✨ The Power of Storytelling ✨

High Court rules An Bord Pleanala must prioritise climate law in wind farm case likely to affect all public bodies The High Court has ruled that planners did not fulfil their duty to comply with climate law in a judgement expected to have far-reaching implications for all public bodies.

This is a huge the decision & could have a positive impact on sustainable transport in Ireland.

"But an immediate end to business as usual is a precondition for planetary survival.” Mr Justice Humphreys

www.independent.ie/irish-news/h...

Irish schools ‘crying out’ for guidance on how to tackle issue of influencers like Andrew Tate New resource to help teachers and parents address online concerns surrounding influencers such as Andrew Tate, who has attracted huge audiences of young men and teenage boys

Great to see this new @dublincityuni.bsky.social Anti-Bullying Centre resource covered in the Irish Times today

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...

Male violence is an epidemic in this country. Rest in peace little Kyran.

Sinéad Gibney (Social Democrats) elected in Dublin Rathdown | Live updates: rte.ie/b/1484023

Sally Hayden article for the Irish Times - Israeli drones an essential part of EU’s attempt to stop refugees and migrants from reaching its territory Drones ‘tested over Gaza’ have been reappropriated by the EU.

Israeli drones an essential part of EU’s attempt to stop refugees and migrants from reaching its territory
Drones ‘tested over Gaza’ have been reappropriated by the EU.
-Sally Hayden, Irish Times

www.irishtimes.com/world/middle...

Parents wouldn't have to fight constantly for basic access to education - a constitutionally enshrined right.

Emotion based school refusal could be greatly reduced. Parents trapped by this (myself included) could work more + need less support from the state through Carers supports

11/11.

Now there are without doubt kids who DO need specialist schools/classes to access education + they should get that.

But the number who would need them could be much smaller if the overall way we teach kids works better for ND kids and neurotypical kids.

10/11

The no. kids with different needs (mostly ND) is rising & the current system is already failing 1000's kids, so I have no confidence the 1000's extra ND friendly spaces needed are ever going to materialize.

9/

And so my son feels othered + stupid + not good enough (his words) because his neurodiversity forces him to stand out + fail *by the school metrics*.

The impact on his self esteem is massive + has knock on effects on other services NOW + IN FUTURE e.g. mental health + disability.

8/x

There's so much that adds up + it's different for every kid.

Please do add more examples here if you want 👇

7/x

- Toilets. He has written off secondary school after seeing the state of the boys toilets on a day visit. He simply won't be able to access toilets (primary school has been just about ok).

- Catholicism. Opted out ND kids are wholly failed (a thread for another day!)

6/x

- His v.literal, black/white way of understanding can leave him confused by broad statements which he needs to explore to figure out (which isn't feasible in large classes)

- IF he gets through a full day, he simply can't carry on at home and do HOMEWORK. It needs to go in the 🗑️ as a concept.

5/x

- He can't follow directions given from the top of the class to a large group

- He is distracted by everything around him from the posters on walls to his friends getting on w/their work

- He struggles with handwriting + presentation (neatness in copies) but is a PRO on a computer. Way ahead.

4/x

My autistic ADHDer is smart as a button in many areas but simply unable to access learning in his school.

He has missed 68% of school so far this year (6th class).

When he does go in, he hates it + DOES. NOT. LEARN.

- The day is too long.

- He can't sit still (even w/movement breaks).

3/x

A FULL SHAKE UP of how all our kids are taught is needed. Many, *not all*, autistic/ND kids are being disabled BY a school environment that can't be just tweaked to become accessible to them. Whereas a new approach to learning, designed with kids of all neurotypes, COULD work for way more.

2/x

Sharp increase in autism to require thousands of additional special needs places in schools Official estimates point to a near doubling in proportion of children with autism in need of support at school within five years

Our school system is simply never going to meet the needs of our neurodiverse kids unless it starts thinking BIG. Chasing after individual autism classes + more SNAs etc is not the answer (IMHO).

Some thoughts... 1/x

#education #autism #adhd #neurodiversity

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...

That's a heck of a lot of words to use to avoid calling McGregor a rapist.

#McGregor #NikitaHand

Response to awarding of damages to Nikita Hand in civil action against Conor McGregor | Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, said: “Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is exceptionally proud to stand with the courageous and determined Nikita Hand in her pursuit of …

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre discuss impact of McGregor trial:

20% increase in calls to Helpline
50% increase in 1st time callers

Many expressing distress & anxiety around details of the case...& increases in negative victim-blaming attitudes.

#ConorMcGregor #NikitaHand

www.drcc.ie/news-resourc...

Remind me - was it Elon Musk who pondered whether Conor McGregor should run for Irish President???

At least in Ireland, we don't vote in adjudicated rapists to such roles.

And just to be clear, you do not need to dress up the word rapist. "Conor McGregor is a rapist" works just fine.

Excellent point👌

He may not be a convicted rapist but he is now an adjudicated rapist.

This is a win for Nikita and all sexual violence survivors . But Nikita should never have had to go through all this to get this partial justice (partial since CMcG is not facing criminal penalties).

And he may still appeal and drag her through more.

We need systemic change in our justice system.

Oh I like this nugget of wisdom 👇

Photo of the book "You Better Be Lightning" by Andrea Gibson resting on a person's legs.

Silence runs shotgun
wherever hate goes.

- Andrea Gibson
@andreagibson.bsky.social

Starting my time here with a vow to live by these wise words.

Me too Brenda. Good to see you here :)