Rath is a Research Fellow in TCPID, School of Education, TCD. He is currently coordinating a University wide piece of research on the belonging and social connectedness experiences of students in TCD. He co-coordinates the Disability Rights module and supervises masters students. He has a background and expertise in human rights, student leadership, success and in creating inclusive environments where everyone belongs. He is a Government of Ireland Ministerial appointee to the Board of the National Disability Authority and was a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Disability Advisory Committee. He is founder and Chair of the Trinity College Dublin Forum for Disabled Staff and the National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee. He sits on the AHEAD/NDPAC #LaunchPAD Project Oversight Committee.
Sinead Lynch, PhD Student- DCUAlexa MacDermot University College Dublin
Alexa is a SUSI PhD student in the School of Social Policy, Social Work, and Social Justice in University College Dublin. Her research is on neurodivergent women's experiences of identity, social relations, and employment in Ireland. She is on the Board of Directors for AHEAD Ireland, and established UCD's first Neurodiversity Collective social group for students. Alexa is a late-assessed autistic researcher and wishes to promote neurodiversity visibility and acceptance in academia.
Sarah Anne Dudley, Postgraduate student- UCD Aoife Price, Researcher on the Disability Advocacy Research in Europe (DARE project), European Disability Forum.Sinead Lynch PhD Student- DCU
Sinead is a PhD student in DCU’s Institute of Education. She previously did an undergraduate Psychology degree in DCU as an online education student and was a class rep for four years. From this, she developed an interest in how students with disabilities manage the juggling of personal and professional lives required by online education and decided to research this in my PhD. She is really excited to be part of the AHEAD/USI Student Advisory Working Group and be part of advocating for a more inclusive higher education system, and is looking forward to working with lots of great people.
Aoife Price Researcher on the Disability Advocacy Research in Europe (DARE project), European Disability Forum.
Aoife Price is co-chair of the National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee, an organisation focused on increasing the number of service provisions for disabled postgraduate students and early career researchers. She is an active member of the disability community and is involved in many organisations on a national level. She holds a PhD in Disability Law and Policy from the University of Galway, an MSc in Applied Social Research from Trinity College Dublin and a BA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Limerick. Aoife currently works as a Research Associate at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, University of Galway, researching disability, marginalisation and political participation.
14:30 PM- 15:40 PM: Lunch Break
15:45 PM-16:30 PM: Assistive Technology
- Steven Bradley, Student
Steven Bradley Student
Steven will complete his BA Arts in Community Development in May this year but hopes to progress to level 8 in September. Steven has a passion for assistive technology and he is doing his 3rd year dissertation on ‘Education to the labour market, A case study of the challenges, faced by the disabled adults’. Steven has a cerebral palsy diagnosis with hydrocephalus since birth and is dedicated to helping others with disabilities to improve their lives
16:30 PM- 17:00 PM: What's next? WAM
- Banba Fitzgerald, AHEAD- GetAHEAD OfficerPhilip Carroll, AHEAD- WAM Project Officer
Banba Fitzgerald AHEAD- GetAHEAD Officer
Banba Fitzgerald – GetAHEAD Officer, AHEAD
Banba Fitzgerald holds two first class honours degrees from University College Dublin including a BSc in Science and an MSc in Business & Biotherapeutics. She is very passionate about the healthcare and disability sectors and has personal experience with hidden disabilities. Her background has largely been in the pharmaceutical and medical communications industries with experience in a variety of areas including project and event management. At present, Banba is currently working in AHEAD as GetAHEAD Officer and is dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the disability community.
Philip Carroll AHEAD- WAM Project Officer
Philip joined the AHEAD team in 2022 and is working on The Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme which aims to promote access to the employment for graduates with disabilities and build the capacity of employers to integrate disability into the mainstream workplace. Not only is Philip working on the WAM Programme, but he is also a former participant of the WAM Programme in 2018. Philip strives to use this unique perspective of the challenges faced by graduates with disabilities in the workplace, to offer support and guidance as they begin their respective careers.
Day 2 - Education, Advocacy and Rights
Day 2 - Education, Advocacy and Rights
11:15 AM- 12:15 PM: Student Feedback Session
- Caoimhe Cronin, Education Events Officer, AHEAD
Caoimhe Cronin Education Events Officer, AHEAD
Caoimhe is the Education Events Officer in AHEAD, where she coordinates and delivers national education events, including the AHEAD Conference and the John Kelly Awards. She is also a socially engaged Artist working at the intersection of education, inclusion, and the arts. She is passionate about co-creating projects and events that drive equity, creativity, and social impact.
12:15 PM- 13:00 PM: Knowing your Rights
- Dr. Charles O'Mahony, Lecturer in Law at University of Galway
Dr. Charles O'Mahony Lecturer in Law at University of Galway
Charles joined the School of Law at the University of Galway in 2012 as a lecturer, later becoming the Head of School from 2017 to 2021. He earned a PhD from the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, University of Galway, focusing on 'Diversion: A Comparative Study of Law and Policy Relating to Defendants and Offenders with Mental Health Problems and Intellectual Disability.' During his career, Charles served as the President of the Irish Association of Law Teachers (IALT) for two terms. Prior to his academic role, he worked as Amnesty International Ireland's Legal Officer, on its mental health campaign, and as a legal researcher for the Law Reform Commission of Ireland. His academic qualifications include an LLM from University College London, another LLM in Public Law from University of Galway, and a BA in Law and History, followed by a LLB from the University of Galway. He is part of the Crime, Punishment and Justice Research Cluster at the School of Law. Charles teaches modules on Health Law and Policy, Comparative Disability Law, and An Introduction to the Irish Legal System. Current research projects explore access to justice for persons with disabilities in Ireland, and human rights and mental health law reform.
13:00 PM - 14:00 PM: Lunch Break
14:00 PM- 15:00 PM: Getting involved in Student Politics (USI)
- James Curry, USI Vice President of Equality and Citizenship
James Curry USI Vice President of Equality and Citizenship
James Curry is the Vice President for Equality & Citizenship for the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). He represents over a quarter of a million students in third level education under the remit of equality and citizenship which encompasses: race, gender, sexuality, disabilities and so much more.
15:00 PM- 16:00 PM: Constructive Advocacy
- Mr. Adam Harris, Founder and CEO of AsIAm Irelands Autism CharityMr. Ken Kilbride, CEO of ADHD Ireland
Mr. Adam Harris Founder and CEO of AsIAm Irelands Autism Charity
Adam set up AsIAm based on his own experiences growing up as a young autistic person in Ireland. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome from an early age, the condition was far less understood or even known as it is today. Having spent his initial school years within the special education stream, he moved to a mainstream school in Second Class and was supported by an SNA. Adam Harris is the Founder and CEO of AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity. Adam founded the organisation based on his own experiences growing up on the autism spectrum. Today, AsIAm provides support to the autism people and their families, advocates on behalf of the community, and works to support public and private sector organisations and communities in becoming inclusive and accessible. A Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awardee, Adam is a frequent contributor to media and conferences in Ireland and overseas. He has also sat and advised on many government consultative and policy committees on disability rights and inclusion. From Greystones in Co Wicklow, Adam was appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in July 2020.
Mr. Ken Kilbride CEO of ADHD Ireland
Ken Kilbride is the CEO at ADHD Ireland. Ken has over 25 years experience in senior management positions in a wide range of both very large and very small not for profit organisations in Ireland (drinkware.ie; Consumers Association; Fianna Fail). His role with ADHD Ireland is to enact the vision and strategy of the Board, and in the words of Captain James T Kirk take this ADHD organisation to where no ADHD organisation has ever been before.
16:00 PM- 16:45 PM: Disability Law in the EU
- Prof. Delia Ferri, Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology
Prof. Delia Ferri Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology
Delia Ferri is a Professor of Law at Maynooth University (MU) School of Law and Criminology, where she lectures primarily in the fields of EU law and International and European Disability Law and acts as Director of the Postgraduate Research (PhD) Programmes in Law. Since March 2020, she is the co-Director of the MU Assisting Living & Learning (ALL) Institute, an interdisciplinary research institute, which includes more than 120 researchers and academics from across several MU Departments and Schools, and promotes person-centred systems and evidence-based policies that empower people across their life course.
SUPPORTED BY the HEA
The core funding received by AHEAD for its higher education activities is provided by the Higher Education Authority.
Leesa Flynn
Co-Secretary for Disability Power Ireland.
Leesa Flynn Co-Secretary for Disability Power Ireland.
Leesa Flynn is a primary school teacher and disability advocate from Co. Leitrim. She qualified as a primary school teacher in Maynooth University in 2023. As Leesa was born with Spina Bifida, she is a wheelchair/walking-frame user, and is the first wheelchair user to qualify as a primary school teacher in Maynooth University. It is also thought that she is the first wheelchair user to do this on a national level. Leesa uses her online presence on social media to highlight the struggles that people with disabilities face, but also how she has overcome these hurdles. She is currently working as a teacher at home in Leitrim.