The suitability of Irish immersion education for children with special educational needs

ABSTRACT

Additive bilingualism has long been reported as a benefit of immersion education. Nevertheless, the suitability of this form of education and bilingualism for children with special educational needs (SEN) has been much debated. Recent studies show that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), specific speech and language disorder (SSLD), and dyslexia can acquire varying levels of proficiency in a second language. Nevertheless, research has highlighted the fact that many educational professionals, for example, educational psychologists and speech and language therapists, continue to recommend against bilingualism and immersion education for children with SEN. The present study will evaluate whether nine parents of children with ASD, SSLD, and dyslexia enrolled in Irish immersion schools and four parents of children with the same categories of SEN who withdrew their child from Irish immersion education (IME) due to their learning difficulties perceive that IME is suitable for their child. It will also investigate the opinions that they received from educational professionals regarding the suitability of this form of education for their child.

KEYWORDS:

• Immersion education
• special educational needs
• autism spectrum disorder
• specific speech and language disorder
• bilingualism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sinéad Nic Aindriú

Dr. Sinéad Nic Aindriú is an assistant professor in the School of Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education. Her research interests include students learning through a second language, Irish-medium education, continuous professional development in the area of special education for immersion education teachers.

Pádraig Ó Duibhir

Prof. Pádraig Ó Duibhir is a professor emeritus in Dublin City University. He has conducted much research in the area of Irish immersion education and Irish language education policy.

Joe Travers

Dr. Joe Travers is an associate professor in the School of Inclusive and Special Education. His research interests include inclusive education: policy and practice including teacher education, leadership for social justice and inclusion, special educational needs and mathematical difficulties.