Why did you choose to specialise in inclusive and special education, and why did you choose Hibernia College / ICEP Europe for this programme? 

Having had many years experience as a SENCO in a primary school, I wanted to ensure that the pupils benefited from the most up date information, methodologies and pedagogies. 

What field of work or study were you in before you started the programme? 

Special Education Teacher and SENCO in a mainstream primary school with four autism special classes. 

Can you tell us a bit about your research project or your chosen module focus within the MA/PG Dip, and what motivated you to choose that area? 

The action research project entitled ‘The Inclusion of Autistic Pupils in the Primary Schoolyard’ aimed to promote genuine inclusion, well-being, happiness and a sense of belonging for all autistic pupils. The primary school yard should be a bridge and not a barrier to play and recreation time because the yard is an important space for autistic pupils to self-regulate, de-stress and acquire social and communication competencies. The social model of inclusion advocates that society, and the environment should be adapted to meet the needs of autistic people because diversity should be considered the norm not the exception. Adopting a neuroaffirmative approach to inclusion in the yard can only be achieved through research and consultation, followed by adaptations and meaningful changes. The findings of the research project identified five themes and highlighted inexpensive and easy to implement strategies and adaptations which could be used to encourage and promote genuine inclusion in all primary school yards. With the rising prevalence of autism, coupled with the establishment of an ever-increasing number of autism special classes means that there is a significant cohort of autistic pupils who have the right to be genuinely included to achieve their full potential. 

Now that you have graduated, what are your next career or professional plans within the field of inclusive or special education? 

I hope to continue my studies in the area of Inclusion and Special Education and intend to look for opportunities within and outside the primary school settings. 

What advice would you give to someone considering the MA/PG Dip in Inclusive and Special Education at Hibernia College & ICEP Europe? 

Go for it. It’s superbly supported and so well scaffolded. The staff are amazing and are always available by email. Each section of the MA/PG Dip. is broken into manageable chunks of information and continuous assessment assignments are well explained. The teacher refund scheme makes a big difference in the overall financial cost.