The Inclusive Network for Collaborative Learning, Understanding and Development in Education for People with Intellectual Disabilities (The INCLUDE-ID Network) held its first national symposium, “Being INCLUDE-ID: A Right to Learn, A Right to Belong,” on Friday, September 4th at TU Dublin’s Grangegorman Campus. 

The INCLUDE-ID Network is a collaborative research and knowledge-sharing network for higher education institutions delivering programmes for people with intellectual disabilities. Through research, workshops, resource development and cross-institutional collaboration, the INCLUDE-ID Network aims to enhance course provision, strengthen practitioner knowledge and improve educational and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities nationally.

The INCLUDE-ID Network began as an initiative of the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities in the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin.

The symposium also celebrated the achievements and learnings from the first two years of PATH 4 Phase 2, a pilot initiative launched in 2023 by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Higher Education Authority. The initiative supports the development of third-level programmes for people with intellectual disabilities across Ireland. Following an extension, funding will continue for a further two years, from 2026 to 2028.

Students, graduates, researchers and advocates were central to the event, sharing their experiences of university life, learning, belonging, personal development, research and employment. Participating institutions included Atlantic Technological University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Munster Technological University, South East Technological University, Technological University Dublin, Technological University of the Shannon, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork and University of Galway, alongside organisations including Down Syndrome Ireland.

The symposium also gave special recognition to Professor Michael Shevlin following his recent retirement, honouring his contributions to education over the past 30 years and his role in advancing third-level educational opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the students, graduates, staff, advocates, and researchers who were part of this event, and to those who have collaborated with the INCLUDE-ID Network across Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Maynooth University, Munster Technological University (MTU), South East Technological University (SETU), Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), University College Cork (UCC), and the University of Galway.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to Down Syndrome Ireland and Shannon O'Farrell-Molloy for their invaluable contributions to the Symposium; to Technological University Dublin for hosting the event; and to the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) for their support of the INCLUDE-ID Network and the INCLUDE-ID Symposium through the PATH 4 Phase 2 initiative.