A COLLABORATION between Inspired Tralee and a Dublin-based disability group will see the ‘WALK PEER’ supported transition programme rolled out across a number of special needs schools in Kerry.
The partnership with Inspired — the community project that aims to develop the employment, education and personal development skills of adults with intellectual disabilities — and Walk Dublin has been made possible by WALK’s application for funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund which was announced on Friday.
Money in the Dormant Accounts Fund can be used to support measures that address economic, social, or educational disadvantage and to support people with a disability.
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Minister for Education and Kerry TD Norma Foley announced that €2 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund would be made available to a number of organisations like Inspired and has welcomed this collaboration.
Minister Foley said: “I am delighted to welcome this funding which, for the first time, is providing almost €2 million to address education disadvantage and will support a myriad of innovative and exciting projects. The WALK PEER programme in particular is a great local and social project as it will support and encourage young people with disabilities in Kerry by affording them the opportunity to access routes leading into education, training and employment.”
Inspired is based at Brandon Place in Tralee. Manager Liz Maher said; “We are thrilled to be part of this national programme which bridges a gap in the delivery of the whole school approach, not to mention the fact that it addresses the right for people with disabilities to work as per Article 27 of UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.
This innovative programme was designed and crafted by a dedicated team in WALK over a number of years, piloted in partnership with Special Schools in County Louth and south Dublin.
Liz Maher continued; “Inspired and WALK will pool resources to ensure that students with disabilities are provided with optimal choices based on their interests, aspirations and values”.
Inspired Chairperson Kay McCarthy said; “This Supported Transition programme dove tails with the ethos of the organisation, as we are very focused on education and employment for people with Intellectual Disabilities. This seems a natural progression for the organisation who are looking forward to working with WALK to provide equal employment routes for young people in Kerry who can and want to work and just need a little additional support to do so”.