Returning to Eduction after Serious Illness - Angela Cummins

About this episode

Angela Cummins discusses the challenges and strategies for reintegrating children into school after serious illness, drawing from her experiences as a teacher and a mother of a child who battled cancer.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this week’s episode we talk to special education teacher Angela Cummins . While Angela is well known for her work in the area of Special Education through parent and teacher courses, events and workshops, she also has been a mother in the fight against childhood cancer.  As a primary school teacher currently studying for her Phd Angela is passionate about supporting children who are neurodiverse and those with serious illness.  Angela's daughter Lucy was diagnosed with cancer when she was in primary school over 10 years ago. She understands both sides, mother and teacher and the caution around reintegrating a child back in to the school environment after a serious illness.  It’s this personal and professional understanding that has motivated her to develop education for schools on how to best support the family - as there is very little support for teachers in this area.  Here we talk about how the transition back to school is not easy on the parent, the child or the teacher but when done with care and appropriate expectations it can lead to a positive reintegration and…

People in this episode

Guest: Angela Cummins

Topics covered

• childhood cancer
• education
• special education
• neurodiversity
• reintegration
• parenting

Keywords

• childhood cancer
• special education
• reintegration
• neurodiverse children
• support for teachers

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland

More episodes of Gold Ribbon Conversations

• Benign Brain Tumour and NF1 Gene, Harry's Story - Doireann Cassidy · June 1, 2026 · 45 min
• Survivorship, from leukaemia to advocacy - Ashleigh Kiernan · May 18, 2026 · 45 min
• Brain Tumour Awareness - Rio's Story with Melanie O'Sullivan · May 4, 2026 · 1h 5m
• Gone Too Soon: Baby Willow with Mammy Elaine O'Brien · April 20, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Sarcoma Amputation Gave Me My Life Back - Harry Greaney · April 6, 2026 · 38 min
• Wilm's Tumour Awareness - Kevin Price · March 23, 2026 · 41 min