Overwatch Report

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

September–December

[Education and Training] Reading Schools and Classes for students with severe dyslexia

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Education)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

September–December

[Education and Training] Submission on Senior Cycle/Leaving Certificate Reform made to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Alan Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Jim O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Rose Conway-Walsh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Kehoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Carol Nolan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

January–April

[Education and Training] Submissions to the Minister for Education and Skills, and to the SEC, in relation to the need to disability proof any changes to state exams related to Covid-19, as students with dyslexia have been further disadvantaged by decision to cancel and award full marks for language orals and practical exams.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joe McHugh', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Aidan Farrell', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The State Examinations Commission)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

September–December

[Education and Training] Meeting to highlight issues impacting on students with dyslexia within the school system. Topics included the need for mandatory teacher training on dyslexia, a specialist dyslexia teacher role, the right to identification/assessment and the impact of this on mental health, the need for better access and funding for assistive technology, and the need for change in our examinations system to provide choice via a wider range of assessment methods .

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Education)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

September–December

[Education and Training] A letter from Dyslexia Specialists Ireland, supported by DAI and Dr. Ellen Reynor, DCU, calling for a meeting to discuss the role of graduates from the M. Ed in SLD/Dyslexia course in DCU - namely a dyslexia specialist teacher role in schools including assessment of dyslexia in schools

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martina Mannion', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Education)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

January–April

[Education and Training] Problems with the process of accessing grants for assistive technology for students with special educational needs. The Dyslexia Association of Ireland is in receipt of numerous queries from parents, teachers, principals and psychologists with regard to applications for Assistive Technology being turned down.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Teresa Griffin', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The National Council for Special Education)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

May–August

[Education and Training] Advocating on changes to the proposed criteria for Exemption from Irish in relation to dyslexia

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Harold Hislop', 'role': 'Chief Inspector (Department of Education and Skills)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

September–December

[Education and Training] Meeting with Minister of Education and Skills to highlight issues affecting people with dyslexia including the right to identification and the impact on mental health, the need for mandatory teacher training, and the need for access to assistive technology and exam accommodations.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joe McHugh', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Tim Lombard', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Seeking a change to the language entry requirements for An Garda Siochana

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charles Flanagan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

September–December

[Education and Training] We advised our members to participate in the public consultation on Exemptions from the Study of Irish, as this is of particular relevant to those affected by dyslexia. We also advised members to contact the Minister for Education and their local TDs to express their opinions on the proposed changes to the exemption process.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joe McHugh', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

January–April

[EU Affairs] Communication sent to Irish MEPs asking them to resist any watering down of the European Accessibility Act. The draft report of the IMCO Committee on the European Accessibility Act (2015/0278(COD)) is watering down the Commission proposals which threaten to adversely affect the scope, the accessibility requirements, the linkages to other Union acts, the definitions, and the mechanisms persons with disabilities can use to complain.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All MEPs', 'role': 'Communication was sent to all Irish MEPs'} {'name': 'Marian Harkin', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Nessa Childers', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} + 6 more

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

January–April

[Education and Training] The Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lynn Ruane', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

January–April

[Education and Training] The Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill: communications with Sen. Lynn Ruane to discuss potential amendments to the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, to require the Dept. of Education and Skills to publish a Sectoral Plan (similar to other Depts. per the existing Disability Act).

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lynn Ruane', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

January–April

[Education and Training] Submission to Carol Nolan on the consultation process regarding the NEPS service.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Carol Nolan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

January–April

[Education and Training] Pre-election grassroots campaign to raise awareness of issues faced by people with dyslexia - need for mandatory teacher training on dyslexia, greater access to dyslexia assessment and supports, need for review of RACE system of exam accommodations, and seeking increased funding for the Dyslexia Association

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Gerry Adams', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Bannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Tom Barry', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Halligan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)'} + 248 more

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

May–August

[Education and Training] Submission to the Minister for Education and Skills on the Strategy for Education and Skills 2016-2018

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

May–August

[Education and Training] Meeting with the State Examinations Commission to address issues with the system for granting Reasonable Accommodations in Certificate Examinations (RACE) and to suggest solutions

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Andrea Feeney', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The State Examinations Commission)'} {'name': 'Aidan Farrell', 'role': 'CEO (State Examinations Commission)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

May–August

[Education and Training] Seeking changes to the criteria for exemption from Irish for students with dyslexia/specific learning difficulties; in particular the removal of the criteria of an IQ score of 90 or above.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Paul Kehoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

September–December

[Education and Training] Submission on SEC Strategy 2017-2020 seeking (1) SEC to be a strong contributor to curricular assessment reform (2) increasing move to a needs based system for reasonable accommodations in exams (3) improved readability of exam papers (4) quicker decision making and notification of outcome of RACE applications (5) SEC & DES to issue guidance to schools on use of reasonable accommodations within schools (6) increased use of assistive tech. in exams including access to dig

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Aidan Farrell', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The State Examinations Commission)'} {'name': 'Andrea Feeney', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The State Examinations Commission)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

September–December

[Education and Training] Seeking public funding for after-school reading workshops for children with dyslexia leading to better equity of access

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs