Reaching All Learners Conference, The Mac, Belfast, NI
The Reaching All Learners Conference at the MAC in Belfast marked an important milestone in Rory Goss’s journey, as it was his first time speaking publicly and sharing his story with a live audience.
Speaking to school leaders, educators and professionals from across Northern Ireland, Rory opened with a powerful challenge: to imagine waking up one day and realising that the world you once saw clearly was now a cloud. He shared how being diagnosed with a rare eye condition changed the way he learned, lived and viewed the future.
Rather than giving up, Rory spoke about how he adapted. He continued with his education, found new ways of working and discovered how the right support, technology, family, friends and school community could help turn barriers into bridges.
A central part of Rory’s talk focused on Apple’s accessibility features and how technology became a “bridge to independence”. Tools that may once have seemed like “nice to have” features became essential in his daily life, helping him continue not just to cope, but to thrive.
Rory also highlighted the importance of pastoral care, inclusive education, and ensuring that no student is left behind, regardless of the challenges they face.
For Rory, this event was more than a speaking opportunity - it was the beginning of sharing his message publicly: that technology is only a tool, but what we do with it that can and does change lives.
Key themes: Accessibility, inclusive education, Apple technology, pastoral care, resilience, independence, and overcoming barriers.
Speaking to school leaders, educators and professionals from across Northern Ireland, Rory opened with a powerful challenge: to imagine waking up one day and realising that the world you once saw clearly was now a cloud. He shared how being diagnosed with a rare eye condition changed the way he learned, lived and viewed the future.
Rather than giving up, Rory spoke about how he adapted. He continued with his education, found new ways of working and discovered how the right support, technology, family, friends and school community could help turn barriers into bridges.
A central part of Rory’s talk focused on Apple’s accessibility features and how technology became a “bridge to independence”. Tools that may once have seemed like “nice to have” features became essential in his daily life, helping him continue not just to cope, but to thrive.
Rory also highlighted the importance of pastoral care, inclusive education, and ensuring that no student is left behind, regardless of the challenges they face.
For Rory, this event was more than a speaking opportunity - it was the beginning of sharing his message publicly: that technology is only a tool, but what we do with it that can and does change lives.
Key themes: Accessibility, inclusive education, Apple technology, pastoral care, resilience, independence, and overcoming barriers.
