Trinity course changes lives of students

SHANE KELLY has graduated from a course at Trinity College Dublin which has changed his life.

He was one of 13 students who received their certificates in contemporary living after a two year-course at Trinity’s National Institute for Intellectual Disability. It is now in its third year and has been so successful that more than 100 students have started similar courses at University College Cork, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Waterford IT, Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and St Angela’s College in Sligo.

Shane and his classmates received their awards last night and celebrated achievements that included the exhibition of some of theirpaintings at the Hunt Museum in Limerick earlier this year.

While the focus is largely on independent living, the range of subjects covered includes maths, physical education, computers, art and social studies, which was the favourite subject of 37-year-old Mandy Finlay.

“I got a job in a clothes shop, and I really love fashion. We did some work experience on the course, and I worked in Arnotts dressing the windows,” said Mandy, daughter of Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay, who is to seek the Labour Party nomination to run for Áras an Uachtaráin next year.

Her classmate Selale Leflef from Bray also has a famous parent, poet Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill whose work has appeared on the Leaving Certificate syllabus. The 21-year-old from Bray, Co Wicklow will be reading her own poetry in English at a TCD event soon, but her career ambitions lie in another area.

“I want to work with the RSCPA where I can help animals, I really love cats. But I also want to be a comedian,” she said.

As part of the course’s drama and theatre module, Selale and Mandy helped to make a film about the Special Olympics. Previous graduates have gone on to further studies and to jobs in the catering, retail and other industries, according to course co-ordinator Molly O’Keeffe.

“Others are working with us here to support and encourage others to take on opportunities like this course, and others again are concentrating on moving out of home towards supported independent living in the community,” she said.