Podcast Episode #4: Cliona Horan

Cliona is originally from Galway, studied her undergraduate degree in English and PE secondary school teaching at University of Limerick. In her final year, she was awarded an Erasmus mundus funded scholarship to study an adapted physical activity masters across three Universities; Katholieke University Leuven Belgium, University of Limerick and University of Virgina, USA.

Throughout this two year course Cliona interned in a variety of disability programs with World renowned professors in the field. For example, she spent time training with adapted physical educator Martin Block at the Virginian institute of autism, Kaat Desloovere at Pellenberg Hospital Leuven, Universal Design advocate and Paralympian, Eli Wolffe at Boston Massachusetts and Pat Flanagan at the Cara centre for adapted physical activity, Tralee. Her final year thesis investigated the working relationships between special needs assistants and PE teachers, and the impact of such on students with disabilities experiences in physical education, in special and mainstream schools in the West of Ireland. She is currently involved in a pilot research project with the OT department in Trinity College, investigating the transition into adulthood for people with disabilities.