Recorded on 24th October 2024 as part of the N-TUTORR Masterclass series.
This Masterclass focuses on Universal Design (UD) in Irish Tertiary Education. A UD approach helps distribute the responsibility for inclusion across campuses and is increasingly seen as central to ensuring all learners are supported. While progress is being made, it largely depends on passionate champions, and a stronger strategic commitment is needed. The development of the ALTITUDE Charter marks a pivotal step in embedding UD across the sector, aiming to place diversity at the core of educational design and delivery. Supporting ALTITUDE is the Unlocking Inclusion Toolkit, which shares a framework for sustainable UD implementation, promoting collaboration across learning, support services, as well as physical and digital environments within an institution.
Our Speakers:
Maureen Haran
Maureen Haran, Lecturer, PhD(c), SFHEA, manages the UDL Centre of Excellence at Atlantic Technological University and works with educational development teams to design and implement inclusive education practices at regional and national levels. With over 20 years of experience in the Irish and American public education systems, Maureen is the programme chair and lecturer on the Post Graduate Certificate/MA in UDL.
Dara Ryder
Dara Ryder is Chief Executive Officer of AHEAD, an Irish NGO establish in 1988 which is dedicated to creating inclusive environments for people with disabilities in education and employment. He became CEO in 2020 having previously managed AHEAD’s digital presence and developed a suite of online CPD programmes relating to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and inclusive practice in his role as Digital Media and eLearning Manager there. His research interests include examining the participation of students with disabilities in higher education, exploring the learning experiences and desires of students with disabilities, and examining the implementation of Universal Design and UDL in policy and practice.
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.
Lisa Padden
Dr Lisa Padden has worked in University College Dublin (UCD) since 2012, and her current role is as Deputy Director in UCD Access & Lifelong Learning. Lisa leads on a number of areas including University for All – UCD’s whole-institution approach to student inclusion encompassing strategy and policy, teaching, learning and assessment, student supports and services, the built environment and technological infrastructure.