This webinar is part of the Research in Action: Shaping Policy, Driving Change series, which explores how academic research can inform and influence public policy. In this session, Professor Mary McCarron, Director of TCAID, will focus on ageing well with an intellectual disability, highlighting how findings from IDS-TILDA can shape policy development and professional practice. The webinar offers practical insights for researchers seeking to engage effectively with policymakers.

The Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability (TCAID) Year in Review 2025 highlights a year of meaningful progress and impact across our research, practice, and policy work. The review showcases advances in IDS-TILDA, cancer care, dementia, women’s health, and bone health, alongside strengthened international collaboration, growing policy influence, and a continued commitment to embedding lived experience at the heart of our work.

We are delighted to celebrate Mei Lin Yap, honoured as the first person in Ireland with an intellectual disability to receive an honorary doctorate from Trinity College Dublin. Her leadership, advocacy, and athletic achievements have made a profound impact, championing inclusion, equality, and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Congratulations to Dr Yap!

PhD student Riley Berg and supervisors Dr. Martin McMahon and Dr. Darren McCausland visited St Joseph’s Liskennett Farm to learn how it delivers large-scale, person-centred equine-assisted services for people with intellectual disabilities. They toured the facility, experienced the riding trail, and gained insights and connections to support their research on equine therapy

The IDS-TILDA Health Fair, led by Professor Eilish Burke and her team, has entered a new phase with full appointments now underway and running until mid-2026. Building on earlier waves, the Health Fair continues to provide non-invasive, person-centred health assessments while introducing new measures and improved facilities. With a dedicated assessment area, redesigned waiting space, and innovative new tools, Wave 6 reflects IDS-TILDA’s ongoing commitment to enhancing participant experience and advancing understanding of health and ageing among people with an intellectual disability.

Researchers are invited to join our upcoming IDS-TILDA Data Workshop, designed to support the use of data from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA). This interactive session will introduce participants to the structure, scope, and potential of the IDS-TILDA dataset. Attendees will gain practical guidance on navigating datafiles, understanding survey design, and applying reproducible research methods. Senior IDS-TILDA researchers will share their expertise and insights throughout the day. Whether you’re new to the dataset or seeking to deepen your analysis, this workshop provides an invaluable opportunity to explore one of the most comprehensive longitudinal datasets on ageing and intellectual disability.