Last week, Education and Skills Minister Joe McHugh TD stated that his Department would be appealing a High Court ruling over a Leaving Cert student whose points were incorrectly added up. Justice Humphreys found that “in the modern world, it is difficult and in some cases impossible to earn one’s livelihood without access to higher …
It’s Sunday, and February is here which means, whether it feels like it or not, Spring has come to Ireland. Welcome to Our Week Online. In Turkey, the Otsimo app invented by Zafer Elcik for his autistic brother has helped thousands autistic students across the world with their education. BBC World Hacks meets Zafer and …
As the national autistic advocacy organisation, AsIAm receives a huge volume of messages from families with a child on the autism spectrum who can’t access a school place, or whose child can no longer attend school. We know the situation has escalated over the past number of years, affecting many families across the country. As …
Call Out: Complete Our Surveys on School Places and Exclusion/WithdrawalRead More »
It’s 2019, and welcome to Our Week Online. How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? If you resolved to keep up with news about autism and disability from Ireland and around the world, then we’re happy to help! If you resolved to spend less time online, buy a newspaper (preferably one that published …
Following constructive and insightful discussions and correspondence with AsIAm in recent weeks, on Tuesday 23rd January Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD addressed Dáil Eireann on the importance of using inclusive and correct language when we refer to autism in the education system (which can be viewed in the video above; transcript at …
Representatives from both AsIAm and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) met last week to discuss the recent ASTI advice to their membership on the non-implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) / Student Support Files (SSFs) and other forms of individualised support. We felt it was a constructive dialogue for both parties involved as …
Constructive Meeting between AsIAm & ASTI RepresentativesRead More »
Sign our petition calling for the ASTI & TUI to revise their advice here! AsIAm, Ireland’s largest autism charity, has today condemned the Association of Second Level Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) for its advice to members, issued yesterday, to refuse to participate in or implement Individual Education Plans (IEP) or Student Support Files (SSF). …
It’s Sunday, Halloween is almost here, Ireland is (hopefully) done with voting for the year, and tomorrow’s a Bank Holiday Monday. Lovely. Welcome to Our Week Online. This week it was announced that three schools in Co. Dublin would close immediately due to building defects following inspections from the Department of Education, with a further …
All autistic children experience challenges in communication. While many might have an extensive amount of vocabulary, they may interpret what other people are saying differently and unless taught directly, may not understand non-verbal communication correctly. Children are often confused with every day language’s structure; for example, saying “Jane will do it” instead of “I will do …
What Strategies can I use for my Non-Verbal Child to ease their Transition?Read More »
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has just completed a review of the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Scheme in Ireland, and is available for download from their website. The role of an SNA is to support a child who has special educational needs who may struggle to take part in school activities with. These …
How Can I Apply for a Special Needs Assistant (SNA)?Read More »
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