Improving 3rd-level Access: UCD Opens Doors to Students with an Intellectual Disability.

Pictured at the launch of the Certificate programme on 27 March 2004 are (from left to right) Anne O'Connor - Centre for Disability Studies, Certificate Course Convenor Dr. Owen Doyle - Department of Crop Science, Horticulture and Forestry Prof. Mary Lambkin, Dean, Postgraduate and Interdisciplinary Studies
Ms. Angela Kerins, Chairperson of the National Disability Authority and Patricia Noonan Walsh, Professor of Disability Studies.

�This Certificate is a key step in creating inclusive education for all students with an intellectual disability. To offer an opportunity like this in third level education will help to achieve an important strategic objective of UCD in diversifying our student population and further opening up UCD to all groups in society�, said Patricia Noonan Walsh, Professor of Disability Studies at UCD.

This initiative is a partnership between UCD�s Disability Support Services, Adult Education and the Departments of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Crop Science, Horticulture and Forestry as well as service providers in the area of intellectual disabilities. These include Rehabcare, National Training and Development Institute, St. John of God, St. Michael�s House and Stewarts Hospital Services. The first course has 17 students who attend with 5 supporters two days a week. They travel to the Belfield campus from Dublin, Cork, Offaly, Wexford and Westmeath. 

Lecturer in Horticulture Owen Doyle explains the purpose of the course he teaches in Horticulture and Environment. �We use the art and science behind horticulture to help our students develop personal life skills. Horticulture offers an excellent environment in which to achieve this, especially for students with intellectual disabilities. By observing the interaction between plants, animals and humans, these students learn to appreciate the importance of our dependence on plants for our existence and the need to care for nature and the environment. On the practical side they get to grow and nurture plants, which they get great satisfaction from. For UCD staff, teaching on this course has been a very enriching experience, which has informed and enhanced our ability to teach.�

This is the first programme of its kind and the students who are taking part have given very positive feedback. The next course will be run in October and already there has been significant interest.

For further details contact Anne O�Connor, Certificate Course Convenor, Centre for Disability Studies, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4 Tel: 01 7168431 email: cds@ucd.ie