Academic biography

Thérèse Danaher, MSc. in Education and Training Management, RNID, RCNT, RNT, Cert. Ed., Certificate in Friendship, Relationships and Sexuality Education, Dip. in Counselling, Dip. in Sociology, Reflexologist. Therese is a lecturer within the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health at Dublin City University. I am the Chairperson of ESNAP (Enabling Student Nurses with Accommodations in Practice); this committee consists of staff from the thirteen DCU Health Partner services, DCU lecturers and staff from DCU's Disability and Learning Support services. In relation to this committee, I also developed and work in the role of Additional Needs Support Lecturer (ANSL) for student nurses which involves linking resources between DCU Support Services, the student and Practice staff. I was the Chairperson of Nursing Network in Intellectual Disability in Ireland (NNIDI) from its inauguration until 2015 and one of the founder members of the group. I was a peer reviewer for two international journals. I teach and facilitate students on all years of the BSc. in nursing programmes. At the undergraduate level, my specialist topics are; intellectual disability and mental health problems, intellectual disability and epilepsy and contemporary issues in intellectual disability nursing. Other teaching commitments include working as a member of a teaching team on a module called “Improving Service with Cooperative Learning” which has contributed to improvements and changes within services for people with intellectual disability. I have completed a one year Dublin Institute of Technology CPD Certificate programme in Friendships, Relationships and Sexuality Education for people with intellectual disabilities in 2015. I jointly coordinated the first 8-week national University Relationship and Sexuality Education programme for a group of people with intellectual disabilities in 2015. My practice links are with the AVISTA Services, St Joseph’s Intellectual Disability Services, Portrane and “Walk With You” Association, Walkinstown. My administrative roles over the year have included; admissions officer for nursing, preceptorship link lecturer and deputy chair for the BSc. in Nursing Programmes. I have worked on external examination boards for other third-level schools of nursing programmes and have been an external examiner for two third-level programmes.