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MINISTER FOR HIGHER Education Simon Harris has today announced the creation of ten third-level courses designed for students with intellectual disabilities.
The courses will be delivered across ten locations throughout the country, with approximately 150 students expected to enroll in the first year.
Courses will be one to two years in length and have been specifically designed to meet the diverse range of needs of students with intellectual disabilities.
Speaking at the launch event in Dublin today, Minister Harris said:
“These courses have been designed with the learner at heart.
“When given the opportunity, students with an intellectual disability can thrive. Access to higher education can lead to employment. It can transform the lives of students and their families as well as society as a whole.”
Harris added that he was most excited about the courses that have a workplace element built into them.
“One of the areas I’m not extraordinarily proud of is the very low participation rates within our workforce of people with disability, and even lower participation of people with intellectual disability,” he said.
Harris also made the point that all of the courses announced today are accredited courses.
“Even talking to people this morning, I had comments from parents of people with disabilities asking ‘are these real courses and is it something real and meaningful for my child?’
“And the great thing is that it’s the exact same educational qualification that you or I would be able to access on the national framework of qualifications,” Harris said.
My autistic son who’s 5 today can’t get a place in school, 23rd rejection letter in the post this morning, its so frustrating.
Need to do so much more at all Levels.
@ciaran o dowd: ya ya
@ciaran o dowd: Ciaran, contact Simon Harris, he said yesterday that schools have to up their game in relation to the number of children who did not get a school place. This is beyond disgraceful that any child is left out of education especially children who so need the stimulation, learning environment and company of other children. Your son has a right to education and to be treated equally. We have a child in the family who has blossomed with education who is on the spectrum and attends a gael scoil , we never thought this could work but he is doing amazingly even singing in irish, he is thriving, so don’t take no for an answer.
@ciaran o dowd:
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/the-irish-education-system/admissions-policies-in-primary-and-secondary-schools/
Scroll down to the end of this document which gives you advice and options.
@ciaran o dowd: yup, unfortunately in some schools they only accept 1/2 students a year with intellectual disabilities.
Keep fighting Ciaran. Don’t take no for an answer. The way they treat children with any disability is disgusting.
I know people that just brought their children to school and demanded they take them at the start of a school year and forced the school to take them. That’s what they reduce you to but don’t take No for an answer.
@ciaran o dowd: contact norma foley who is responsible for education and get her on the case. We have multiple ministers and junior ministers responsible for disabilities and education. Is it any wonder
nothing gets done. They are too busy playing pass the parcel/buck
Are all the Cabinet included? They should be first in the queue
@Max Cooper: I wouldn’t insult people with intellectual disabilities by comparing them to politicians.
@Max Cooper: my thoughts entirely. Are they going to provide the back up services the students need, transport, parking, SNA’s, PCA’s, special adapted technology, disabled bathrooms, lifts and ramps and so much more. You will find it’s an election ploy and hasn’t been thought out properly. It’s certainly no use to my 38 year old with Cerebral Palsy.
@Max Cooper: a really sad comment- says a lot about you.
How do they get to and from the course? Did you think of that? Did you think of accommodation?
@B1Chris: it’s ok, they’re closing down the city to traffic, so they can walk or cycle there
@B1Chris: ffs, they’ll get there the same way that the existing student population do – you know, public transport, cycle etc. And not every student needs designated student accommodation. And I’d imagine a large proportion of those with learning difficulties live with their folks.
@Patrick Presley: yes because students drive to college usually and the minor traffic restrictions coming to dublin will bring an end to all of that
@SYaxJ2Ts: cycle or walk public transport. Are you for real, many will probably have other issues also. Like anxiety, or a physical disability also.
Train stations lifts out on any given day, no access, many couldn’t cycle in city, and as far a living with folks, many have other children also, so where is the supports ? Like PA to assist with independence, oh wait there are no services available to most.
@colette byrne: we’re talking about kids going to third level college. I’m sure most will be capable of using public transport. Have some faith
@SYaxJ2Ts: my. CP daughter lives with us in rural Offaly. There is no public transport within 8km going in any direction. There are many more like her.
What is the point of this! Window dressing! There are no employment supports thereafter, invalidating their experience. Take then to the top of the world to show them what they can’t have! We get everything backwards in this country and have become a nation of mé feiners!
@uXGdMXx5: including people with disabilities.. they are also me feiners
@John Doe: say that with your real name!
An education you or I would expect. That’s funny as he never went to college.
Brilliant news, FG are awesome
When I uncovered fraud in a State funded charity, my disabled daughter was targeted by the charity with the support of Leo and the Civil Servants in the Department of Social Protection. She is 11 years without a service and all because I did my job to try and prevent fraud, money laundering, misuse of funds and identifing covert payments to a politician.
I also was forced out of my job to protect corrupt senior Civil Servants and the Chief State Solicitor who sanctioned money being diverted from a disability budget to line the pocket of a politician. Had it been a lower ranked staff member, they would have been dismissed. Instead senior managers are protected by the Government who relies on them to keep them in power.
I though this was for right-wingers at first.
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