News
The Department of Further Education and Training works towards making Ireland a country where there are inclusive and improved education opportunities and options for all school leavers and adults with Down syndrome.
One of our key goals is for school leavers and adults with Down syndrome to have the opportunities to reach their full potential. We provide information, advice and guidance to school leavers and adults with Down syndrome, their families, carers and education staff.
What is Further Education Training?
Further Education and Training (FET) covers any education and training after second-level education (post-primary) and up to third-level education (higher level education).
Useful links
Useful links on Further Education and Training
This website hosts a wide range of resources for students with Down syndrome and other disabilities, their families, carers and schools to support them in identifying post-school aspirations, choices and pathways to Further and Higher Education and Training, and to the world of work.
This booklet offers information on post-school Further Education options for school leavers and other adults with Down syndrome and other disabilities.
This website will help you find courses nationwide.
Useful links on Higher Education
This Easy Read booklet gives an overview of courses at universities and other Higher Education courses.
This booklet offers information on post-school Higher Education options for school leavers and other adults with Down syndrome and other disabilities.
Useful links on Rehab and Day Services
This booklet offers information on post-school Rehabilitative Training and Adult Day Services options for school leavers and other adults with Down syndrome and other disabilities.
This website offers information on training programmes and support services that the National Learning Network provides in 50 centres around the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
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, as well as many questions.
Families may begin to look to the future, and ask questions about the best option for their son or daughter.
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 create a society where school leavers and adults with Down syndrome have opportunities and options to reach their full potential.
Acknowledging the value of lifelong learning and access to quality education for adults is core to everything we do.
Below are some of our most common questions:
What are the options after post-primary?
- Talk your son/daughter about areas of interest
- Talk to the Career Guidance in your child’s school
- Talk to the HSE Disability Officer
- Contact the DSI Further Education and Training Department
My son/daughter didn’t do his/her Leaving Cert. Can they still go to college?
Yes. Not having a Leaving Certificate is not a barrier to going to college. There are options, depending on where you live. To find out what the options are, you can:
- Talk your son/daughter about areas of interest
- Talk the Career Guidance in your child’s school
- Talk to the HSE Disability Officer
- Contact the DSI Further Education and Training Department
Transport Campaign
Down Syndrome Ireland works with our National Advisory Council (NAC) and Regional Advisory Councils to learn about how we can improve the lives of people with Down syndrome. They are a panel of adults with Down syndrome who advise DSI on how we can best support all people with Down syndrome. One of their top issues is transportation. Down Syndrome Ireland is actively working with the National Transport Authority (NTA) on a national transport campaign after listening to the needs of our NAC and our members.
More information coming soon.
MEET THE TEAM
Speech and language therapy is incredibly valuable for children and adults with Down syndrome, celebrating their unique strengths and supporting their growth in various areas.
Down Syndrome Ireland is committed to providing comprehensive speech and language therapy support across several branches, including Cork, Clare, Tipperary, Limerick, Galway, Kildare, and Dublin. In these locations, individuals can access specialised services tailored to their unique needs. To access these supports, please complete the referral form below.
In other counties, DSI extends its support through the Speech and Language Therapy Assistants Programme. This programme is currently available to children aged 0-12 in the Northwest and Southeast of the country.
A variety of training on different topics is also available for early years educators, primary and secondary school teachers, daycare staff, medical and healthcare professionals, and parents.
Several programmes are available to support communication development, such as Lámh, See and Learn and Reading and Language Intervention.
Please contact info@downsyndrome.ie for further information and support.
SLTA Resources
The Speech and Language Therapy Assistants (SLTA) Programme in DSI provides essential support to children with Down syndrome aged 0-12. This programme is designed to complement the work of Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) by offering additional, hands-on assistance to ensure that every child receives the attention and care they need to thrive. This programme is available in the Northwest, Southeast, Laois and Galway.
For more details about the SLT assistant’s programme, please reach out to info@downsyndrome.ie.
Referral Form
Please complete the referral form and send to the appropriate SLT branch.
Special Interest Group (SIG)
The Down Syndrome Special Interest Group (SIG) is a collective of SLTs supporting individuals with Down syndrome in Ireland. The SIG seeks to provide support and practical continuous professional development to our members.
TRAINING
DSI can provide training to support parents, early years educators, speech and language therapists, primary and secondary school teachers, day care staff and medical and healthcare professionals.
For more information on training, contact info@downsyndrome.ie.
MEET THE TEAM
Orla O Mahony
Cork
Branch Coordinator/Senior Speech and Language Therapist
Chloe McCarthy
Cork
Speech and Language Therapist
Samantha Yau
Limerick
Speech and Language Therapist
Fiona Young
Limerick
Speech and Language Therapist
Susanna Stokes
Tipperary
Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Anne Watson
Kildare
Senior Speech and Language Therapist
Muireann Balfe
Kildare
Senior Speech and Language Therapist
Eilis Hogan
Galway
Speech and Language Therapist
SLT Assistants
To get in contact with an SLTA in the Northwest, Southeast, Laois or Galway region, email: info@downsyndrome.ie
Down Syndrome Ireland’s Employment team supports adults with Down syndrome to make informed choices about their careers, providing necessary resources to seek, obtain and be successful in gaining employment.
We believe that adults with Down syndrome should have access to meaningful employment: employment that is paid, in an area that matches skill and interest level and employment in a person’s local community. Through our National Employment Programme, our team work with and support a wide range of progressive organisations who see people with Down syndrome as key to making their workplaces more diverse and inclusive.
Everyone wants a purpose in life, like their siblings, to secure a paid job, work in their community and in an area that meets their skill and interest level.
Down Syndrome Ireland’s Employment Team supports adults with Down syndrome achieve this through our National Employment Programme.
Grafton Barber Partnership
Our partnership with the Grafton Barber shows the power of our National Employment Programme.
Our Partners
MEET THE TEAM
The Education department provides information and support for parents, teachers and other professionals working with children and students with Down syndrome at the Primary and Post Primary Education Stages, in mainstream, special class and special school settings.
Internal Education Research Reports
by Down Syndrome Ireland
Reports in this section have been compiled following an analysis of findings of surveys issued to members:
Parents Perceptions of their Children’s Education Journey 2024
Special Classes in Mainstream Primary & Post Primary Schools 2024
Parent Choices Regarding Mainstream V Special Education 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Education information
Links to Government Bodies and Other Relevant Organisations
Department of Education (DES):
www.education.ie
Find information on schools, special classes and access Department of Education Circulars.
National Council for Special Education (NCSE):
www.ncse.ie
Find information on special Education Teaching (SET) Allocation; Special Needs Assistants (SNA); Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO); and many useful resources for parents and teachers.
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA):
www.ncca.ie
Find information on curriculum at Primary and Post Primary levels.
Down Syndrome Education International (DSEI):
www.dsei.org
This is an international resource offering information and online courses for teachers of children with Down syndrome.
How do I deal with behavioural issues in the classroom?
Children and teenagers with Down syndrome can have similar levels of behaviour difficulties to typically developing children of the same developmental level i.e. younger children.
Language development is particularly delayed, and this can lead to challenges in both understanding expectations and communicating needs.
Most people with Down syndrome have good social understanding and empathy, and they are capable of behaving in an age-appropriate and socially appropriate manner.
The following recordings will be helpful:
What do I need to know about the issues relating to Down syndrome and the possible impact on pupil learning and progress?
Research has highlighted a profile of strengths and weaknesses. We can use this information to be more effective in helping children reach their full potential
The following recordings will be helpful:
- Specific Learning Needs of the Student with Down Syndrome
- Language and Communication
- Managing Vision & Hearing Issues
- Mental Well Being
Check out these information booklets:
I need advice about school choices
There are three types of provision to meet the range of educational needs found among students in primary and post-primary schools.
They are:
- Mainstream classes in mainstream schools
- Special classes in mainstream schools
- Special Schools
The following recordings will be helpful:
Here is a resource from the National Council of Special Education on choosing schools.
What is an appropriate level and form of communication between parents and teachers?
Communication acts as a bridge to engagement and, ultimately, strong parent partnerships. Once parents and teachers communicate with each other, they can work together to help students reach their academic potential.
Here is a more information on Communication between parents and teachers
The following recording will be helpful:
Communication between Parents and Primary/Post-Primary Schools
Essential planning in primary and post primary school
Planning for individual learning needs has been a feature of special educational provision for some time. It is not yet a legal requirement to provide individual education plans (IEPs) for children in Ireland, but many teachers have been using IEPs in various forms and guises in their work.
The following recording will be helpful:
Check out the information booklets at the following links:
- Special Educational Needs –A Continuum of Support –Guidelines for Teachers PrimarySchools
- Special Educational Needs A Continuum of Support – Resource Pack for Teachers – Primary Schools
- Special Educational Needs A Continuum of Support for Post Primary Schools – Guidelines for Teachers
- Special Educational Needs A Continuum of Support for Post-Primary Schools Resource Pack for Teachers
- A ‘Student Support File Template’ and ‘Student Support File Guidelines’ are also available at this link.
Literacy and numeracy in primary school
Planning for an appropriate programme of literacy and numeracy teaching for children with Down syndrome is crucial, not just in primary school but also continuing through post primary education journey.
Written language can support the development of spoken language, so it is not necessary to wait until the child can say words before beginning a literacy programme.
The following recording will be helpful:
Additional Information:
See and Learn Programme
See and Learn is an excellent resource for use in literacy teaching at Junior and Senior infant levels.
Watch this video demonstrating the use of the See and Learn kits.
We do not supply See and Learn kits to schools. Your local branch of Down Syndrome Ireland may have kits which you can borrow, and some local libraries have also begun to stock the kits. Otherwise they are available to buy here.
Reading & Language Initiative (RLI)
The Reading and Language Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome (RLI) is a teaching programme designed to improve reading and language outcomes for children with Down syndrome. It supplements and supports regular teaching with daily one-to-one intervention sessions. The intervention sessions follow a consistent format within which instruction is carefully targeted to the individual student.
Further information on the RLI is available at this link.
Check out the information in these documents:
Junior Cycle at post primary school
Post-primary education is an important part of the lives of all young people. It involves significant transitions—from childhood to adulthood, from primary schooling to post primary and from school to the world of further study and work
The first stage of post-primary schooling that learners encounter is junior cycle, a three-year programme that builds on the young person’s educational experience at primary school by offering a broad, balanced and coherent programme of study across a wide range of curriculum areas. In the process, junior cycle prepares learners for transition to senior cycle, for other further education opportunities, in some cases for employment and, in general, for the challenges involved in growing towards adulthood.
The following recording will be helpful:
Check out the following websites for further information:
Senior Cycle at post primary school
Post-primary education is an important part of the lives of all young people. It involves significant transitions—from childhood to adulthood, from primary schooling to post primary and from school to the world of further study and work
Senior cycle has a particular role to play in the preparation of learners for adult life. While many factors shape the future of the individual, senior cycle has at its core a commitment to educational achievement of the highest standard for all learners, commensurate with their individual abilities. It sets out to meet the needs of a diverse group of learners with a range of learning interests, dispositions, aptitudes and talents, including learners with special educational needs.
The following recording will be helpful:
Check out the following websites for further information:
Additional Information – Transition Year
The Transition Year (TY) is a one-year programme that forms the first year of a three-year senior cycle in many schools
- It is designed to act as a bridge between the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate programmes
- It is available to all second level schools and currently approximately 75% of schools offer the programme
- Transition Year is optional for students in most schools
- Transition Year | NCCA
Accessing the curriculum – differentiation
Teachers must adapt their teaching and provide differentiated work for their students with Down syndrome at both primary and post primary school.
Differentiation is the process of reducing the amount of work and reducing the level of work involved for students.
A need for this differentiation support for students with Down syndrome and an intellectual disability has been identified by parents, teachers and other educators.
The lack of differentiated materials is having an adverse effect on the inclusion of children with Down syndrome in mainstream classes.
The following recording will be helpful:
Additional Resources:
Transition to post primary school
Support is needed for both parents and schools as they prepare for the transition of the child with Down syndrome from primary to post-primary school. Most pupils with Down syndrome settle very quickly into post-primary school, once they understand the rules and routines.
The following recordings will be helpful:
We have developed information documents and a workbook for the student, which are available to download here:
MEET THE TEAM
Whether you’re an expectant parent or you have a child with Down syndrome,
we are here to support your journey.
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. These early experiences shape the foundation for future learning.
Early intervention refers to the supports, approaches, activities, and therapies that promote a child’s early development.
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.
Early intervention goes beyond therapy sessions. While individual support is important, it also focuses on integrating learning and skill-building into everyday routines at home, preschool, and other familiar environments. The goal is to create natural opportunities for children to develop and grow through daily experiences.
At Down Syndrome Ireland, we provide a network of early intervention supports for families of children from birth to seven years of age.
Baby and Toddler Groups
Baby Groups and Toddler Groups take place in the Down Syndrome Ireland National Office on a regular basis.
These groups are hugely beneficial for children’s communication and social development.
To register your interest in these groups, please contact Silvia below:
Upcoming events and training
Please see below upcoming training sessions for parents and early years educators.
These training sessions are open to all families and professionals supporting young children with Down syndrome.
- Supporting Children with Down syndrome in Early Years Settings – Workshop for early years educators. – Date to be announced.
For confidential support, call our National Office at 01 426 6500, or email us at info@downsyndrome.ie
Tell It Right ™️
The Early Years Team have worked closely with the Down’s Syndrome Association in the UK to bring Tell It Right ™️ to Ireland.
This training helps medical professionals learn how to share this news with sensitivity, accuracy, and confidence.
MEET THE TEAM
