Dr Trevor O'Brien
Research interests
Student voice, Specific learning differences, Inclusive pedagogies, Social Justice and Education, Professional learning for teachers, Teacher identity.
Brief Biography
Prior to joining the Department of Educational Psychology, Inclusive and Special Education in 2012, Trevor worked as a class teacher and special education teacher in primary schools in Dublin and Cork. He also worked in a Youthreach centre in Cork, working with young people between the ages of 15 and 21. He is involved in the design and delivery of initial teacher education as well as professional learning for teachers at Post Graduate level. He is the co-ordinator of The Post Graduate Diploma in Inclusive Special Education.
Teaching
- Bachelor of Education
- Professional Master of Education
- Master of Education in Special Educational Needs
- Postgraduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs
- Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology
Publications
Peer Reviewed Articles
Gallagher, S., O' Brien, T. and Scully, M. (2024). Listening to the experiences of students from refugee backgrounds in Irish post primary schools; implications for schools. LEARN, 45, 9-37.
Houser, M., Guerriero, T. and O’ Brien, T. (2024). An exploration of pre-service teachers’ attitudes towards including students with ASD in general education in the USA. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, (1) 30-44.
O’ Brien, T. (2023). The views of early career primary teachers on the impact of an undergraduate specialism in special education on their work as class teachers. Irish Teachers’ Journal, 11, 100-110.
Molyneaux, A. and O’ Brien, T. (2023). The views of Irish teachers towards in-class and withdrawal models of support when working with children with dyslexia. Support for Learning, 10.1111/1467-9604.12446
O' Brien, T. and Fitzgerald, J. (2023). Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Creating a Fairer System for All. LEARN, 44, 36-44.
O' Brien, T. (2022). Exploring the views of students with dyslexia attending a third level college in Ireland. Support for Learning, 37(3), 423-434.
Dunleavy, M. and O’ Brien, T. (2022). Educational research – Concepts and Methodology. LEARN, 43, 138-155.
O’ Brien. T. (2019). Affective issues impacting children with dyslexia in a special school in Ireland. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 19 (4), 315–324.
O’ Brien, T. (2019). Developing an Inclusive Pedagogy - Listening to the Views of Children with Dyslexia. REACH, 32(1), 50-60.
O’ Brien, T. (2018). Exploring the Social Construction of Dyslexia. LEARN, 40, 97-105.
Book Chapters
O’ Brien, T. (2020). ‘Understanding the socio-emotional impact of dyslexia in the inclusive classroom’. In Glazzard, J. (Ed). Dyslexia. Intech Open Publications. ISBN 978-1-83881-967-5
Book Reviews
O’ Brien, T. (2021). Dylexia: Theories, assessment and Support by John Everatt and Amanda Denston. European Journal of Special Needs Education, DOI 10.1090/0885627.2021.1960013
Commissioned Reports
Daly, P., Ring, E., (Principal Investigators). (2016). Egan, M., Fitzgerald, J., Griffin, C., Long, S., McCarthy, E., Moloney, M., O’Brien, T., O’Byrne, A., O’Sullivan, S., Ryan, M., and Wall, E. with Ruth Madden, Research Associate. An Evaluation of Education Provision for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Ireland. Dublin: NCSE.
Conference Presentations
O’ Brien, T. (2024, May). Teacher education for special education – The views of teachers of initial teacher education in special education. Paper presented at The International Conference on Special Education and Diversity, Turkey.
Dunleavy, M., Fitzgerald, J., O'Brien, T. and Ambrose, L. (2024, April). Social Skills and Relationship and Sexuality Education for Autistic Students. Paper presented at the ESAI Conference, Maynooth.
O’ Brien, T. (2024, March). The views of early career primary teachers on the impact of an undergraduate specialism in special education on their work as class teachers. Poster presentation at The International Technology, Education and Development Conference, Valencia, Spain.
Dunleavy, M., Fitzgerald, J., O'Brien, T. and Ambrose, L. (2024, February). Social Skills and Relationship and Sexuality Education for Autistic Students. Paper presented at the 7th World Conference on Research in Education Conference, Milan.
Mannion, L., Harmon, M. and O' Brien, T. (2022, November). Beyond wellbeing: Exploring the relationships between psychological wellbeing, religiosity and religious coping amongst adolescents at Senior Cycle level in post-primary schools in Ireland. Paper presented at The Psychological Society of Ireland's Annual Conference, Portlaoise.
Gallagher, S., O'Brien, T. and Scully, M. (2022, November). Refugee and Asylum-seeker Youths' Experiences of Education in Ireland: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Paper presented at The Psychological Society of Ireland's Annual Conference, Portlaoise.
O’ Brien, T. (2021, September). Dyspraxia – Key Challenges and Whole Class Strategies. Invited presentation at The Irish Learning Support Association Conference, Tullamore.
O’ Brien, T. (2020, March). Dyspraxia; Challenges and Opportunities in the Primary School. Invited presentation at The Irish Learning Support Association Conference, Cork.
O’ Brien, T. (2020, March). Socio-emotional Factors Impacting Children with Dyslexia. Paper presented at The INTED Conference, Valencia, Spain.
O’ Brien, T. (2019, September). Listening to Children with Dyslexia to Improve Outcomes. Paper presented at The Irish Learning Support Association Conference, Carlow.
O’ Brien, T. (2019, March). The Importance of Effective Teacher-student Relationships in Supporting Children with Special Needs in Ireland. Virtual presentation at the LG International Conference on Education in Porto, Portugal.
O’ Brien, T. (2018, December). Disabling Power in Education to Give Children a Voice. Paper presented at The Multidisciplinary Academic Conference on Education, Teaching and Learning in Prague 2018, Czech Republic.
O’ Brien, T. (2018, November). Teacher Education in Ireland for Special Education Teachers. Presentation to The Faculty of Education and Students at The Catholic Pontifical University, Perdizes, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
O’ Brien, T. (2018, October). Children’s Perspectives of Learning in a Special Reading School in Ireland. Poster presentation at The European Dyslexia Association’s Conference in Munich, Germany.
O’ Brien, T. (2018, September). Dyspraxia: Key Characteristics and Strategies for the Classroom. Presentation delivered at The Irish Learning Support Association National Conference, Carlow.
O’ Brien, T (2018, June). Dyslexia – What Do Students Say? Poster presentation at The Future of Education Conference in Florence, Italy.
O’ Brien, T. (2018, May). Universal Design for Learning (UDL); Effective Ways to Include All Children. Presentation at The Irish Association of Teachers of Special Education National Conference, Dublin.
O’ Brien, T. (2016, September). Two Specific Conditions (Dyslexia and Dyspraxia). Workshop delivered at The Joint Managerial Board Annual Conference, Croke Park, Dublin.
Daly, P., Ring, E., (Principal Investigators). (2016). Egan, M., Fitzgerald, J., Griffin, C., Long, S., McCarthy, E., Moloney, M., O’Brien, T., O’Byrne, A., O’Sullivan, S., Ryan, M., and Wall, E. with Ruth Madden, Research Associate. An Evaluation of Education Provision for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Ireland. – Preliminary Findings. Paper presented at The National Council for Special Education Conference, Dublin.
Daly, P., Ring, E., (Principal Investigators). (2015, September). Egan, M., Fitzgerald, J., Griffin, C., Long, S., McCarthy, E., Moloney, M., O’Brien, T., O’Byrne, A., O’Sullivan, S., Ryan, M., and Wall, E. with Ruth Madden, Research Associate. An Evaluation of Education Provision for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Ireland. Paper presented in the symposium entitled, ‘Educational Effectiveness and Improvement’ at the British Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2015, Belfast.
O’ Brien, T. (2015, July). An Evaluation of the Views of Students with Dyslexia on Learning in a Special Primary School in Ireland. Paper presented at The International Literacy Association Conference, Klagenfurt, Austria.
O’ Brien, T. (2015, June). The Imperative of Play in Promoting and Sustaining the Well-Being of Young Children with Special Needs. Paper presented at The Irish Association of Teachers of Special Education National Conference, Dublin.
Ni Eanachain,C. and O’ Brien, T. (2015) Looking at the Benefits of a Cross Age Peer Tutoring Programme for Students in Fourth Class. Paper presented at The All-Ireland Research Conference on Immersion Education, Limerick.
O’ Brien, T. (2015, April). Listening to Voices of Children with Dyslexia. Paper presented at The Discourse, Power and Resistance Conference; Creative Spaces for Collective Voices, University of Goldsmith’s, London, U.K.
Fitzgerald, J., O’Sullivan, S. (presenting authors), Daly, P., Ring, E., Egan, M., Griffin, C., Long, S., McCarthy, E., Moloney, M., O’Brien, T., O’Byrne, A., Ryan, M. and Wall, E. with Madden, R. Research Associate (2015, April). Teaching and learning for high school students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Ireland: A National evaluation of provision. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, Chicago, USA.
O’ Brien, T. (2015, March). Using ICT in Teaching Students with SEN. Paper presented at The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation National SEN Conference, Limerick.
O’ Brien, T. (2014, September). Whole Class Approaches to Support Students with Dyslexia. Paper presented at The Irish Learning Support Association National Conference, Dublin.
O’ Brien, T. (2014, June). Graphic Organisers: Enhancing Learning in Classrooms. Paper presented at The Irish Association of Teachers of Special Education National Conference, Dublin.
O’ Brien, T. (2013, November). Perceptions of the Barriers to Effective Inclusion in Irish Classrooms: Voices of Teachers in One Infant School. Paper presented at The 6th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation, Seville, Spain.
O’ Brien, T. (2013, November). Challenges and Opportunities in Supporting Students with Dyspraxia. Invited Speaker at The Annual General Meeting of The Association of Teachers of Special Education (IATSE), Dublin.
O’ Brien, T. (2013, June). Dyspraxia- Practical Strategies for the Classroom. Paper presented at The Irish Association of Teachers of Special Education National Conference (IATSE), Dublin.
Supervision of Doctoral Research
Current Students (co-supervision)
Emma O’ Sullivan. (PhD in Special Education). An exploration of the well-being of leaders of inclusion (Principals and SENCOs) in Irish primary schools.
Emma Teahan. (Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology). Inclusion at a Crossroads - What do EPs think?
Completed (co-supervision)
Caitriona Mulcahy. (Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology, 2023). An investigation into the effect of the Weaving Wellbeing Programme on academic achievement and engagement in Irish primary schools
Sophie Gallagher. (Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology, 2022). Refugee and asylum-seeker youths’ experiences of education in Ireland: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Lydia Mannion. (Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology, 2022). Exploring the relationships between religiosity, religious coping and psychological wellbeing amongst adolescents at Senior Cycle level in Irish post-primary schools: An empirical enquiry.
Fiona O’ Brien. (Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology, 2020). An investigation into the impact of the Weaving Well-Being Programme on primary school children’s emotion-regulation and self-efficacy.
National and International Outreach and Community Engagement
National
O' Brien, T. (2023). Exploring the possibilities of UDL in the primary classroom. Workshop for SENCOs working in primary classrooms in Cork. Cork Education Support Centre.
O' Brien, T. (2023,January). Validation panel member for Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
O' Brien, T. and Dunleavy, M. (2022, December). Workshop for SENCOs working in primary schools in Cork. Cork Education Support Centre.
O’ Brien, T. (2021, March). Using evidence based strategies to support children with dyslexia in the inclusive classroom. Presentation to primary teachers at Mayo Education Centre.
Egan, M. and O’ Brien, T. (2021). Supporting children with MGLD and DS in Language and Literacy. Presentation to primary teachers at Tralee Education Centre.
O’Brien, T. (2020, March). Planning for children with Dyspraxia in Primary School. Invited presentation to parents, teachers and SNAs at Tralee library, Co. Kerry.
Fitzgerald, J., & O’Brien, T. (2020, February). The Importance of Professional Learning Networks for Special Education Teachers and SENCOs working in primary schools. Invited workshop with SENCOs, Cork Education Support Centre.
O’Brien, T. (2020, January). Planning for Children with Dyslexia in Primary School. Workshop delivered to primary teachers at the Cork Education Support Centre.
O’Brien, T. (2020, January). Understanding Dyspraxia in Primary School. Invited presentation to parents, teachers and SNAs at Killarney library, Co. Kerry.
O’ Brien, T. (2019, November). Supporting the Role of SNAs in a Mainstream Post Primary School. Whole school workshop delivered at Colaiste Gleann Lí Tralee, Clash, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
O’ Brien, T. (2019, November). A strength based approach to improving outcomes for young children with Down Syndrome. Presentation to Parents and Early Years Practitioners at Tralee Library, Co. Kerry.
O’ Brien, T. (2018, July). Identifying challenges associated with dyslexia in the primary classroom. Workshop delivered at The Mayo Education Centre.
O’ Brien, T (2018, July). Using evidence based strategies to support students with dyslexia in the primary classroom. Workshop delivered at The Mayo Education Centre.
O’ Brien, T. (2016, February). Practical, Evidence-based Strategies to Scaffold Learning for Children with Down Syndrome. Workshop delivered to Teachers and SNAs at Cork Education Support Centre.
O’ Brien, T. (2015, March). Understanding and Supporting Students with Dyspraxia in Mainstream Classrooms. Presentation to Learning Support and Resource Teachers at Cork Education Support Centre.
O’Brien, T (2015, February). Working with Students with Dyspraxia; Ensuring Success in the Classroom. Presentation delivered at St Brendan’s National School, The Glen, Cork.
O’ Brien, T. (2015, January). Supporting Students with Dyslexia in the Mainstream Primary School. Presentation delivered at St. Brendan’s National School, The Glen, Cork.
International
O' Brien, T. (2022, December). Meetings with staff at West Chester University, Pennsylvania and Neumann University, Delaware, USA, to discuss mobility and research opportunities.
Fitzgerald, J., O’ Brien, T. and Dunleavy, M. (2022, May). Inclusive Education in Ireland; Reflections at the Crossroads. Presentation at the Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
O’Brien, T. and Houser, M. (2020, April). Teacher Education for Special Education Teachers in The USA and Ireland: A Dual Perspective. (virtual). The University of West Chester, U. S. A.
O’ Brien, T. (2018, November). Study opportunities for undergraduate and post graduate students at Mary Immaculate College. Presentation to members of The Faculty of Education and The International Office at The State University of Sao Paulo, Cidade Universitária, Sao Paolo, Brazil.
O’ Brien, T. (2018, November). Teacher Education in Ireland for Special Education Teachers. Presentation to The Faculty of Education and Students at The Catholic Pontifical University, Perdizes, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
O’ Brien, T. (2018, April). Developments in Special Education in Ireland. Presentation at The University of West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
