Hello, I'm Silvia Angel,
an early intervention specialist working with parents and educators to create communities that embrace children with all abilities.
My Journey & How It All Started
For more than 20 years, I have worked with children with disabilities and their families as an early intervention specialist.
But beyond my professional experience, I am also a mother to an autistic boy, which has given me a unique perspectiveâseeing things from both sides, as a professional and as a parent.
My passion is to support parents and educators with practical, hands-on strategies that nurture early development and create real, meaningful progress in childrenâs lives.
About forty years ago, I met a girl named Monica, who became one of my childhood friends. She had Down syndrome and was one of the few children with disabilities in a mainstream school at the time. I was always by her sideâhelping, cheering her on, and simply enjoying our friendship. I didnât realise it then, but that friendship would shape the course of my life.
Years later, I studied Social Studies and Psychology of Education in Barcelona. In 2002, I moved to Ireland and began working as an early intervention specialist at a child development clinic. For the first ten years of my career, I worked closely with children with Down syndrome, supporting their development alongside a team of dedicated professionals and parents.
How My Son Changed My Perspective
In 2009, my oldest son was born. When he was two, we realised he was autistic. Suddenly, I wasnât just a professionalâI was a parent navigating the same journey as the families I had supported for years.
And it changed everything.
I experienced firsthand the challenges of accessing services, sitting on waitlists, and searching for the right support. I cut back on work to focus on my son, and in doing so, I saw the gaps in the system more clearly. Too often, families were left to figure things out on their own without enough guidance or support.
Beyond the challenges, I became aware of something elseâa parallel world of âspecialâ schools, âspecialâ classes, and âspecialâ programs. But what I wanted for my sonâand for every childâwas true inclusion. A place where they belong, just as they are.
That realisation shaped how I approach my work to this day.
My Work Today
As my perspective shifted, so did my career. While I continued working one-on-one with children and families at the child development clinicânow expanding my work to include autistic childrenâI also saw the need to empower parents and educators to create environments where children with disabilities could thrive.
In 2016, I launched my own initiative Silvia Angel Education to provide practical training and support. I began delivering training programs for preschools and schools, particularly those opening new autism classes, and running parenting courses for families of young autistic children.
As more schools and families turned to my training, my work expanded to include webinars, masterclasses, and online courses. To date, I have reached over 8,000 parents and professionals across Ireland.
Over the past 10 years, Iâve collaborated with many organisations, including the HSE, St. Michaelâs House, Enable Ireland, Down Syndrome Ireland, the Down Syndrome Centre, AsIAm, Better Start, LĂĄmh, and various colleges and universities. Through these experiences, I have met a like-minded community that shares my commitment to creating better supports for people with disabilities.
A key part of my work focuses on communication development, particularly through LĂĄmh, Irelandâs sign system for children with intellectual disabilities and communication needs. As a LĂĄmh tutor, I have created widely used YouTube videos for homes and classrooms across Ireland, with my channel reaching over half a million views. Iâve also contributed to national projects, including the first LĂĄmh DVD and the award-winning childrenâs TV show Dizzy Deliveries.
My passion for supporting children and families has also led me to speak at major national and international conferences. At events like the Progressive Disabilities Conference and the World Down Syndrome Congress, I have shared insights on the importance of inclusion in preschool for young children with additional needs, as well as family-centred practice and how my perspective as a mother has shaped how I work with families.
Alongside my training and conference work, I spent 22 years in public early intervention services in Dublin, supporting children from birth to six. During that time, I had the privilege of working closely with familiesâmany of whom I visited for years. Being part of their journey, watching their children grow, and building those relationships were some of the most meaningful parts of my work. I truly cherish those experiences and the trust families placed in me.
My work keeps me busy, travelling across Ireland to meet professionals and parents, but I also love slowing down to connect through my newsletter and blog. With over 5,000 subscribers, itâs a space where I share thoughts and insights and connect with a wonderful community of parents and professionals.
A New Chapter
But now, Iâm embarking on a new chapter.
While continuing to run Silvia Angel Education, I have also joined the team at Down Syndrome Ireland to help develop essential early intervention services for families and children with Down syndromeâsomething that is urgently needed in Ireland today.
My goal is to work closely with families, professionals, and communities to develop resources that address the unique challenges faced by young children with Down syndrome and their parents. I believe that with the right support, every child can thrive, and Iâm committed to helping build a stronger foundation of early intervention services that reflect that belief.
Itâs a new and exciting adventure, and Iâm hopeful that this work will help fill a much-needed gapâbringing practical, meaningful support to families of young children with Down syndrome across Ireland.
My Family
People often ask if my professional background has helped me as a parent. The truth is, it hasâbut it didnât take away the challenges. Like many families, my husband and I have faced uncertainties, a lack of services, and moments of exhaustion. But weâve also found joy, connection, and deep meaning in watching our children grow into themselves.
Our son, Sebastian, is in secondary school. His education journey started in an early intervention class, then an autism class in our local primary school, and now full mainstream secondary, where he is supported by an SNA and a great team of teachers.
Looking back, we tried many different interventions and worked with various professionals, hoping to give him the best support. But it required a huge commitmentâtime, travel, and financial resourcesâand quite often, Sebastian seemed upset and overwhelmed. It was exhausting for him and us, and in the end, probably not what we needed.
Like many new parents, we searched for answers, looking to others for guidanceâwithout fully realising that we held the key to connecting with our son.
What truly made the biggest difference was something much simpler: the love, play, and connection we built at home. The small, everyday momentsâreading together, playing, and just being thereâmade all the difference.  I focused on using low-intensity interventionsâapproaches woven into daily life rather than formal sessions. These strategies helped Sebastianâs development in a way that felt natural, and they are now the foundation of what I teach through my Nurturing Abilities parenting programme.
When Sebastian was six, we welcomed his little brother, Sam. I will never forget the joy on Sebastianâs face when he met his baby brother for the first time. I hadnât realised how much having a sibling would help him grow. Like typical brothers, they play, argue, and always have each otherâs backs!
We live in beautiful County Wicklow, where my husband John is from, and we love visiting my family in Barcelona as much as we can.
Embracing the Journey
Through both my professional work and my experience as a mother, one truth stands out: parents play the most important role in their childâs journey.
Itâs not always an easy pathâthere are challenges, uncertainties, and moments of exhaustion. But itâs also filled with love, growth, joy, and a deep sense of meaning. And I wouldnât change it for anything.
My hope is to walk this path alongside you, offering guidance and encouragement along the way. No parent should have to navigate this journey alone.
Thank you for being here. Children bring so much light to the world. Letâs nurture their abilities and create a future where they are seen, valued, and includedâjust as they are.
Let's Stay Connected!
If youâd like practical tips, personal stories, and insights on early intervention and inclusion, join my newsletter community of over 5,000 parents and educators. Itâs a space where I share ideas, encouragement, and supportâstraight to your inbox.
A community that embraces people with all abilities is
one that respects and celebrates how unique we all are.
