School leaver/ Adult

The end of formal schooling often marks the beginning of adulthood for many people, whether they have Down syndrome or not. It brings with it, new adventures, as well as new challenges, difficulties and uncertainties.   

Families ask “What can my child do after secondary/post-primary school?”, “Can my son go to college?”, “What job could my daughter do?”, “What are the options for young adults with Down syndrome?”.  

Many adults with Down syndrome are now leaving home, living independently with varying degrees of support, obtaining employment, forming relationships, and generally getting the most out of life.  

One of our key goals is to provide school leavers and adults with Down syndrome, with the opportunities to reach their full potential. This includes reaching the highest degree of independence possible for them. This section will give you information on helping adults with Down syndrome achieve their potential.

Research shows that when adults with intellectual disabilities are provided with opportunities to broaden their education through appropriate teaching and learning strategies, they continue to develop and improve their language and literacy skills. 

Acknowledging the value of life-long learning and access to quality education for adults is core to everything we do. 

  • Adult/School Leaver Education Options

    What are the education options available for the school leaver or adult in your family? 

    There are increasingly more options and opportunities for school leavers and adults with Down syndrome to continue their education. By clicking on the 3 sections below, you will find courses run by Down Syndrome Ireland branches, ETBs (Education Training Boards) and other colleges, universities and institutions throughout Ireland. 

    Funding from SOLAS enables us to work in partnership with SOLAS and ETBs (Education and Training Boards) to support increased participation of learners with Down syndrome in local Further Education provision.

  • Adult employment – for employers

    People with Down syndrome want to work and represent a substantial source of untapped commitment and talent.  However research suggests that they are one of the most under-represented groups in the labour market. 

    People with Down syndrome have a lot to offer the workforce. They have many abilities and should be supported to make informed choices about their work and careers, and have the resources to seek, obtain, and be successful in gaining employment. 

    Companies that employ people with Down syndrome report that those employees are committed and motivated, and often only need an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. 

    The positive impact on the person with Down syndrome is substantial. Working helps improve confidence, increase social connectivity and integrate the individual into the local community. 

    If you are an employer, we ask you not to make assumptions about what a person with Down syndrome can do. We ask you to consider the skills, abilities and aspirations of each individual. 

    If you are an employer who wishes to employ a person with Down syndrome, we are here to support you. Please contact our Head of Employment, Aoife Gaffney, at aoife@downsyndrome.ie. 

  • National employment programme: Beauty in all its Forms

    Beauty in All Its Forms (BIAF) is an innovative new national employment programme for adults with Down syndrome, which we have developed in collaboration with our partner ALFAPARF Milano Ireland. BIAF gives adults with Down syndrome the opportunity to train as hairdressing assistants with a view to securing long-term employment.

    Following the programme’s international success, we piloted it in Ireland in early 2017 with six of our members and had a more-than-80% success rate measured as securing employment following training. 

    One of our key goals is to provide our members with a high degree of independence in adulthood. We are making real progress in developing our adult education programmes and establishing partnerships with other companies like ALFAPARF Milano.

     

    Testimonial

     

    “The training was great. I learned lots, how to fold towels, cleaning and washing hair. Getting a job in Lloyd’s made me happy and confident.”

    John Mulligan, Waterford

     

    “I have become more confident in talking to people, greeting and looking after the clients. I have become much more aware of what it means to be in the workplace – arriving on time, dressing suitably and doing the best I can in the salon.”

    Orla Hannon, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare

     
    Can I participate in Beauty in All Its Forms?

     

    Download the Beauty in all its Forms booklet with background information on the course, graduate feedback from the pilot programme and support information. 

     If you are interested in being involved in our next round of BIAIF, please email aoife@downsyndrome.ie. Please include the words ALFAPARF Milano Training in the subject line. 

    You can view the programme details and job specifications for programme participants here.

    You can view and download the application form here. Completed application forms can be emailed to aoife@downsyndrome.ie. Please include the words ALFAPARF Milano Training in the subject line.


    Are you an employer who would like to get involved?

     

    Working alongside a person with Down syndrome often enriches the wider workforce and benefits a company in many diverse and unique ways.

    As an employer, would you like to get involved in one of our training and employment programmes? You can get in contact with us at aoife@downsyndrome.ie. We would love to talk!

  • Rights for people with Down syndrome

    We are committed to working towards an Irish society where people with Down syndrome have the same basic human rights as any citizen throughout life to education, employment opportunities and decision making as all other citizens.

    At the moment in Ireland there are a number of laws that have yet to be enacted, which will improve the legal rights of people with disabilities. We are actively lobbying to have these laws enacted.

    Read more about this campaign and all our lobbying campaigns here and find out how you might be able to help.

  • Get involved! National Advisory Council

    Our National Advisory Council (NAC) represents the opinions of adults with Down syndrome within our organisation. The Council is composed of adults with Down syndrome from across Ireland. Learn more about the NAC here.

    If you or an adult you know would like to get involved in our National Advisory Council, please contact Sinéad Flynn on 01 4266500 or email sinead@downsyndrome.ie

  • Future planning

    Thinking of the inevitable is a difficult task for parents. Making a will can be even more difficult when you are the parent or guardian of a person with Down syndrome.

    Down Syndrome Ireland provides information seminars for parents on making wills and has produced an information booklet designed to give practical advice on making long-term provision for your child with Down syndrome while also making suggestions that might help your child deal a little more easily with the loss of a parent.

    Planning for the Future: Guidelines for Parents of Children and Adults with Down Syndrome

    There are two parts to the booklet. The first is the important issue of making a will and properly providing for your son or daughter for in a way that is both legal and beneficial to his or her future life. The second part is about writing a Letter of Intent which informs future guardians and trustees of the details of your child’s life, both past and present, which consequently will help your child deal a little more easily with the great loss of a parent. The booklet also talks about how establishing a special estate plan might provide for your child’s long-term needs.

    Information Seminars

    If you wish to enquire about an information seminar; please contact your local branch secretary.
    The information seminars are delivered by the author of the above-named publication:

    Tadgh Kelly, Solicitor with Dublin-based law firm, Pearts Solicitors, located at 24/26 Upper Ormond Quay. Tadgh primarily practices in the area of land disputes, planning law, defamation law and personal injury claims. Of particular interest to Tadgh is the area of law surrounding how best to protect and cater for the needs of people with Down syndrome and he has developed a growing practice in this area based on his particular experience and expertise.

  • Health Passport

    Health passports are very important for people with disabilities, especially people with communications difficulties. A health passport allows health professionals to treat the person and cater for their individual needs. We encourage everyone to consider the completion of the standardised  HSE Health Passport as a supportive measure for healthcare needs.

  • Speech and language therapy

    It’s important to keep developing language throughout adulthood. Rest assured that there is no learning plateau and adults will continue to develop speech and language skills with the right support. In our Speech and Language section, Nicola Hart, our Speech and Language Advisor, goes through various ways adults can continue to advance their language skills.

  • Useful resources

    Down Syndrome Ireland Adult Employment Officer: Aoife Gaffney 01 4266500

    The National Council for Special Education’s Information on Options for Adults and School Leavers with Disabilities booklet provides general information about the main programmes and supports in education and training of people with disabilities.

Downloads

Health passport

Health passports are very important for people with disabilities, especially people with communications difficulties. A health passport allows health professionals to treat the person and cater for their individual needs. We encourage everyone to consider the completion of the standardised HSE Health Passport as a supportive measure for healthcare needs.

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Ageing with Down Syndrome: Latest Insights Professor Mary McCarron

Principal Investigator, IDS-TILDA Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin Director, Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability

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‘…more than medical’

“…more than medical” provides an insight into the realities of family life with a baby, child, teenager or adult with Down syndrome in Ireland today. It’s about reality and providing balanced, complete information for new families.

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Upside Down, The Story of My Brother James Liadh Hanley

Here is a wonderful book called Upside Down, The Story of My Brother James written by a young girl called Liadh Hanley. In the book, Liadh shares her experiences of having a brother with Down Syndrome. The initial aim of the book is to teach siblings and children how to appreciate and respect those with Down syndrome. We think this book could help all members of families with Down Syndrome as well as prospective parents.

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I’m Ok – You’re Mean

Our last national advisory council of Down Syndrome Ireland decided to tell their experience of bullying. They wanted this information to be available to parents, teachers and people with Down syndrome.

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Information for healthcare professionals

Improving the hospital experience for adults with Down syndrome

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Beauty in all its forms

Information Booklet

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Beauty in All its Forms Press Release

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ALFAPARF – Application form – Website -Nov 2017

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Planning for the future

Thinking of the inevitable is a difficult task for parents. Making a will can be even more difficult when you are the parent or guardian of a person with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome Ireland provides information seminars for parents on making wills and has produced an information booklet designed to give practical advice on making long-term provision for your child with Down syndrome while also making suggestions that might help your child deal a little more easily with the loss of a parent.

I am a family member

Download