Donor Report | PARTICIPATION
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
Pioneering the inclusion of one of the most marginalised groups in society
The National Institute for Intellectual Disability (NIID) works to promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities through a programme of education, research and advocacy and has achieved remarkable results. Philanthropic organisations, businesses and private individuals have provided critical support for the NIID’s flagship educational course – the Certificate in Contemporary Living, the first full-time course for people with intellectual disabilities within a third-level setting in Ireland. The course now has 42 graduates whose achievements send a powerful message to the world about the ability and potential of people with intellectual disability. NIID is collaborating with other higher education institutions to develop courses in other locations. A highlight of 2009 was an inclusive Summer School, hosted by NIID in Trinity, for people with intellectual disabilities, their families, academics, and practitioners in the field. This successful event, the first of its kind in Ireland, was attended by over 160 people from around the world. NIID has recently launched a new
programme – The NIID Business Partners – to help sustain this pioneering course and to open up new pathways for inclusion and independence for people with an intellectual disability.
www.tcd.ie/niid
In undertaking to provide work experience for two NIID students I thought that we were doing some little good to support a worthwhile project. I didn’t anticipate that it would have such a positive impact. I have been overwhelmed by the feedback: from colleagues who had never encountered a person with an intellectual disability and who now feel confident about interacting with such a person, to others like me, who have family members with special needs and have found great hope for their future because of this initiative.”
Dawn Leane, HR Manager, Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Trinity Today | 19
CHILDREN’S RESEARCH CENTRE
Research for children and young people
The Children’s Research Centre undertakes multi-disciplinary policy and practice-relevant research into the lives of children and young people and the contexts in which they live their lives. The Centre, in partnership with the ESRI, is leading on ‘Growing up in Ireland – The National Longitudinal Study on Children’ (
www.growingup. ie), a study designed to improve our understanding of all aspects of the lives of children and the factors that contribute to or undermine their health, wealth and happiness. The findings will be used to inform the planning of better policies and services and to identify opportunities that will ensure that Ireland becomes the best place in the world to grow up. In 2009, Trinity College Dublin
and NUI Galway launched a Structured Ph.D. in Child and Youth Research. As well as developing a whole new cohort of researchers, the programme will produce cutting-edge research tailored to the needs of policy–makers and service providers.
The AIB Chair of Childhood Research in the Children’s Research Centre is supported by AIB and The Atlantic Philanthropies.
www.tcd.ie/childrensresearchcentre
The development of service–learning furthers Trinity’s civic engagement mission by integrating the ethos of civic responsibility, participation and service of community into the fabric of the student and staff experience. Service-learning is an educational
experience in which students use their academic knowledge to meet identified community needs and reflect on this service activity in order to gain a deeper understanding of their academic studies. For example, a marketing student might develop strategy for a small voluntary organisation or a student teacher might help run participatory creative writing workshops for schoolchildren. Students report improved critical thinking abilities, confidence and motivation, a stronger connection with the discipline and College, and an increased sense of civic purpose and responsibility.
Seed funding will support teaching
staff in the design and implementation of service-learning components as part of the curriculum and also cover basic living and service-related expenses for students undertaking own-initiative projects. Service–Learning is generously supported by the Trinity Annual Fund.
www.tcd.ie/community
SERVICE–LEARNING
Serving to learn – learning to serve
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