Community Inclusive Practice Facilitation
Laura Regan (University of Limerick)
Abstract
This paper describes advancement of the European education agenda through a community-university partnership with the University of Limerick for a post-secondary Diploma programme that simultaneously addresses these issues: shortage of services for Irish-speaking children with special education needs (SEN), lack of local post-secondary educational opportunities and a dearth of employment opportunities for adults in Gaeltacht (Irish/Gaelic speaking) areas of Ireland. Discussed in the paper are the rationale and accreditation of the Diploma, whose dual purpose is to enhance education and job career prospects for adults in the Gaeltacht and increasing the number of qualified SEN carers for children.
The course, which is structured in a two-year time frame, is community based in that most lectures and tutorials are held within the Gaeltachts of Kerry and Connemara with one module held in the University of Limerick. Widening the academic horizons of the Irish-speaking participants is seen as a beneficial partnership for those who otherwise might not have the opportunity to study at third level due to geographical restrictions. Technology is one of the key features bridging this learning partnership as faculty integrate technology into their classroom practice and the programme has its own website linked to the Gaeltacht website, which includes curriculum information, standards, course design information and reading and computer-related links.
The qualification of ‘Diploma in Community Inclusive Practice Facilitation’ covers a wide area of special educational needs and facilitates an ecological context of family, school and community.
This programme targets facilitators who will be based in homes, schools, after-school programmes, pre-schools, youth centres, sports facilities and many other centres working with people with special educational needs. The training that is being delivered by the current graduates, 33 Irish-speaking women, will create a range of services and level of skill in their Gaeltacht communities that did not previously exist.
This has been a unique collaboration between a community development group, Muintearas, and a University, to provide provision and training in an area where there previously was none. The involvement of the University of Limerick together with Muintearas will ensure that vulnerable young people and their families can feel supported by such skilled graduates. Graduates are going into new areas of employment and have improved their hire-ability in the workforce. Disability awareness has increased within the Gaeltacht. The programme developed is innovative and has been recognized as a model of good practice by Professor David Sugden of University of Leeds. There has been a strong demand to run this programme again and funding is currently being sought to do so.
The graduates of the programme go into the workforce with a higher level of competence which will raise the bar for all those working in the field. Such skills include being able to support children and young adults, with a range of special educational needs, to reach their potential. Tá sé thar a bheith tabhachtach go mbeadh na seirbhisí seo curtha ar fail trí Gaeilge - príomhtheanga na ndaoine.
