Welcome to the Developing Ability Partnership

Shine Ireland joins the Developing Ability Partnership
Summer training courses for SNA, Parents and Autism Professionals

  

Shine Ireland will be delivering Developing Ability approved training courses based on the successful "First Steps in ABA" programme.

   

Shine Ireland has joined with the Developing Ability Partnership to deliver training courses in ABA skills in Cork and across Munster for summer 2008.  Some of the courses are already booked out so for availability check www.shineireland.com.
  
These courses are based around the "First Steps in ABA" online and DVD based training course, will be delivered by Laura Crowley and her team, and are fully accredited by Developing Ability.  Participants on the course will get a copy of the DVD and a full year's membership and support through our community forums.

  

For more information, you can contact Shine Ireland on 021 4316982 or by email at contact@shineireland.com

  

If your organisation would be interested in affiliate or partnerships arrangements please feel free to contact Kieran Hanrahan on 1890 736 736

  

First Steps in ABA
Course Launch, April 2nd 2008, to mark World Autism Awareness Day

The Developing Ability Partnership is pleased to announce the official launch of  "First Step in ABA", the first course in an innovative series of multimedia courses on a range of topics that will improve the level of experienced support.

The series contains a range of interactive learning experiences for professionals and parents alike. If you are interested in understanding how to design an instructional program, how to break complex tasks in to manageable sequences, how to arrange motivation for individuals along with a host of other behavioural skills, this course is a must.

Autism Conference in Dublin
ABA Conference scheduled for April 15th 2008 in Dublin

Irish Education Minister Mary Hanafin has announced a cross-border autism conference will be held at Croke Park in Dublin on April 15.  According to the Minister “This conference will bring together parents and professionals who are all at the heart of autism services on the island of Ireland. It will provide them with an opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed speakers address aspects of autism education, to gain knowledge of what works for autistic children as well as to celebrate what has been achieved to date on the whole island of Ireland. The conference will also allow participants to consider the next steps in providing for the special education of the needs of these children."  Northern Ireland's Education Minister Caitríona Ruane will also address the conference along with Ms Hanafin.


Dr Mitchell Fleming, President of the Psychological Society of Ireland, will chair the conference. There will be a number of key speakers including, including representatives from Irish Autism Action, who will discuss the role of Applied Behaviourial Analysis (ABA) in education of children with autism.
It is understood that representatives from school management bodies, teachers unions, politicians from education committees and health professionals from both sides of the border will also attend the event.

 

Down's Syndrome Association Belfast
Behaviour Conference October 2007

The Down's Syndrome Association Behaviour Conference 2007 saw Dr Ken Kerr deliver a one day conference in understanding challenging behaviour.

The day which was well attended by parents and professionals focused on identifying the reasons as to why behaviour that challenges occurs alongside presenting a framework which could be used as a planning tool to ensure that the behaviour does not occur in the future.

Participants reflected on understanding that deficits in quality of life, a lack of choice, poor communication, medical issues, boredom, and sensory issues all may contribute to behaviour that challenges.

Red Door Autism Conference June 2007 Dublin
Autism Conference, June 2007

The Red Door Autism Conference 2007 saw Dr Ken Kerr deliver a keynote speech in Trinity College Dublin.

The second annual Red Door Autism Conference took place on the 22nd and 23rd of June 2007 in Trinity College Dublin.  In 2006, Dublin's first ABA Autism Conference was organised by www.thereddoorschool.com.

It included three simultaneous streams of presentations, offering a wide selection of areas of interests, several of which were facilitated by members of the Developing Ability Partnership. Last year's conference was attended by over 300 parents and professionals, and was regarded by everyone as having been of huge benefit and this year's conference has enjoyed a similar response.

 Bringing together some of the best known experts in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) from Ireland, Britain and America, the conference offered a unique opportunity to show best practice and share learning in the field. Dr Ken Kerr's keynote presentation, "Education and ABA in Ireland" gave an excellent overview of what ABA is, how ABA has developed in Ireland, and how it can be best positioned within the wider educational services.