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National Gender Identity & Expression Equality Champion Network - The network was launched on Thursday 31 March to coincide with Transgender Day of Visibility. Mary Immaculate College (MIC) is one of the six Irish Higher Education Institutions who have partnered together to form the network. National Gender Identity & Expression Equality Champion Network - The network was launched on Thursday 31 March to coincide with Transgender Day of Visibility. Mary Immaculate College (MIC) is one of the six Irish Higher Education Institutions who have partnered together to form the network.

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Linc Purple Lights Campaign shines a light on invisible needs during a pandemic 

Linc Purple Lights Campaign pictured above at the MIC foundation building

Linc Purple Lights Campaign shines a light on invisible needs during a pandemic 

On December 3, the LINC Programme Team, working in conjunction with Buildings and Maintenance Services at MIC Limerick, transformed the College’s Foundation Building lights from white to purple to mark United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) asked that for this year’s Purple Lights event, we remember those in our communities with invisible disabilities. Reminding us that while disabilities may be invisible our ‘support need not be’, the federation stresses that people ‘really need space and extra consideration during this pandemic’ and points out that there are more than 514,000 people living with invisible disabilities in Ireland.  The IDPD is observed each year on December 3 and is designed to promote the inclusion and full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society.

Commenting on the significance of the day, Professor Emer Ring, Dean of Early Childhood and Teacher Education at MIC Limerick said: ‘We are delighted to be part of the #PurpleLightUp global movement, which focuses on the empowerment of those with disabilities in our community. In the Faculty of Education at MIC, across all of our programmes, we are committed to creating a society, where the rights of persons with disabilities are secured, diversity is the norm and no one is left behind. In particular this year, as we all live through this global pandemic, it has never been more important to support and celebrate all of those living with a disability in our community’.

The DFI has asked the public to light-up their homes or offices and share photos on social media using the hashtags #PurpleLights and #IDPwD. According to the DFI over 80% of needs are invisible.

In addition to the illumination of the Foundation building, the LINC Programme Team hosted a purple themed coffee morning for the staff of the College—encouraging participants to reflect on all the people they know who may have an invisible need and the many ways we can demonstrate that we are there to support them and their families during these times.

The LINC Programme is a one-year Level 6 Special Purpose award delivered by a consortium led by Mary Immaculate College (MIC), which includes Early Childhood Ireland and Maynooth University-Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education. The course is designed to facilitate practising early childhood teachers to promote the inclusion of all children. Orientation for the upcoming programme begins on December 7, with students beginning the programme on January 4 2021.

Also remarking on the day, Marie Doherty, Director of the LINC Programme said: ‘The LINC Programme Team is proud to be associated with this initiative at MIC. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue providing our programme which is fully-funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, to staff working in Early Learning and Care settings over the next 3 years.’

Other buildings to light-up in support of this campaign in the past have included: The National Concert Hall, the National Convention Centre, the iconic Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny Castle.

The Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years programme, LINC, is a Level 6 Special Purpose Award (Higher Education), that is designed to support the inclusion of all children in the early years. The course is offered for free to people working within early years education and is fully funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Once qualified, graduates will perform the role of Inclusion Coordinator within their early learning and care setting.

The development of the programme is part of a government response to local, national and international demands for high quality education and training leading towards graduate pathways in the combined field of early childhood care and education (ECCE). The programme seeks to address the need for continuing professional development (CPD) in relation to the inclusion of all children.

More information on the #PurpleLights Campaign can be found on the Disability Federation of Ireland’s website HERE

For more stories on Mary Immaculate College go HERE

For more on Mary Immaculate College go HERE

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.