Image: Graduate Stephen Ryan, Minister Simon Harris and Graduate Niamh Biddulph
Over the past 20 years, the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities and School of Education has been a leader in the field of inclusive education. Developing from an initial pilot in 2004, TCPID has evolved to become a national and international best practice leader, creating a model of education that allows its students to fulfil their potential through their academic, work placement and college life experience. 'Learning without Limits' is a 20th anniversary celebration of the incredible work of the Centre, developing a way of teaching which allows students to learn about their skills and abilities.
Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland, said:
“It is wonderful to be celebrating TCPID’s ground breaking role in Irish inclusive education over the past two decades. The work everyone does in TCPID is invaluable. I am so heartened to hear of the incredible success stories of its graduates. I want to pay particular tribute to the Trinity Centre for creating such an inclusive space that fully recognises the rights of students with intellectual disabilities. Since 2004 TCPID has set the standard for what can be achieved when we break down barriers and offer equal educational opportunities for all.
“As Minister for Further and Higher Education my job is to make sure that no matter who you are, where you come from and no matter what your passion is, you can achieve it. Many students and families still feel that education is beyond their reach. I am so determined that everyone gets the opportunity they deserve when it comes to education.
“By establishing the Inclusive National Higher Education Forum, TCPID is fostering the development inclusive education courses in colleges and universities across Ireland. I am proud that my department has recently launched the ‘PATH 4 Phase 2’ – a three-year pilot to support an enhancement of course provision for students with intellectual disabilities, with a substantial investment of €9 million over the next three years. This is a crucial step toward ensuring that students with intellectual disabilities have access to high-quality education programmes similar to TCPID's Certificate in Arts, Science, and Inclusive Practice.”
The highlight of 'Learning without Limits' event were conversation salons hosted by TCPID students and graduates focusing on three themes – academic experience, college life experience, and pathways to opportunity after college.
Professor Michael Shevlin, Director of the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities, School of Education, Trinity, explained:
“At the heart of our mission lie our incredible students and graduates. They continually astound us with their unwavering determination and limitless potential. In the past these remarkable students might have been segregated from society but we now witness them thriving within Trinity and onwards into employment with our business partners. In this journey we have learned that there aren't two separate worlds; there is just one world, and we can, and indeed should, all coexist harmoniously within it. Let this celebration remind us of the boundless possibilities that emerge when we break down barriers and foster inclusion for all."
“Today, as we gather to celebrate the remarkable journey of the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities, it's essential to recognise the pioneering spirit of individuals like PJ Drudy, Freida Finlay, Alan Crosbie, Mary Davis, and Patricia O'Brien, among others, whose tireless work in the early days, two decades ago, set the foundation for what we now proudly stand for. Their dedication and vision have been the guiding lights in our mission.”