Students with Dyslexia in Irish-medium / Gaeltacht Schools – Resources and Supports for Parents
Gaeloideachas is delighted to be able to expand the range of supports available to parents and guardians of children with dyslexia in an Irish-medium school, or indeed for parents considering an Irish-medium school for their children. New supports include a booklet full of advice for parents on the Irish-medium system for children with dyslexia as well as two seminars for parents on the same subject.
The new booklet, developed in collaboration with the Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI), was launched on 3 June. The booklet is based on current national and international research on best practice in schools. Speaking about the development of the booklet, Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin, Chief Executive of Gaeloideachas, said “working with the DAI has been an invaluable collaboration, in that experts from both fields came together for the benefit of parents and pupils with dyslexia in the Irish-medium school. We believe that it is the start of a positive journey working with the DAI, combining our resources, experience and expertise to find the best ways to support children with dyslexia on their journey in an Irish-medium school”.
Two seminars for parents on the same subject were held on 3 and 4 June, one bilingual and one in Irish. The events were very well attended, demonstrating not only that the virtual approach is of great value to parents who are often time poor, but above all that the topic of dyslexia is of great interest and perhaps concern for many parents and pupils. For those who were unsuccessful in attempting to join either seminar, the recording is available on the Gaeloideachas YouTube channel.
Anna Ní Chartúir, panel speaker and Public Relations Officer for Gaeloideachas says “we are delighted that we have had the opportunity to positively address the subject of dyslexia and to reassure parents about the suitability of an Irish-medium/Gaeltacht school for their child. During the seminars, valuable and practical information was shared with parents with plenty of prudent advice from the perspective of a researcher, teacher and parent. One of the key messages of the seminar is that it is recognized that dyslexia is a very common challenge in Irish-medium/ Gaeltacht schools but with the appropriate support from the school, that a child can do as well in an Irish-medium school as he would in an English-medium school, while additionally gaining all the other benefits of bilingualism ”.
The booklet is available free to download now on the Gaeloideachas site plus many other sources of support on special educational needs.
Gaeloideachas will run another seminar for teachers on dyslexia in early Autumn along with a series for parents on the subject of autism.
Further information about Gaeloideachas is available at www.gaeloideachas.ie/sepcial-education or eolas@gaeloideachas.ie