Improving Education for Children and Young People with Cancer: An International Collaboration
Childhood Cancer Ireland is proud to support a new research project that aims to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of children, adolescents and young adults who have or had cancer.
Led by Dr Margaret Flood (Maynooth University, Ireland) and Dr Lisa Carey (Johns Hopkins University, USA), this project focuses on understanding the challenges faced by students and their families during and after cancer treatment. It also looks at how we can remove barriers to education for young people with cancer. The two-year project is grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an approach that helps create more inclusive learning environments.
Through focus groups, surveys and collaborative workshops, the research team will design clear, practical guides to help families and schools navigate the return to education.
The goal is to ensure every child or young person has the opportunity to thrive at school, no matter their health journey. This is an exciting step towards creating lasting, positive change.
Parents – share your experiences
We want to hear about the challenges to learning for children who have / had cancer from the perspective of their parents / guardians through in-person focus groups.
Your story will help us understand what families need and how schools can better support children returning to education during or after cancer treatment. We will also share some resources with you in advance for your feedback.
Who can attend
- Parents of a child or young person who has or had cancer
- Experience of primary or secondary school with a child who has or had cancer
- Your child may have had cancer before they started primary school – we still want to hear from you as your input is important.
- No limit to how long ago your child had cancer
Focus groups are in person, with a maximum attendance of 10 and will last for two hours
| Maynooth | Athlone | Cork |
| Maynooth University | Hudson Bay Hotel | Silver Springs Hotel |
| Monday 13th October: 6pm – 8pm | Tuesday 14th October: 6pm – 8pm | Wednesday 15th October: 6pm – 8pm |
| Tuesday 14th October: 10am to 12pm | Thursday 16th October: 10am – 12pm |
Sign up
Register to attend a focus group.
