Pre-Congress Events
Pre-Congress Courses
Wednesday 3 June
University of Galway
We invite you to participate in your choice of Pre-Congress Courses on Wednesday 3 June at University of Galway. Each course is led by experienced interdisciplinary teams and combines practical insights with the latest evidence and lived experience perspectives.
If you are registered to attend the Congress, please use the Pre-Congress Course Registration Form link which is included in your Registration Confirmation email (or get in touch with us and we can support your registration).
If you are not attending the Congress, but would like to register for a Pre-Congress Course, please register via the link below.
Course 1
Full Day
(09.00 - 16.30)
Making Meaningful Change in Practice: A Crash Course in Implementation Science
This intermediate-level workshop introduces healthcare leaders and professionals to the principles and methods of implementation science—the study of how to effectively translate research evidence into everyday clinical and organizational practice. Despite substantial global investment in health research, most findings fail to reach practice, limiting their impact. Through the Knowledge to Action Process Model, participants will learn evidence-based strategies to bridge the gap between research and real-world application, design sustainable improvement initiatives, and evaluate outcomes. Led by an interdisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians, the course combines theory with practical examples and hands-on exercises to help participants begin to develop a tailored blueprint for implementing meaningful change in their own service settings.
Facilitated by Andrea Cross, Kim Hesketh, Rachel Teplicky and Vanessa Tomas from the CanChild Centre for Childhood-onset Disability Research team.
Course 2
Morning
(08.30 - 12.00)
A focus on behavioural management in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Course 2 and 3 can be booked separately as a morning or afternoon workshop OR as a full day course.
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An evidence interdisciplinary based approach
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Drawing from real life experience
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How genetics and medications may be changing the field.
Facilitated by the Galway Neurodevelopmental and CAMHS team in conjunction with Prof Katrina Williams (Monash University)
Course 3
Afternoon
(13.00 - 17.30)
Management of Obesity in young people with an intellectual disability
Course 2 and 3 can be booked separately as a morning or afternoon workshop OR as a full day course.
This pre-course session looks at the challenging area of the management of Obesity in young people with intellectual disability both traditional approaches and how new medications and genetics are changing this. Presentation of a case series and discussion of the nuances of management including the experience of those with lived experience.
Facilitated by the Galway Neurodevelopmental and Endocrine teams
Course 4
Morning
(08.30 - 12.00)
A Lifespan Approach to Disability
This pre-course session brings together international expertise and lived experience to explore a lifespan approach to cerebral palsy. It will look at the development of physical and mental health needs in adulthood, access to adult health services, and the transition from paediatric to adult care. A focus on transition planning and empowering young people, alongside understanding the evolving needs of adults with cerebral palsy will highlight practical approaches to support people with cerebral palsy to thrive in adulthood.
Facilitated by the CP-Life Centre team – Royal College of Surgeons Dublin
Course 5
Afternoon
(13.00 - 17.30)
Rapidly advancing field of neuromuscular diseases and their treatment
This pre course session reviews the recent advances in neuromuscular treatments and the implications for clinical care and service planning. It will explore the benefits and challenges of altered disease trajectory in spinal muscular atrophy and consider tailored service requirements with the advent of newborn screening in Ireland. It will consider the breadth of care for neuromuscular conditions in general, including the support of families through life altering diagnosis and decision making and the delivery of neurodevelopmental surveillance and psychosocial support in the context of complex network disorders.
Facilitated by the Children’s Health Ireland Neuromuscular team
Public Lecture
Childhood Disability in the 21st Century:
Out of the Shadows with the World Health Organization and some 'F-Words"!
Wednesday 3 June
17:45 - 18:30
Bailey Allen Hall, University of Galway
Professor Peter Rosenbaum
CanChild, McMaster University
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The field of ‘applied child development’ has experienced very significant change – I will argue improvement! – in the past 30 years.
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This talk will report how my personal journey in the field of ‘childhood disability’ has evolved over the past 5 decades.
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I will discuss how we have traditionally thought about childood disability, and then present some ideas and evidence that suggest we are making progress!
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Much remains to be achieved, but I hope people will recognize opportunities to promote the functioning, wellbeing and health of children with disabilities and their families.