Gerard Gallagher - Deputy Director and Head of Student Disability Supports

Printing House Square 

Biography

Gerard is the Head of Student Disability Supports and Deputy Director of the Disability Service. He is responsible for the leadership and management of Disability Service staff and projects, providing support for over 2000 students. He joined the DS in September 2021.

Gerard has extensive personal experience of disability and higher education. He began his career as a student disability activist having navigated university as a wheelchair user and as a learner with dyslexia. On graduation, he served as National Equality Officer with the Union of Students in Ireland. Before commencing his role at Trinity, he led inclusive projects and provided enabling disability supports in another Irish HEI. Gerard has also led disability initiatives at a national level having recently chaired an examination accommodations policy working group on behalf of DAWN the national network of Disability Officers.

Gerard holds a BSocSC (Social Work) and MSc (Equality Studies) from University College Dublin. He is also an alumnus of the Boston College Irish Institute. He explored Disability and Access issues for students in the USA and Ireland completing a programme of study in Massachusetts and Colorado. Gerard is currently in clinical training as a Systemic Psychotherapist with the Clanwilliam Institute, Dublin.

Gerard supports the Disability Service team to innovate, collaborate and empower students to engage with supports that are transformative and contribute to their success both during their time in Trinity and in their future lives and careers. He works with colleagues across Trinity to create opportunities for ongoing dynamic development of the Disability Service to meet and lead on the ever-changing needs of students and ensure consistent, high quality, world leading disability supports informed by best practice, the vision of the service and the university’s strategic plan. With the move to the disAbility Hub at Printing House Square, Gerard is excited to lead the team and foster a sense of belonging and disAbility pride for Trinity students and the wider community.