Pictability Training in Ireland

Authors: Annick Janson and Suzanne Bradley

Annick Janson is behind the Now & Next Youth Quest and Pictability™ Training programmes and recently joined colleague Suzanne Bradley to launch Pictability™ in Ireland. They share some background to the launch and the impact the training is already having in Ireland.

Late in 2024, Audrey Byrnes, parent and co-ordinator at Dóchas Mid West Autism Support, brought in Suzanne Bradley, Now & Next™ partner in Ireland, to offer a Now & Next™ programme – rooted in strength-based positive psychology.

Designed and facilitated by parents for parents, Now & Next™ is an award-winning, evidence-based program that helps families of children with disability or developmental delay achieve positive outcomes — at home, in relationships, and at school.

Dóchas were attracted to this model because it aligns with their philosophy of parents being experts in their child and families lives – already having many skills and resources to support their child's participation in daily life.

The programme was enthusiastically received which prompted Dóchas to expand on their initial experience with the programme and organise the first Pictability™ facilitator training in Ireland In May 2025. This training was delivered by Now & Next™ co-founder Dr. Annick Janson and Suzanne Bradley. 

This now means that Ireland has a peer workforce of parents with lived experience to deliver Pictability™ within communities to parents.

The training included 8 parents of children with developmental differences whose families currently receive support through Dóchas. The parents who have completed the facilitator training can now guide other parents through the Pictability™ experience and this will create a ripple effect throughout the organisation and wider community of Limerick city and county. 

The message it sends to parents is that by identifying your child’s strengths, you can create a vision for your child and family. This vision then can be used to develop goals where your child’s strengths are the driver for achieving these goals.

The programme was delivered over two days, 8 hours in total, where the group had the opportunity to experience Pictability™ and then learn about its theoretical basis in Positive Psychology and Family-Centred Practice. 

Participants explored goal setting and how to set goals that are achievable and relevant to their family. The importance of breaking goals down into smaller achievable steps was practiced through examples. We also discussed the opportunities and challenges with delivering Pictability™ to other families.

Most importantly this group of parents reported that they felt confident that they have the expertise they can share with other parents and that Pictability™ offers the opportunity to complete this in an engaging, non-judgemental and concise way.

If you'd like to introduce Pictability™ to your community please email Annick or Suzanne, they'd love to hear from you.

The publisher is Citizen Network. Pictability Training in Ireland © Annick Janson and Suzanne Bradley 2025.