Down Syndrome Ireland

Education Support for Branches

08 Apr 2021

A number of branches have been in contact over recent months requesting talks and in-person support for members, but due to ongoing restrictions, it will not be possible to offer any in-person support to branches for the foreseeable future.

“Our Story through Covid” Kildare Branch

12 Mar 2021

Kildare Down syndrome Ireland used the Adult Learners Festival 2021 to document the journey of our adult members as they negotiated life behind the cloud of Covid.

Let’s Reconnect – Online Adult Learners Festival

24 Feb 2021

Celebrating learning across County Kildare.

Ability Programme 2019

27 Sep 2019

We would like to wish our students well as they begin the new academic year on their DSI adult education course on the Ability Programme.

Team Ireland Win Big

23 Sep 2019

Team Ireland returns jubilant and full of success following their fantastic results in Sardinia at the week-long European Down Syndrome Swimming Championships.

Cuts to Rehabilitative Training Allowance of €31.80 per week an ‘attack on the most vulnerable in society’

28 Aug 2019

Down Syndrome Ireland strongly opposes the decision to scrap the rehabilitative training (RT) allowance, worth €31.80 a week per student, for new entrants which was announced earlier this month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). We call for a full reinstatement of this allowance which is an essential financial support that contributes to increasing participation in lifelong learning for students with disabilities.

See and Learn – Training days

23 Aug 2019

Starting in the West of Ireland, our first ever See and Learn workshop took place in our Down Syndrome Ireland Cork Branch. The workshop was brimming with eager participants that where keen to learn the techniques and materials associated with the early years support programme.

Deirdre Howard interview on Newstalk 106 FM

20 Aug 2019

Down Syndrome Ireland Kildare Branch parent Deirdre Howard visits the Newstalk studios and talks to Clare McKenna from Newstalk FM about her experience with the See and Learn programme.

Personalised Budgets – an update from the HSE on the demonstration projects

13 Aug 2019

The HSE is looking for up to 180 adults with a disability to participate in the Personalised Budgets Demonstration Projects over the coming two years, DSI heard at a conference around the pilot scheme this week.