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Mr. Des Aston

National and Schools Co-Ordinator (Education)
National and Schools Co-Ordinator (School Office - Education)
3 COLLEGE GREEN
      
Profile Photo

Mr. Des Aston

National and Schools Co-Ordinator (Education)
3 COLLEGE GREEN

 astond@tcd.ie

 3531896 2269

National and Schools Co-Ordinator (School Office - Education)


  EDUCATION   Education and Work   Education policy   educational inequality   Higher Education   Higher education access   Inclusive Education   INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY   Lifelong Learning   Special Education   special educational needs   Special Needs Education
Details Date From Date To
Chairperson, Inclusive National Higher Education Forum (INHEF). November 2018 September 2023
Member of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD): Inclusive Education Special Interest Group December 2021 Current
Member of the Educational Studies Association of Ireland (EASI) January 2021 Current
Irish Inclusion Consortium: Educational and Employment for People with Intellectual Disabilities January 2019 Current
Member, Disability Stakeholder Group (DSG6) appointed by Minister for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD 2022 2025
Treasurer, Inclusive National Higher Education Forum (INHEF) September 2023 Current
Aston, Des, Easler, Rebecca, Choileáin, Méabh Ní, Delaney, Paul, Barden, Owen, Lavan, Rosie, Mc Guckin, Conor, Shevlin, Michael, Lessons From an Irish University Co-Learning Pilot: Creating Mutual Learning in Shared Educational Spaces, Adult Learning, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Denise De Souza, Zelinna Pablo, Debashis Sarker, Maria Theresa von Fürstenberg, Alejandra Rios Urzua, Des Aston, Jennifer Banks, Donatella Camedda, Michael Shevlin, A SWOT Analysis of Three Programmes for Persons With Intellectual Disabilities in Higher Education Settings in Chile, Ireland and Australia, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Creating Inclusive University Experiences: A Bio-Ecological Perspective in, editor(s)C. Rogers-Shaw, T. Williams Park, K. Mohney, & K. Sheward , Fostering a Community of Success for Neurodivergent Collegiate Students, Hershey, PA, IGI Global Scientific Publishing, 2025, pp151 - 186, [Aoife Mary Lynam, Conor McGuckin, Jennifer M. Banks, Marie Devitt, Michael Shevlin, Des Aston, Barbara Ringwood, Emer Murphy, Sadbh Feehan, Owen Barden, Vivian Rath, John Kubiak, Angela Mazzocco, Jill Woodnutt], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  URL
Des Aston, Rebecca Easler, Méabh Ní Choileáin, Paul Delaney, Owen Barden, Rosie Lavan, Conor Mc Guckin, Michael Shevlin, "The Only Thing to Do": A Report on a Co-learning Pilot at Trinity, Trinity College Dublin, November, 2025, p1 - 48, Notes: [This report offers clear evidence that inclusive higher education is both achievable and beneficial, supporting Ireland"s commitments under the UNCRPD. It shows that students with intellectual disabilities can thrive in mainstream modules when learning is intentionally designed and properly supported, challenging deficit-based assumptions that shape policy. The report also highlights structural barriers, such as timetabling, that require system-level solutions. Overall, it provides a practical model to inform national strategy, funding decisions, and inclusive curriculum standards across the higher education sector.], Report, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
La inclusión universitaria de estudiantes con discapacidad intelectual en Irlanda in, editor(s)Odet Moliner García , Democratizar la universidad Retos de la educación inclusiva en la formación postsecundaria de jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual, Spain, Octaedro, 2024, pp41 - 62, [Donatella Camedda, Des Aston], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  URL
Denise De Souza, Zelinna Pablo, Debashis Sarker, Maria Theresa von Fürstenberg, Alejandra Rios Urzua, Des Aston, Jennifer Banks, Donatella Camedda, Michael Shevlin, Critical Networks: Embedding Programmes for individuals with Intellectual Impairments in University Contexts in Australia, Chile and Ireland, Disability and Society, 2024, p1 - 24, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Studenci z niepe"nosprawno"ci" intelektualn" w strukturach szkolnictwa wy"szego w Irlandii in, editor(s)Otr"bski, Wojciech , Stan wiedzy oraz model dotychczasowej praktyki kszta"cenia ustawicznego i aktywno"ci zawodowej doros"ych osób niepe"nosprawnych intelektualnie. Think College / Think Work, Poland, Wydawnictwo KUL, 2023, pp71-90 , [Camedda, Donatella; Aston, Des], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  URL
Denise De Souza, Zelinna Pablo, Michael Shevlin, Maria Theresa von Fürstenberg, Jennifer Banks, Debashis Sarker, Alejandra Rios Urzua, Donatella Camedda, Des Aston, Preconditions influencing the development of post-secondary training programs in universities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 48, (3), 2023, p95 - 106, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  URL
Falling between Two Stools? Post-secondary Transition Planning for Students with Intellectual Disabilities in the Republic of Ireland in, editor(s)Kate Scorgie, Chris Forlin , Transition Programs for Children and Youth with Diverse Needs. International Perspectives on Inclusive Education., Bingley, Emerald Publishing Limited, 2022, pp143-158 , [Banks, Joanne, Aston, Des, Shevlin, Michael], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Des Aston, Transitions to Adulthood: A Case Study of Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities , LEARN, 43, 2022, p7-29 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED
  

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Des Aston, Vivian Rath, Learner Advocates: Co-Designing Disability Awareness and Civic Engagement in Inclusive Higher Education, The AHEAD Journal, (19), 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Down Syndrome Ireland, Inclusion Ireland, Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities, WALK, A Joint Submission to the National Consultation on Post-Primary Guidance, The Consortium & National Consultation on Guidance, April, 2025, Notes: [The Department of Education wish to invite all stakeholders to participate in this consultation on post-primary guidance. This consultation will inform policy development on whole-school guidance, including the role of the guidance counsellor, in the short and medium term. This research will look at all aspects of whole-school guidance, including the role of the guidance counsellor. In particular, we welcome stakeholder perspectives on: the effectiveness of the guidance-allocation model in post-primary schools the proposed new guidelinesdocument on whole-school guidance], Report, PUBLISHED
Aston, D., Grummell, B., Lynn, E. & Slattery, Ó., Embedding inclusive education initiatives and access routes into the higher education landscape in the Republic of Ireland, Conference Proceedings ESOTA 2022., European State-Of-The-Art Congress on Inclusive Post-Secondary Programmes for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Salzburg, Austria, 27th - 28th October, edited by Plaute, W. , joinIN " Inclusive Higher Education Network Europe, 2022, pp57 - 61, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Sadbh Feehan, Des Aston, Broadening Horizons: The Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Academia: `The role of guidance in supporting individuals to effectively navigate key transitions across a lifespan", Online, 24th March, edited by Euroguidance. National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE).The Academia Network. , 2022, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Des Aston, Collaborating for Inclusion: A National Forum of Inclusive Higher Education Providers, AHEAD Journal, (13), 2021, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Des Aston, Guidance to an Independent Adult Life, 2021, - 41-43, Miscellaneous, PUBLISHED
Des Aston, Joanne Banks, Michael Shevlin, Pathways to post-secondary settings for students with intellectual disabilities: What do we know?, Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference 2020. Opening up Education: Options, Obstacles andOpportunities., Online hosted by Institute of Education, Dublin City University, 3rd - 5th September, edited by Prof. Paul Conway (University of Limerick) Dr. Aisling Leavy (Mary Immaculate College) , Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI), 2020, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Des Aston, International Perspectives on Transitions in Education and Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Online, 16th December, edited by International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) Inclusive Education Special Interest Group , 2020, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Des Aston, Establishing Transition Pathways to Postsecondary Education for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Journey to Oz -Travelling Together Towards Inclusive Education, Dublin, 20.03.2019, AHEAD, 2019, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
Des Aston, Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Intellectual Disabilities in the Republic of Ireland - A National Response, Inclusive National Higher Education Forum, October, 2019, 5-32, Notes: [The INHEF call for partners in Government, higher and further education, and the employers' community to help in achieving equal opportunity of access to higher education for students with intellectual disabilities in the Republic of Ireland. With the ratification of the UNCRPD, Ireland is ready to take the lead in establishing sustainable, inclusive educational programmes designed to transform the lives of young people with intellectual disabilities, their families, our education institutions, and our workplaces.], Report, PUBLISHED

  


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Award Date
Nominated for Trinity Research Excellence Awards 2023: Standing up for research 2024