Leanne Connolly

Ms

Contact Details


Assistant Professor
F320

T:Ext. 9064

E:Leanne.Connolly@dcu.ie
Profile Photo
Leanne is a qualified Primary School teacher and for many years worked in a Special School, primarily with students on the Autism Spectrum with a Mild Intellectual Disability. Having supported students from age 4-19 years of age, with a range of co-morbidities, Leanne gained significant experience in using a range of autism specific teaching approaches and behavioural interventions. She completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Autism with St. Angela’s College Sligo in 2012 and completed her Masters in Special Educational Needs in Autism Spectrum Disorders in 2016. Through the Masters research, Leanne examined the impact of exercise on reducing off task behaviours which showed very positive results. 
Leanne worked as an Associate with Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) on the Level 2 Learning Programmes (L2LP) team for a number of years having been one of the early schools to adopt the L2LP. In 2016, Leanne was seconded to the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), Ireland's largest single support service offering professional learning opportunities to teachers and school leaders in a range of pedagogical, curricular and educational areas. Leanne first joined the PDST Health & Wellbeing Team as an Advisor and was subsequently appointed Team Leader in June 2017. Leanne has since led a team of Advisors and Associates across Primary and Post-Primary in the area of SPHE, Wellbeing, Child Protection, Anti-Bullying as well as the new Leaving Certificate and Senior Cycle PE programmes. Leanne sat on various interagency committees and national steering groups for Wellbeing and Physical Education. 

Leanne has also lectured on the Cert/Diploma in Autism Studies with ACE in UCC, specifically in areas of Autism and Daily Living, Sensory Needs, Employment, Education and Person Centred Planning/ Positive Behaviour Supports. Leanne is interested in pursuing research in the area of Autism and Employment. Leanne lectures on the GCEAS, GDILS and MEdA programmes in DCU and coordinates the Education of pupils on the Autism Spectrum Elective on the GDILS.

Leanne is currently studying for her PhD with DCU IOE School of Human Development. Her area of study relates to transition preparation and transition planning for students in Special Schools in Ireland and the role of class teachers in this regard. 

Newsletter

Year Publication
2022 Leanne Connolly; Geraldine Scanlon; Deirdre Corby (2022) The what, where and who of guidance and transition planning for students with intellectual disabilities in Ireland - a literature review. NEWSL

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2023 Connolly, Leanne (2023) 'Key Policies and Legislation Underpinning Post-School Transition Practices for People with Disabilities in the Republic of Ireland'. International Journal of Educational and Life Transitions, 2 (1). [Link] https://doi.org/10.5334/ijelt.42
2023 Rice, C., Kenny, N., Connolly, L. (2023) 'Exploring the Attitudes of School Staff towards the Role of Autism Classes in Inclusive Education for Autistic Students: A Qualitative Study in Irish Primary Schools'. Education Sciences, 13 (9). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13090889
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Professional Associations

Association Function From / To
Education Studies Association of Ireland Member -
The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Member -

Committees

Committee Function From / To
DCU Ability Programme 01/11/2021 -

Employment

Employer Position From / To
Lakeview Special School Teacher -
University College Cork, Adult Centre for Education Module Lead and Lecturer -
Junior Cycle for Teachers Level 2 Learning Programme Associate -
Professional Development Service for Teachers Team Leader 01/09/2017 - 30/08/2020

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
01/09/2012 NUI Galway Post Graduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism
01/09/2005 Dublin City University Bachelor of Education Education
01/09/2015 NUI Galway Masters of Arts in Special Educational Needs Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism

Outreach Activities

Year Engagement Type Organisation Description
2020 Presentations/Talks to an external audience Coláiste Baile Chláir Supporting Special Needs Assistants in a large Post-Primary school, focusing on autism.

Research Interests

Leanne's research interests are currently focused on the topic of her ongoing PhD studies; Transition from special schools for students with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. Leanne is engaging in a mixed method multi-phase study which aims to raise the post school aspirations of students and their key stakeholders. 

Leanne's other research interests are the implementation of RSE in special schools in Ireland, particularly to those with moderate, severe/profound intellectual disabilities. 

Teaching Interests

Leanne's teaching interests include autism, special education and inclusion, relationship and sexuality education & SPHE, Child Protection.

Leanne supports teachers on the Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education (GDISE) in a range of areas including Moderate General Learning Disabilities, Teaching Practice, Relationship & Sexuality Education. 

Leanne contributes to the two Autism programmes in DCU, the Graduate Certificate in Education of Pupils on the Autism Spectrum (GCEAS) and the Masters in Education in Autism (MEdA). The particular focus on Leanne's input is teaching and learning approaches, evidence based practices, profiling and planning. 

The Induction Course for Teachers of Learners with Severe/Profound General Learning Disabilities is a unique course in that DCU is the only national provider of this fully funded DES course. Leanne contributes to this course in working with SNA's, Autism, Child Protection and RSE, Inclusive Curriculum. 

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2021-2024 Supporting Learners on the Autism Spectrum SI724
2022-2024 Planning, Teaching and Learning for All SI716
2022-2023 Planning, Teaching and Learning for All SI717
2023 SI421