CMETB Announces its Adoption of the ALTITUDE Charter and Joins the National Call to Action on Universal Design

On 6 November 2025, Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) publicly declared its support for the adoption of ALTITUDE – the National Charter for Universal Design (UD) in Tertiary Education – and joined a national call to action for institutions and agencies to work towards a more universally designed tertiary education system.

CMETB strongly believes that ‘inclusion is everyone’s business’ and that all staff play a role in creating an environment in which the broad diversity of learners in our community can thrive. Universal design is central to our efforts to make that statement a reality, and by adopting the ALTITUDE Charter, we have committed to work collaboratively across CMETB Further Education and Training services to embed a UD approach more firmly in our practices and processes in the years ahead, building on the good work already achieved in this area.

Commenting on the CMETB’s adoption of ALTITUDE, Dr Fiona McGrath (Chief Executive, CMETB) welcomed this development:

“The increasing diversity of our staff and student community is a major strength of our organisation, and universal design is a significant component of our strategic efforts to continue to meet their needs. We need everyone to work together and play their part in creating an inclusive learning experience, in which all have equity of opportunity to succeed, and embedding a UD approach can help us to get there.”

“We fully support this important cross sectoral effort and will continue to work to make progress on the actions and goals outlined in the ALTITUDE Charter in the years ahead.”

The cross-sectoral development of the ALTITUDE Charter represents a landmark moment for the tertiary education sector, signalling its intent to place human diversity at the heart of its design and delivery.

To find out more about the ALTITUDE Charter please visit: www.ahead.ie/altitude

Photo Caption

Paddy Lavelle,  (Education and Training Boards Ireland  General Secretary), Gemma Brady (Learner Support Officer with CMETB)

Photo Caption

Eileen Dunne, (Further Education and Training Inclusion Manager, LOETB),  Paddy Lavelle,  (General Secretary, Education and Training Boards Ireland), Gemma Brady (Learner Support Officer with CMETB), Fergus Craddock (Inclusion Manager, Education and Training Boards Ireland), Niamh Clancy (Inclusion Development Officer, Education and Training Boards Ireland)