Technological University Dublin and Inclusion Ireland are doing a research project funded by the Irish Research Council.
The project is about the experience of families with regard to the education of their children with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities such as autism.
There is increasing awareness that in many schools children are sent home early, have a reduced timetable, are suspended or excluded.
The aims of this project are to:
- Find out how big the problem is regarding children with intellectual disabilities being excluded from schools using a short school day.
- Find out why children are being excluded
- Make sure that people and those who make policy know about this research and the effects of this problem on the children and their families.
What the project will involve
- Interviewing parents of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Making the findings widely available to the public, policy makers and academics.
The Interviews
Interviews will be carried out with parents and guardians of children by researchers from Inclusion Ireland and Technological University Dublin.
The interviews, which may be recorded and videoed with the permission of parents, will mainly include questions about ‘short days’ (i.e. reduced timetables) for your child or children, and any effects on your child and your family.
If you are interested in being interviewed, we will send you a detailed consent form to help you make your decision, and to sign if you are happy to be interviewed. This form will give you the right to withdraw your consent at any time during the study, including after the interview takes place.
You will have the option of being interviewed anonymously so that your name and other identifying features will not be included in the study. You will also be given a ‘participation information’ document containing more detailed information about the study.
Results of the study, which may include parts of your interview with your permission, will be released publicly later this year.
Interviews will take place in Dublin, Sligo, Tullamore and Cork.
For further information contact Inclusion Ireland by email at info@inclusionireland.ie or phone 018559891
If you would like to take part in an interview for the research contact us by July 10th.
