Special Education Support Service: Categories of Special Educational Need

In each category section below is a link to a new page containing a list of relevant links, as well as a factsheet.

It is the intention of SESS to create factsheets related to all these categories over time.

At present, factsheets are available on 8 different categories of disability, and these are easily identifiable below. Others will be added in due course.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Information

• Information Sheet: Autistic Spectrum Disorders (PDF - 177 KB)
• Information about Autism, about SESS supports and about Teaching Approaches
• A summary of SESS supports for teachers related to the teaching of pupils with Autism (PDF - 77 KB)
• Links to ASD websites
• 2001 Report of the Task Force on Autism (PDF  - 1 MB)
• A further/additional reading list related to ASDs (PDF - 43 KB)
• An Evaluation of Educational Provision for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (DES Inspectorate 2006) - (PDF - 1 MB)
• CABHAIR SESS Newsletter Insert (Issue 1) based on the Evaluation of Educational Provision For Children with Autistic Specrum Disorders - inspectors report (PDF - 976 KB)

General Learning Disability

• Borderline Mild General Learning Disability (PDF - 208 KB)
• Links to General Learning Disability Sites
• Mild General Learning Disability (PDF - 210 KB)
• Moderate General Learning Disability (PDF - 197 KB)
• Severe & Profound General Learning Disability

Physical Disability

• Spina Bifida
• Links to Physical Disability Sites
• Cerebral Palsy
• Motor Dyspraxia (DCD)(PDF - 154 KB)

Sensory Disability

• Visiting Teacher Service for Visual Impairment Factsheet (PDF - 508 KB)
• Visual Impairment
• Visiting Teacher Service for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Factsheet (PDF - 508 KB)
• Hearing Impairment / Deaf
• Links to Sensory Disability Sites
• Dual Sensory Impairment (Deafblindness)

Specific Learning Disability

• Dyslexia (PDF - 187 KB)
• Links to Specific Learning Disability Sites
• Dyscalculia
• 2001 Report of the Task Force on Dyslexia (PDF - 531 KB)
• Dysgraphia

Speech and/or Language Disorders

• Verbal Dyspraxia (PDF - 130 KB)
• Links to Dyspraxia & SSLD sites
• Specific Speech & Language Disorders
• DCD / Dyspraxia Booklet: "Practical Tips for Parents" (PDF - 679 KB)
• Tips for Teens and Teachers: Developmental Coordination Disorder by The Dyspraxia/DCD Association, Cork, April 2007 (PDF - 364 KB)
• An Evaluation of Special Classes for Pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (DES Inspectorate 2005)(PDF - 1MB)

Specific Syndromes

• General sources of information on Down syndrome
• Down Syndrome (tips for learning and teaching)
• Tourette Syndrome (PDF - 121 KB)

Emotional Disturbance and/or Behavioural Problems

• Childhood psychosis
• Links to EBD sites
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (PDF -192 KB)
• Conduct Disorder (CD)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• CABHAIR SESS Newsletter Insert (Issue 2) - Supporting Pupils with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in School (PDF - 364 KB)

Exceptionally Able and Dual Exceptionality

• Exceptionally Able / Gifted & Talented SESS Information Sheet (PDF - 183 KB)
• Links to Exceptionally Able/ Dual Exceptionality sites
• Dual Exceptionality SESS Information Sheet (PDF - 176 KB)
• 'Exceptionally Able Students: Draft Guidelines for Teachers' - NCCA 2008 (PDF - 1 MB)
• 'Draft Report on the Consulation on the Guidelines for Teachers on Exceptionally Able Students' - NCCA 2009 (PDF - 454 KB)
• 'Gifted and talented children in(and out of)the classroom: A report of the Council of Curriculum, Examinatios and Assessment' (CCEA, 2006); (PDF - 890 KB)