Canric

We received news last week the death of Luke Murtagh in Ireland. Luke had a stellar career as an educator with a passion for innovation and thinking outside the box. He also had a huge impact on me, my colleagues and the early development of ULS. I first met Luke when he was CEO of the North Tipperary VEC, in association with his colleague John Slattery of the South Tipperary VEC. From the outset, his vision, creativity and ability to commit to new inclusive thinking impressed me. His pet project was the creation of a rural development institute in Tipperary - which he would achieve with the creation of TRBDI (Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute). In time the became the TipperaryInstitute, then part of Limerick Institute and today part of the Technological University of the Shannon. Luke was a pioneer in digital and distance education and was our key support in initiating the research and pilot sessions for the shared Master's program we developed with the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. We achieved the first ever full Master's delivery between the United States and Europe in our program between 1998 and 2001. This evolved into a wide set of initiatives and exchanges over the years that helped transform rehabilitation professionalism in Ireland and further afield. From the outset, Luke grasped the opportunities and potential and guided us into extraordinary developments with the United States, Zambia and various partners in the EU. We owe Luke much - above all his vision and optimism and unfailing sense of human sensitivity and joyful good humor. His contribution is vast and significant and we are proud of having known and worked with him so intensively. On behalf of myself, my ULS colleagues (and our departed colleague Mel Healy) and treasured associates in the United States (especially Lee Crandall, Chris Schiro-Geist and Michelle Marmé) I extend our condolences to his family and the deepest wish that he may rest in peace.

Looking forward to this Conference in June.

Delighted to present on innovation in educational transformation at staff seminar in College of Education in the University of North Dakota today in Grand Forks. My thanks to my colleague Dr Lee Ann Russell Williams for arranging this wonderful encounter.

ULS Director and CEO, Dr Alan Bruce, will be keynote speaker at the conference and disability awareness day in the University of North Dakota on 18 March 2024. This is directed by our friend and colleague Dr Lee Ann Williams, professor and program director in the College of Education and Human Development in UND. Delighted to contribute to this.

Really sad to hear that Jim Devine, former President of IADT in Dún Laoghaire has died. An accomplished educator with a passion for innovation, Jim was the keynote speaker at our final Creanova conference in Bilbao in 2011. May he rest in peace.

A distressing report which underlined the significant barriers and restrictions that face young people with disabilities in the developing world.

Ninety percent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school, leaving future generations behind. They are part of the world’s largest minority.

The crisis has left this population more vulnerable than ever.

Yet their stories are often overlooked. Check out the UNESCO and The Nippon Foundation (日本財団) new online platform that’s joining the global disabled community and share your story of digital empowerment!

More info: https://on.unesco.org/34iF2p4