Partners Panel: AsIAm, Dyslexia Ireland, Dyspraxia Ireland and ADHD Ireland

Facilitated by Michele Van Valey

Venue: Fitzgerald Debating Hall, UCD Student Centre                 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Representatives from AsIAm, Dyslexia Ireland, Dyspraxia Ireland and ADHD Ireland are coming together in this panel, facilitated by Michele Van Valey.

Adam Harris (He/Him)

Adam set up AsIAm based on his own experiences growing up as a young Autistic person in Ireland. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome from an early age, the condition was far less understood or even known as it is today. Adam Harris is the Founder and CEO of AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity. Adam founded the organisation based on his own experiences growing up on the Autism spectrum. Today, AsIAm provides support to Autistic people and their families, advocates on behalf of the community, and works to support public and private sector organisations and communities in becoming inclusive and accessible. He has also sat and advised on many government consultative and policy committees on disability rights and inclusion. From Greystones in Co Wicklow, Adam was appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in July 2020.

Emma Magee (She/Her)

Emma Magee is Head of Educational Psychology at Dyslexia Ireland. In this role, she leads the psychology team, overseeing assessments for both children and adults with dyslexia and dyscalculia. She also delivers courses for parents, equipping them with the knowledge and strategies to confidently support their child or young person with dyslexia.

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 (drinkware.ie; Consumers Association; Fianna Fail). 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.

Sharon Lane (She/Her)

Sharon is the CEO of Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland.  With twenty plus years' experience in the not for profit and public service sectors in Ireland and Australia, Sharon is an experienced disability and mental health advocate, committed to improving person centred health service provision and to ensuring that the voices of lived experience are central in the development and implementation of disability services and supports. Sharon holds formal qualifications in Community Development, Business Management (Health), Human Resource Management (Health) and Project Management and is a firm believer in lifelong learning, both formal and experiential.