Siobhan Mac Cobb

Biography

Currently am leading a new area of practice in collaboration with the National Behaviour Support Service, Dept. of Education and Skills and their partner schools in evidence based interventions for second level students with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties in areas of social disadvantage. My report on a national study of blind with NCBI and Irish Guide Dogs, and visually impaired persons on perceptions of their mobility launched in 2012 has identified a previously undocumented area of need and calls for a national strategy on vision impairment involving all sectors in social and health services. Since 1995 I have participated in part funded pilot projects promoting inclusion and particpation in mainstream education, social and play settings by people with intellectual disabilities and autism. Funders included the EU Horizon programme, Citizens Information Board, the HSE and voluntary service agencies particularly in projects that supported self determination and self advocacy. I have been involved in the development and delivery of occupational therapy education at all levels for more than 30 years. A recent contribution is the development of a 5 module course on Practice Educator competencies available on-line for Health Care Professions, funded and hosted by the HSE.

Research Interest

collaborative practice; Inclusive Education; inclusive society; inter-professional collaboration; learning disabilities; school participation; social, emotional and behavioural difficulties