Upcoming Events

DAI Annual Conference and AGM 2012

Date: Saturday 21st April 2012.

Venue: Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

DAI’s 2012 Annual Conference and AGM will take place on Saturday 21st April 2012. The conference theme is “Supporting Students with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia”. The conference will focuses on two main areas:

Managing dyslexia at second level, and
Dyscalculia (specific maths disability).

There will be talks for parents and talks for teachers:

Talks for parents will begin with an overview of dyscalculia, where Máirín Barry will inform parents on identifying and supporting the child with specific maths disability. Deirdre McGuinness will advise on the key issues parents need to know to help manage the transition into and throughout second level education. Deirdre Whitlow will then provide practical strategies on how to best support your second level student at home, with homework, study skills and exam preparation strategies.

Talks for teachers will be very focused on managing dyslexia and dyscalculia in the classroom. Deirdre Whitlow will provide lots of practical advice on supporting students with dyslexia in the second level classroom. Jennifer Duffy will then discuss dyscalculia, and offer advice on identifying and supporting students with experience specific learning difficulties with numeracy and mathematics in the classroom.

The conference programme and booking form can be downloaded below. Admission to the Annual Conference is just €30 for DAI members and €50 for non-members. Pre-booking is essential.

Conference and AGM 2012 – Information and Booking Form (PDF format).

DAI Courses for Parents

DAI runs a one-day Parents’ Course several times each year. Upcoming courses:

Saturday 12th May in the Stilorgan Park Hotel in Dublin.
Saturday 13th October in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells, Co. Meath. (A free course for Junior Cert. students will be run in tandem with this Parents’ Course, if there is sufficient demand – details on the booking form below).

Topics covered on this one-day parents’ course will include:

Understanding Dyslexia.
Understanding the assessment report.
Accessing support in school, e.g. learning support, Irish exemption, exam accommodations.
Practical suggestions for parents and helping with homework.
Planning for the future – second level and beyond.
Computers and assistive technology.

The information and application forms for these courses are available below:

Stillorgan Park Hotel May 2012 – Info and Booking Form (PDF format)

Kells Course October 2012 – Info and Booking Form (PDF format)

In-Service Courses for Teachers

Pre-booking is essential for all courses.

Venue: Tara Towers Hotel, Merrion Road, Dublin 4.
Dates: 2nd – 6th July 2012.
Times: 9.30 am to 2.00 pm each day.
This course will run over one week, and is open to qualified primary and second level teachers. The detailed course programme and application information is available to download below:

Tara Towers Teachers’ Course July 2012 – Info & Application Form (PDF format)

Venue: Carlton Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.

Dates: 22nd and 29th September, & 6th, 13th and 20th October 2012.

Times: 10.00 am to 3.00 pm each day.

This course will run over five Saturdays, and is open to qualified primary and second level teachers. The detailed course programme and application information is available to download below:

Ballinasloe Course 2012 – Info and Booking Form (PDF format).

Course for Adult Literacy Tutors

Adults with Dyslexia – A Course for Adult Literacy Tutors

Venue: Dublin – to be confirmed.
Date: Autumn 2012 – to be confirmed.

This course is specifically designed for trained and experienced adult literacy tutors who wish to learn more about working with adults with dyslexia. The detailed course programme and application information will be available here once the date and venue have been finalised.

Numeracy and Mathematics in Primary School

A Course for Primary Teachers on Maths and Dyscalculia

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, this course has been cancelled. It will be re-scheduled in early autumn.

Venue: The Tara Towers Hotel, Merrion Road, Dublin 4.
Date: Saturday 10th March 2012.
Time: 10.00 am to 3.00 pm.

This course is specifically designed for primary school teachers who wish to learn more about maths and dyscalculia. The detailed course programme and application information is available to download below. Pre-booking is essential.

Maths Course March 2012 Info and Application Form (PDF format).

Course for Secondary Teachers

Dyslexia at Second Level – A Course for Secondary School Teachers

Venue: Dublin – to be confirmed.
Date: Autumn 2012 -to be confirmed.
Time: 11.00 am to 4.00 pm.

This course is specifically designed for teachers of second level students. It aims to address the management of dyslexia in both the general subject-specific classroom and the Learning Support classroom. The detailed course programme and application information will be available here once the date and venue have been finalised.

2012 Mary McKenna Golf Classic in aid of DAI

Date: Friday 18th May 2012.
Venue: Donabate Golf Club.

A 4 person team event for just €200 per team.

Following the very successful 2011 Golf Classic, Mary McKenna has kindly allowed us to use her name and expertise again for our 2012 Golf Classic in aid of the Dyslexia Association. A great day is planned for Friday 18th May 2012 in the lovely surroundings of Donabate Golf Club. A major raffle will be held on the day also.

All funds raised will be used to enable DAI to continue to support children and adults dealing with dyselxia, especially those who are financially disadvantaged and would otherwise struggle to access necessary services such as assessment and specialist tuition.

Golf Classic 2012 Poster (PDF format)

Golf Classic Early Booking Form (PDF format)

Dyslexia Talk in Athlone.

Venue: Sheraton Hotel, Athlone.

Date: Tuesday 22nd May, 2012.

Time: 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm.

A talk on Dyslexia will take place on Tuesday, 22nd May at 7.30pm in the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone. The talk will cover:

General information on dyslexia.
Advice for parents on how to help your child.
Information on DAI services (national and local).

Speakers from the Dyslexia Association national office will be Deirdre McGuinness and Mary Ball. Representatives from the local DAI Branch in Athlone will also be available to talk to any parent who has a child with dyslexia interested in attending local workshop classes. The talk will end with a Question and Answer session.

This talk is most suited to parents and teachers, dealing with dyslexia at primary and secondary level. All are welcome.

For more information you can contact the Athlone Branch of the DAI:

Email: athlonedyslexia@gmail.com Phone: 087 60 400 60 (between 6-8pm).

Dyslexia Talk in Kells, Co. Meath.

Venue: Kells Resource Centre, Carrick St., Kells, Co. Meath.

Date: Wednesday 30th May, 2012.

Time: 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm.

A talk on Dyslexia will take place on Wednesday, 30^th May at 7.30pm in the Kells Resource Centre. The talk will cover:

General information on dyslexia.
Advice for parents on how to help your child.
Information on DAI services (national and local).

Speakers from the Dyslexia Association national office will be Deirdre McGuinness and Mary Ball. Representatives from the local DAI Branch in Kells will also be available to talk to any parent who has a child with dyslexia interested in attending local workshop classes. The talk will end with a Question and Answer session.

This talk is most suited to parents and teachers, dealing with dyslexia at primary and secondary level. All are welcome.

Click Ahead Summer Camp

The Click Ahead Summer Camp will take place for one week starting on 23^rd July 2012 in IT Tralee, North Campus, Tralee, Co. Kerry. This is a summer camp which introduces children to computers and the range of software and assistive technology which can help students with learning difficulties. The Junior Camp is for ages 9-12, and the Senior Camp is for ages 13-18. Parents can stay in Student Accommodation/Houses while their child attends the camp.

For further details visit www.clickaheadcamp.com or contact the organiser Margaret Slattery at 066 7131228 or 087 9829847.

Galway Branch Summer School

The Galway branch of the Dyslexia Association hope to run a summer school for one week in August (20th -24th August 2012) at the Lakeview School in Renmore, with classes in reading, spelling, writing, tutorials and computer skills. Age group 7 years and above. For further information contact 087 7588258.

Galway Summer Brochure 2012 (PDF format)

Galway Summer School Booking Form 2012 (PDF format)

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