Primary SEN Support Group Meeting - Face to Face Workshop

This meeting will examine Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the use of visual supports (VS) within a UDL approach to planning. It is hoped that participants will contribute to the discussion and share their expertise with the group. The main purpose of the meeting is to examine the feasibility of setting up a community of practice. The intention is that the group will meet a few times a year (perhaps once a term) to share ideas on special educational needs (SEN) practice.  Mayo Education Support Centre (MESC) will provide a facilitator so that teachers can share their ideas in a friendly and supportive environment where we can all learn from one another. On some occasions we may also have a speaker on topics of interest to the group.

Date:             31st January

Venue:          Mayo Education Support Centre  (Face to Face Meeting)

Facilitator:  Dr Michele Dunleavy BA, PGCE (UK), PGD (Trinity), PGD (UK), M.St (SEN), D.Ed (SEN)

Michele has a number of years’ experience teaching in a primary, special class and special school setting. Michele was seconded as an Advisor to the special education support service (SESS) where she worked with teachers in primary, post primary, special classes and special schools. In addition, Michele worked as a part-time and Guest lecturer in a number of Colleges including NUIG, UCC, and Trinity College Dublin. Michele now works full time as a lecturer in the Educational Psychology, Inclusive and Special Education Department in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.

Michele has vast experience in many areas of special education however, she has a particular interest in autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and inclusion. She completed her Masters and Doctoral research in these areas. Michele has presented at many conferences, national and international, on the topic of ASD and inclusion and continues to conduct research in the area of special education.