Technology is transforming the way we all live our lives. Smart phones,TVs and mobile devices are enabling us to get and stay connected, whether at home, at school/college, at work and for leisure and entertainment purposes. Enable Ireland’s National Assistive Technology Training Service offers a range of accredited and customised training programmes to support users of Assistive Technology to live the lives of their choosing.
In 2016, Enable Ireland, along with the Disability Federation of Ireland, launched a discussion paper on the future of Assistive Technology in Ireland. The report, and summary, is available here or through the link at the end of this page.
We deliver AT training online via our e learning site www.enableirelandat.com and offer a wide range of training, workshop and seminar options.
CHAT - Community Hub for Accessible Technology
- CHAT is a community driven by people who share a passion and believe in the transformative effect that assistive technology has on individuals' lives.
- CHAT aims to facilitate and create opportunities amongst people to learn from each other in an atmosphere that supports equality, collective and individual sharing. This makes the most of people’s expertise to identify better challenges, gaps and to consider solutions regarding AT.
- CHAT has a national membership of over 200 people and organisations. This includes people with disabilities (expert and non-expert AT users), AT practitioners, researchers, educators, service providers, developers, suppliers and other interested parties.
- Different member organisations host each CHAT gathering.
- CHAT is a Community of Practice that was set up by FreedomTech, a partnership between Enable Ireland and the Disability Federation of Ireland.
- CHAT returns on the 20th October, to focus on the innovation that has taken place within the education sector to support inclusive learning during Covid 19 and beyond. If you are interested in attending this event, please REGISTER HERE
Foundations in Assistive Technology Course Accredited by Technological University, Dublin
This is a 5 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) course is aimed at providing a solid foundation in AT for a diverse audience: adults who are AT users, therapists, teachers, IT professionals, families and others. You will get the chance to hear from, and interact with, national and international AT experts, AT users and professionals working in the field. We will also use Teams to support group work, problem solving and case studies throughout the course.
The 2021 course involves 11 webinars delivered over Microsoft Teams and Moodle and requires a minimum commitment of 100 hours. Please contact Shirley (sdeakin@enableireland.ie) for further information.
AT Loan Library
Enable Ireland is an on-line library of electronic assistive technology, through which library members can borrow from a wide-range of devices to trial with their clients and/or for professional training purposes. This is available for all Enable Ireland staff. Visit the library here.
Customized AT Workshops
We run a range of customized AT workshops to meet the needs of specific training groups. These include topic-specific workshops such as:
- AT for young children
- AT Assessment Kits: What? Why? For whom?
- Educational Software and Hardware: For primary and secondary school students
- Low Cost/No Cost AT Solutions for the school and workplace
- Specific software and hardware i.e. Grid 2, TextHelp, Clicker 5, Powerchair controls
AT Supplier Training
We invite suppliers and manufacturers of specific AT software and hardware to deliver introductory and/or advanced training that is either product-specific or provides an overview of a product range, depending on audience requirements.
User-led AT Workshops
We invite product suppliers/specialist AT trainers to deliver workshops addressing the specific needs of an identified individual. Attendees consist of the AT user and his/her key worker, family members and other key participants who may be in a position to support the user (such as teachers, trainers, employers, job coaches, personal assistants, etc)
Find out about our AT services for employers
Visit our e learning portal for online courses on AT topics
Visit our YouTube channel
Visit our AT and Me Blog to read, learn and share how assistive technology can help you
Read our latest newsletter and subscribe to future editions
Contact Details
National Assistive Technology Training Centre, Enable Ireland, Sandymount Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin 4.
Tel: 01 2184100 or visit our contact page
Regional Assistive Technology Dept, Enable Ireland, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway PO H91 E8P4
T: 091 545 800
