Meet Oisín
After two decades working as a disability and pediatric nurse, Amanda Murphy changed careers after her own experience having a child with Down syndrome.
“We found out Oisín had Down syndrome postnatally. It was a really lonely and scary time. There was a lack of education and lack of resources given to us when he was born. Even with my background as a pediatric nurse, I couldn’t help but think how much more frightening this experience would be for someone with no prior understanding of Down syndrome. That’s why I came into this role to support mums and families on the beginning of their journey because that is such a key part – the beginning!”
Amanda truly understands the importance of those early days after diagnosis, and from her own experience knows exactly how parents can fear the unknown.
“It felt like such a lonely and traumatic experience when Oisín was born when it’s supposed to be a happy and joyful experience – I feel as a parent that we were robbed from that because the right information wasn’t given to us.”
After she was given the time to grasp the diagnosis, Amanda reached out to Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI).
“We were very fortunate at the beginning to have beautiful supports from Down Syndrome Ireland and with other amazing organisations here in Ireland. That has been really special for us, we’ve had amazing role models as parents and as professionals that have encouraged us and brought us along the journey and have enjoyed Oisín’s milestones and joys together.
Through their local branch in Dublin, Oisín has availed of many supports like swimming, and music therapy. Through these supports, Amanda found a community for herself and for Oisín.
“We’ve received lots of supports from Down Syndrome Ireland from the Early Years team. When Oisín was born, he was breastfed until he was 18 months old and we had the loan of a breast pump from the Dublin branch. We have been involved in the See and Learn resource pack scheme which he is currently still taking part in. We have been involved in Speech and Language Therapy group classes when Oisín was one, it was a great way of connecting with other families and socialising Oisín with his friends.”
Now working as an Early Intervention Specialist at Down Syndrome Ireland, Amanda is determined to ensure that all parents have a positive experience when they receive a diagnosis. Alongside her colleague and fellow Early Intervention Specialist, Silvia Segales Angel, they partnered with the UK’s Down Syndrome Association to bring their Tell it Right training to Ireland, hosting a conference for medical professionals in late 2025 and delivering DSI’s New Parents Guide to all maternity hospitals around the country.
“That news needs to be positive and given in the right context and the right setting. Parents must be given the proper information so that they can sit down and take it in in their own time. It empowers parents and makes them feel confident knowing what their journey is going to look like, because the unknown is scary.”
Amanda also wants other parents to know what their next steps are and that they needn’t become overwhelmed with things such as scheduling medical appointments and accessing school placements.
“As an Early Intervention Specialist, it’s really important to guide and navigate the family and child in the right direction of the health care and education system. As a parent, I found that really difficult, and I have a clinical background. I found it extremely difficult to navigate appointments and know who to call, and I think that is why I went into this role. I would like to help and guide parents into the right pathways.”
Early stages are a crucial time for children’s development. During this stage, children begin building essential skills in movement, communication, learning, play, social interaction, and independence. Children with Down syndrome may take longer to reach certain milestones, and early intervention plays a key role in supporting their growth and helping them succeed.
“The reason why Early Years Intervention is important for children like Oisín is because they are very capable and they are very confident, but they just need that little bit of extra support. That tiny little tweak, that tiny bit of support and our children flourish, they become confident, they meet their milestones. They’ll do it in their own time, they’ll do it the same as their typical peers, but they just need that extra tiny bit of support. Your donations support Down Syndrome Ireland’s Early Years team across Ireland.”
As Oisín approaches his fourth birthday, Amanda looks back on their first days together. She remembers how consumed she was by fear and wishes she could have known everything she’s learned since.
“If someone had told me how amazing he is today, the achievements he has achieved, the milestones he has met, the friends he has made, and the warmth and the joy he brings and touches to everybody that meets him – I wish I could tell that to every new mum and new parent. I wish I could explain how amazing and how joyful their new son or daughter will be. My advice to any parent out there is to reach out when you’re ready, and in your own time. Down Syndrome Ireland’s Early Intervention team is here to support you in every part of your journey!”