A Progressive Pathways Fair for youth with intellectual disabilities has taken place in Tralee, County Kerry.
The event catered for those aged of 16 to 24 with additional support needs who are looking to progress into further education, training or employment.
There were more than 30 information stands at the event including the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, EmployAbility Kerry, Institute of Technology Tralee, Kerry Education and Training Board, the National Learning Network, Studio 3, Local Disability Support Services, and Kerry Down Syndrome.
These services and organisations were on hand to provide support, advice and guidance for parents and young people on education, training and employment options.
A number of workshops on Assistive Technology, Progression Routes to Further and Higher Education and Employment Supports took place throughout the day.
Local Link Kerry provided free transport to the event.
The Progressive Pathways Fair 2019 has built on the very successful Disability Fair organised in 2018 and is becoming an annual event.
Participants who attended the events said:
“The one stop shop element of the day was excellent”
with one of the exhibiting organisations observing that
“speaking with parents there querying for their dependents on services, I felt it was a relief for them to see the various services available for each stage in their child's journey. They might not have been at our stage [specific service] yet but for them to know we were there when the time came provided them with peace of mind.”
The Progressive Pathways Fair was organised by the Progression Pathways Working Group an interagency sub-group of Kerry Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC). This group identified the need for clear information for parents and young people with additional support needs including, disability and learning difference, in order to assist them to progress to the most appropriate training and education opportunities for them.
Membership of the group includes representation from: Kerry Education and Training Board, Health Services Executive Disability Services, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, National Learning Network, EmployAbility Kerry, Institute of Technology Tralee, North, East and West Kerry Development, South Kerry Development Partnership, Kerry Diocesan Youth Service and Kerry CYPSC.
To download the Press Release for Progressive Pathways Fair Click here
To download the Progressive Pathways Fair Poster Click here
To read more about Kerry CYPSC Click here
To read more CYPSC news Click here