Jane Brennan is the Enabling Transitions Facilitator for the SOAR project at IT Tralee.  Enabling Transitions works with educators in the second level and further education systems to promote the independent learning skills of students, including those with disabilities, through the use of a range of appropriate technologies.

Jane is a teacher with experience in second level, further and higher education.

Siobhan Mac Garry co-ordinates the Service for Students with Learning Difference under whose remit the SOAR Enabling Transitions IT Tralee work stream operates. The Enabling Transitions project was conceived to address a gap long noted by the Service, notably that students with learning difference, in particular students from disadvantaged backgrounds, were presenting to the Institute with very limited or no prior exposure to how technology could support their literacy and learning .  Siobhan devised the project plan to deal with this gap via a Train the Trainer approach.

Suzanne has worked with the Rehab Group / NLN since 2003. She works in close partnership with a number of Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s), developing academic and well-being support services for students with learning, mental health, physical, and sensory disabilities. Suzanne develops protocols and procedures for supporting students with disabilities in conjunction with their respective learning provider. Suzanne has implemented incoming student screening models to validate early identification of learning support requirements for learners. She has assisted third-level institutions implement tailored universally designed learning services with positive measurable outcomes. She also delivers Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training to third-level staff, regularly presents research papers, and delivers guest lectures to post graduate education students in a number of different HEI’s. (B.A. Psych, HDip Ed., MA Professional Ed. Psych (PSI))

Aisling Creighton has worked with Rehab Group / National Learning Network (NLN) in TU Dublin Blanchardstown since 2019. She works as part of a team of Educational Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists in the NLN, which is a holistic Educational Psychology Support Service available to all students on campus. Aisling works as an Assistant Psychologist in a multi-functional role, where one of her roles is to coordinate the Peer Mentoring Programme in the college. Aisling also supports students on a one-to-one basis who have learning, mental health, physical, and sensory disabilities.

Lindsey moved to Dublin from New York to pursue an MSc in Equality Studies at University College Dublin. Her interests have blossomed from her lifetime journey with Hydrocephalus and Chronic Migraines. As a student, teacher, and program coordinator, who is both a service user and advocate for authentic inclusion, Lindsey works to explore gaps and opportunities to celebrate Disabled students contribution across all aspects of education. Her current focus involves promoting Disabled student participation in international programs through policy change.

Vivian is the Organiser of the National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee and the TCD Forum for Disabled Staff and Postgraduate Students. Vivian is an academic, a human and disability rights advocate and a change maker. He is currently an Adjunct Teaching Fellow in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) School of Education and the Research Officer with the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD). His Ph.D, titled the “social engagement experiences of disabled students in higher education in Ireland”, focused on the areas of disabled student social engagement, transitions, voice and belonging.  

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

Clodagh Brook is Associate Vice Provost for EDI and an Associate Professor of Italian. Educated at the University of Oxford (D Phil) and at University College, Dublin (BA and MA), she took up her position at Trinity College in 2017. She is author of 3 monographs, including her latest, Screening Religions in Italy (University of Toronto Press, 2019), which assesses how religions, including Islamic minorities, access the public sphere in Italy (or don’t). She also leads on a large AHRC-funded grant, Interdisciplinary Italy 1900-2020: Interart/Intermedia, and has written widely on Italian cinema, culture and on identities. 

Joyce is an expert in organizing inclusive education for young people with a mental or physical disability. In her projects she combines knowledge about psychology and the educational field to achieve her goals: embedding mental health in education by achieving concrete results and to bring about added social value. Joyce has a broad network in the educational field, experience in advocacy and political-administrative environments. Her expertise lies in creating a more inclusive higher education system. In each project, she strives for appropriate advice for those who the education is intended for: the student.

Judith is a senior researcher and consultant with a passion for inclusion and an experienced project manager, specialized in advice on the accessibility of (higher) education to students with physical, mental or chronical disabilities. As a project manager, Judith has 20 years of experience and knowledge about studying with a disability, flexible learning routes, Universal Design for Learning and the organization thereof. From vlogging students to scanning policy: Judith strives for accessible, flexible and inclusive higher education in her work. Judith is a well-spoken, kind discussion partner for colleagues, managers and education professionals, focused on delivering concrete results.

Cathy O' Kelly is an experienced professional and academic, having tenure at The Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland, since 2000, specialising in Management, Professional Skills and Entrepreneurship. 
Graduating with a BA from NUI Galway and an MA in European Business Studies from The University of Ulster, Cathy gained international experience working with the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, Morimura International Trading Company, New York City, USA., Bahrain Polytechnic, Kingdom of Bahrain and Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Cathy was a member of the Research and Development Team for the Irish Strategic Innovation Funded, Accelerating Campus Entrepreneurship (ACE) project. Current research interests include advancing problem based learning approaches to education, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the use of technology in teaching.

Mairead McCann is a lecturer in ATU Sligo since 1996. Mairead teaches modules in People Management, Professional Skills, and Transformational Change. Mairead’s pedagogical research interests include UDL and Problem-Based Learning. Mairead is a facilitator on the National Forum UDL Badge.  

Mairead is undertaking a part-time PhD in the School of Arts, English and Languages in Queen's University of Belfast and her research interests include Critical Discourse Analysis and Stylistics. The working title of her thesis is: Style Shaping Substance: A Discourse Analysis of Female Politicians’ Self and Media Representation in Northern Ireland.

 Email: Mairead.McCann@atu.ie

Anna Creery is the Projects Manager within the Study and Work Away Service in Edinburgh Global at the University of Edinburgh. She is currently responsible for the coordination and management of three KA 203 Strategic Partnership Projects focusing on bringing additional value to the student and staff experience. Anna has worked with international students for close to a decade, in differing capacities in both UK and Canadian institutions. She values the skills learned from international mobility (whether fully physical, fully virtual or blended), and is keen to provide new and exciting opportunities that fit a wide range of student needs.

Maeve is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist with over 10 years of experience as a Student Learning Advisor in Trinity College Dublin.  She is currently undertaking a part-time PhD in the School of Education in Trinity College Dublin Ireland (2016-to date). Her research title is ‘Networked in or networked out? Learners’ experiences of completing a PhD on a part-time basis in Ireland.’.  Maeve has worked as a researcher in the Centre for Research and Innovation Management (CENTRIM) at the University of Brighton UK and as a Careers Advisor, predominantly for students with disabilities in Dublin City University.  She is interested in higher education policy and student access. inclusion and success, particularly in relation to students who tend to have been overlooked in policy and practice, such as part-time doctoral candidates.