Educators get AHEADSTART in handling disability

Life

26 September 2012

A new online course for teachers and professionals geared at helping students with disabilities has been launched. AHEADSTART, designed by the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD), in collaboration with the Institute of Child Education and Psychology Europe, is aimed at teachers and other professionals who want to develop their skills.

The course is delivered online with the flexibility to be done anywhere and at any time. Comprising five modules it covers key skills including how to carry out a needs assessment to identify the most appropriate supports for a student with a disability.

Prof Michael Shevlin, Department of Education, Trinity College Dublin, said: "This course will be very beneficial to practioners in gaining an understanding of the needs of students with disabilities. It will help tutors, who have students with disabilities, to understand the need to be sensitive about the language used in instruction documents, and to be aware of key changes that can make the difference such as the use of assistive technology. Understanding is the key to inclusion. According to an AHEAD survey, students with disabilities said "a positive attitude of staff makes all the difference to feeling you belong."

TechCentral Reporters

Pictured: Ann Heelan, AHEAD; Deirdre MacIntyre, ICEPE; Minister for Training & Skills at the Department of Education and Skills Ciaran Cannon


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