Angela Cummins

05/09/2026

28 years ago, I qualified as a primary school teacher 😳

I never imagined then where teaching—or life—would take me.

Along the way, I became a mam to four amazing children. Life brought us wonderful moments, but also some incredibly difficult ones. There were times when I felt completely lost and unsure of where I belonged, but somehow I kept going.

I went back to study and completed a Master’s in Education and a Graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership at Maynooth University, followed by a Master’s in Autism at DCU. I am now in Year 2 of my Doctorate of Education at DCU

I was only diagnosed with severe dyslexia at 48, so I am finally beginning to recognise what an achievement that is.

I am very grateful for all the people who encouraged and believed in me along the way.

If you are feeling a little lost, please don’t give up on yourself. You never know where life might take you.

I’m very glad I never gave up on me ❤️

20/08/2026

FREE ONLINE CPD FOR TEACHERS, SNAs & SCHOOL LEADERS

I’m delighted to be working with Dublin West Education Centre again this autumn to deliver a series of 5 completely FREE online webinars focusing on practical autism class provision. 💙

The series runs from September to December and covers:

• Your First Autism Class
• Timetabling an Autism Class
• Relationships, Regulation & Engagement
• Understanding Regulation & Dysregulation
• Building an Effective Autism Class Team

💻 Online
⏰ 7–8pm
💙 FREE to attend

Please feel free to share or tag a teacher, SNA or school leader who might find these useful.

Registration is through Dublin West Education Centre. https://www.dwec.ie/

Looking forward to seeing lots of you online! 😊

28/07/2026

🏰 LEGOLAND Florida Accessibility – Our Experience 💙

If you’re planning a trip to LEGOLAND Florida with a child who may need additional support, here’s exactly what we did.

✅ Before you travel: Download the Visual Guide from the LEGOLAND website. It really helped us prepare before we arrived.

✅ When you arrive: Go straight to Guest Services. The team were incredibly friendly, understanding and knowledgeable.

✅ HERO Pass: We were issued with a HERO Pass, which can be used by the guest and up to six people in their party.

✅ Using the pass: At each attraction, enter through the Lightning Lane entrance. Staff explained everything clearly and made the whole process feel easy.

💙 We also found plenty of quiet areas around the park if anyone needed a break from the crowds.

🌊 An added bonus is that the LEGOLAND Water Park and SEA LIFE Aquarium are all within the same enclosed resort, making it feel very safe and easy to navigate as a family.

This was one of the simplest and most positive accessibility experiences we’ve had, and it made a huge difference to our day.

I’ll be sharing more about our accessibility experiences at the other parks over the next few days. If you have any questions about LEGOLAND Florida, let me know below👏🏻

09/07/2026

Delighted to speak to Littlepuddins.ie about autism classes😃👏🏻

30/06/2026

Unfiltered Autistic with Amanda McGuinness · Episode

07/06/2026

This weekend, someone asked me, “Angela, where did you disappear to for those few years?”

It caught me off guard.

I didn’t disappear.

Like many parents facing childhood cancer, my world became hospital wards, isolation rooms and getting through one day at a time🎗️

Looking back at the first photo, I see someone smiling. What people couldn’t see was the fear, exhaustion and uncertainty behind that smile😶‍🌫️

Life stopped for a while, and that’s okay💗

For anyone in the middle of a difficult chapter right now, please know that it’s okay if your world feels small.
It’s okay if survival is enough.

One day, you’ll look back and realise just how strong you really were. 💛

07/06/2026

What an inspiring two days at the Professional Learning, Research and Practice Assembly 2026.👏🏻DCU - Dublin City University

I was privileged to present research on post-COVID absenteeism in DEIS schools and to engage in thought-provoking discussions with educators, researchers and leaders from across the sector.

I came away with new ideas, new perspectives and a renewed appreciation for the power of research-informed practice. The atmosphere throughout the conference was welcoming, inclusive and genuinely collaborative.

A sincere thank you to the organisers, speakers and participants for creating such a positive learning experience. There was an incredible depth of expertise in every session, yet the conference never felt overwhelming—just engaging, supportive and thought-provoking.

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute, learn and connect with others who are passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people.

21/05/2026

12/05/2026

A year ago, I never would have imagined I’d be standing in DCU presenting my doctoral research as part of the Research on Walls!

Very proud to present the picture that represents Leadership in the Space Between, Positioned at the threshold of the school gate, it captures the space between home and school where school-based related anxiety and patterns of absenteeism begin to emerge. This “space between” is not only physical, but relational and emotional, where children may feel uncertain, disconnected, or unable to enter.

A very special day — and a reminder that growth often begins outside your comfort zone 💙

✨

04/05/2026

Moving into an autism class can feel like a big step.

As a teacher with over 20 years’ experience in autism, special education and mainstream… and as a parent of four, I understand both the professional and personal sides of this journey.

I’m running a FREE, practical and supportive session with Dublin West Education Centre next week for teachers making that transition.

This session will focus on:
✔️ What actually works in the classroom
✔️ Practical strategies you can use straight away
✔️ Building confidence in your role

If you’re thinking about moving into an autism class, or have recently started, you are very welcome. Dublin West Education Centre

👉 Link to register: https://www.dwec.ie/cpd-courses-dwec/primary-courses-dwec/2794-26spr62-moving-into-an-autism-class-practical-guidance-for-primary-teachers.html