Education & Neurodiversity Panel

Facilitator: Michele Van Valey

Venue: Red Room                 5:00pm - 6:00pm

This panel, facilitated by Michele Van Valey, features Ken Kilbride (ADHD Ireland), Rosie Basset (Dyslexia Ireland), CJay Smith, Jane O’Neill and more discussing neurodiversity in education.

Michele Van Valey (She/Her)

Hello, I’m Michele, a Psychotherapist with a strong background in mindfulness and yoga. I work with individuals, couples and groups in Terenure in addition to developing well-being and inclusion programmes in workplaces and schools around Dublin. Since University, I have known that I’m dyslexic but have only recently come to understand that I am also dyspraxic, probably Autistic. The two years I spent with Neurodiversity Ireland developing their educational webinar series was illuminating and fuelled my passion to make education more accessible for everyone. As I’m learning more about neurotypes, I’m loving that the conversation is finally moving away from neuro-deficit toward neuro-differences. Celebrating the variety of different ways of being in the world is what inspired Neuroconvergence, our creative, neuro-inclusive gathering. 

Ken Kilbride (He/Him)

Ken Kilbride is the CEO at ADHD Ireland. Ken has over 25 years experience in senior management positions in a wide range of both very large and very small not for profit organisations in Ireland. His role with ADHD Ireland is to enact the vision and strategy of the Board, and in the words of Captain James T Kirk take this ADHD organisation to where no ADHD organisation has ever been before.

ADHD Ireland is the national representative organisation and our mission is simply to make life better for all those affected by ADHD.‘ADHD Ireland is happy to support the work of Neuroconvergence as we look support and advocate for all those with neurodivergent conditions in Ireland’

Cjay Smith (She/They)

CJay Smith is the Assistive Technology & Communications Specialist at Neurodiversity Ireland, dedicated to empowering neurodiverse individuals through tailored AT solutions. As a partially sighted dyslexic AuDHDer, they bring livedexperience to their work, alongside a strong academic background in Information Systems and IT from TU Dublin. CJay has extensive experience developing and implementing AT strategies in schools and communities, with a focus on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). 

A passionate advocate for assistive technology, CJay has mentored on projects like Appventure, spoken at multiple conferences, and earned awards, including the Eir Disability Champion title. They actively work to raise awareness of AAC and accessibility tools to enhance communication and independence. Outside of their professional role, CJay enjoys music, lego, video games, and volunteering to support LGBT+ and neurodiverse communities.

Jane O’Neill (She/Her)

Jane O’Neill is an autism class teacher with a background in early childhood education, dedicated to child-led, play-based, neurodiversity-affirming practice. Her work centres on the belief that respect, consent, and autonomy must sit at the heart of every educational environment.

Jane challenges behaviourist frameworks within schools and care settings and is a passionate advocate for the abolition of ABA in educational spaces. She works to create learning environments where autistic children are supported through their interests rather than shaped by compliance-driven models.

Through her teaching and advocacy, Jane is committed to protecting childhood, centring autistic voices, and ensuring that neurodivergent learners are understood, respected and empowered.