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
Enable Ireland's Certified Foundations in Assistive Technology is a 5 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) course accredited by Technological University Dublin, through the College of Engineering and Built Environment. The course is delivered via 11 webinars on the Microsoft Teams platform and Moodle. In total, the time commitment is 100 hours: 21 hours via Teams and 79 hours of self-directed learning which includes completion of your course project. 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.
Assistive Technology is a broad and fast-evolving area and this Foundations course is designed to equip professionals, AT users, families and caregivers with up to date and relevant information that will serve as a strong basis for supporting all who are already using, or could benefit from using Assistive Technology. Our goal is to support your learning throughout the process. Past participants have highlighted the benefit of group discussion, hands on opportunities with a range of Assistive Technologies (you will have full membership of our internal AT Loan Library for the duration of the course), and engagement with expert AT users.
We offer all of these resources to you as part of this course, and we welcome your feedback as you advance through the course. Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any particular queries or concerns about your participation or about navigating through the course itself.
MODULES
Computer Access and Accessibility Features, Augmentative Communication, AT for Leisure, Environmental Control Systems, AT Assessment, Powered Mobility, Educational Software, Funding and Legislation, Integrating AT into the curriculum, workplace and much more.
OBJECTIVES
- To provide course participants with the skills and AT knowledge that they require, to ensure that AT users and potential AT users are central to the decision making process;
- to increase course participants confidence in their own AT skills;
- to provide course participants with an understanding of the tools and processes that are required to support AT users;
- to de-mystify technology;
- to promote best practice and encourage the development of online discussion groups post course.
COST: €900.00
We plan to run the course later in 2021. In the meantime, if you require further information or wish to provisionally reserve a place, please contact Shirley (sdeakin@enableireland.ie).
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
