'Powerhouse' Kilkenny mother-of-six graduates from Trinity with PhD

PhD student Rose Doolan-Maher from Kilkenny was congratulated by all six of her children today as she graduated from the School of Social Work & Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin.  

Rose’s PhD thesis on online child protection and welfare for children with disabilities has already been published in several international journals.

After four years at Trinity, she is now working to establish a social enterprise for children with disabilities, which she hopes will work with government agencies and disability organisations towards creating a safe digital future for children of all abilities.

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“We’re not inclusive now,” she said. “The thing about children with disabilities is this – their expressed views are being left out of policy conversation in the digital space. They are being left out of influencing something that has huge importance in their lives.”

With considerable personal and professional experience of working with children on the autism spectrum, Rose embarked on her doctoral studies while her six children were aged between eight and 16, and busy with sports and other extra-curricular activities.

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She made it work with their co-operation, and a very supportive husband.

“I sometimes used to have my computer at the side of the pitch,” she said. “I’m sure everyone thought I was a bit mad.”  

Rose said she had always dreamed of studying at Trinity and her dream was realised by a Provost’s Award (a funded scholarship), which gave her the financial wherewithal to get started.  

“I was given a golden chalice, not just to study at Trinity but to work on something I felt so passionate about,” she explained. “It all felt so right.”  

Rose paid special tribute to her two supervisors, Dr Susan Flynn and Dr Julie Byrne, who she says were hugely supportive.

“They worked seamlessly together. I felt I won the lottery with them.”  

Dr Julie Byrne described Rose as being “a quiet and determined powerhouse.”

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“She has devoted herself to making positive and lasting change for others, through the advancement of knowledge and discovery,” she said. “She is an incredible example of imagination made real at Trinity.”  

For her study, with the support of Enable Ireland, Rose spoke directly to 34 children with disabilities and facilitated them to tell stories about their digital lives.

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She created accessible research tools to represent their views, including those of non-speaking children.

She also produced accessible tools including a book and digital media on the research findings so that all participants could see and access their stories.

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