DCU Alumni Awardee Ann Jackson

Ann Jackson is the retired former principal of the Central Remedial Clinic Special School  who spent five decades working as an educationalist, consultant and lecturer in Special Education in Ireland. 

Having worked initially as a teacher, she developed an interest in emerging technologies to support students with special and additional needs. 

Funded by the Department of Education, Ann set up and developed the National Technology and Special Needs Advisory service. In her role as Advisor she provided support and information to educationalists, parents, therapists, colleges, and service providers on the evolving role of Assistive Technology in education and training for students with special needs around the country. 

In 2008 she returned to the teaching environment joining the CRC Special School as Principal where she worked until her retirement in 2015. 

Throughout her career and into retirement, Ann did part-time lecturing, particularly in the area of Assistive Technology, in many Colleges including DCU. 

She also served on many Advisory Boards and Steering Committees. She was an executive member of the Irish Association of Special Education (IATSE) for four decades and secretary of the European Association of Special Education (EASE) for two years. Both organisations provided support, CPD, and research assistance to teachers and other professionals. 

After retirement Ann worked for a time as an Assessor of Home-Schooling provision for Tusla. She has done voluntary advisory work in both Kenya and Haiti. She became a Member of the CRC in 2018 and she is serving currently on the Board of the Clontarf Orthopaedic Hospital.

Bachelor of Education, 1989

Diploma in Special Education, 1977

National Teacher Diploma CICE, 1973