New Ideas Articles

The Better Options College Fair, run by AHEAD each autumn, is an unmissable event for students with disabilities who want to explore their higher and further education options.

Making decisions about the future, and exploring educational opportunities, can be a stressful process. The Better Options College Fair, a one-day information event for students with disabilities which takes place in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) on 30th November, aims to provide students with disabilities with everything they need to know about higher and further education options. “Whether you are seeking general information, guidance, or specific details of supports available at various institutions, the Better Options event is an ideal starting point,” says Mary Quirke, Assistant Director of AHEAD (The Association for Higher Education Access and Disability), which organises the event. “Gathered under one roof, students will find information stands from the major universities and Institutes of Technology, as well as a programme of inspirational speakers, including Dragon’s Den entrepreneur and presidential candidate Sean Gallagher.”

Visitors to the event will have an opportunity to find out about college life from other students and graduates with disabilities, and can learn more about the ‘Disability Access Route to Education (DARE)’ programme, including how to complete the CAO Supplementary Forms as part of the DARE process.

According to Mary Quirke, “Students with disabilities, like their peers, can be overwhelmed by the pressure to make decisions about their future, and not know where to begin. The objective of the event is to help people through this process and hopefully also open their eyes to opportunities they may not have considered before. We want people to leave thinking ‘Maybe I could consider doing that.’”

For further information, contact Lorraine Gallagher at AHEAD. Tel: 01 716 4396 Email: lorraine.gallagher@ahead.ie The Better Options venue is fully wheelchair accessible and can be reached by bus, or a short taxi ride from Huston Station or Dublin City Centre.

WHAT VISITORS SAID ABOUT LAST YEAR’S BETTER OPTIONS COLLEGE FAIR

“I found the Better Options event to be very informative and the presentations were excellent. As the Student Support Worker in St Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Impaired it was particularly relevant”.
Claire Skerritt, Student Support Worker

“All of my students with a disability have now ticked the DARE box. One of those students had previously been adamant that they did not want to disclose, did not want any support and did not want to be treated any differently than anyone else. They may even accept examination support for the Leaving Cert now which they had previously declined. I think students are starting to realise that there are a lot more students with disabilities among them than they thought, and they are starting to look at their supports as a right and a legitimate entitlement and not as ‘special treatment’. They used to fear that colleges would think less of their ability and potential because of them disclosing their disability. Hearing the college and student speakers at Better Options helped to allay those fears, so thank you!”
Elaine O’Leary, Career Guidance Counsellor (Longford).

“The AHEAD Better Options fair is a great opportunity to gain a greater understanding of what third level education can offer you. You have the chance to meet other students who have been through the process, and this really helped to put me at ease. It’s also a great opportunity for you to meet the support staff in your prospective college. This event is something that I’d recommend every student attends before filling out their CAO form”.
Ger Gallagher, Student.

On the 13th of April, my friend Linda Byrne and I were invited to represent IWA at a special youth event called Possibilities.ie, held in the City West Hotel, Co Dublin.

The event was organised by three groups: Afri Action, Spunout.ie and Children in Crossfire. It was attended by over 2,000 people from all over the world, and as Linda and I joined the long queue to enter, the excitement began to hit us.

The event was intended to be both thought-provoking and fun-filled, with entertainment from traditional bands, choirs and theatre groups, as well as poetry readings, gospel music and children's groups.

The serious part began with presentations explaining more about the three groups involved in the event. Next former President Mary Robinson delivered a speech on human rights and climate change, for which she got a well- deserved standing ovation.

The highlight of the day for me was when His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama arrived. He was accompanied on stage by his friend Richard Moore from Derry. Richard was shot and blinded by a rubber bullet when he was 10-years- old, but he has since become friends with the soldier who shot him. It was Richard who set up the charity 'Children in Crossfire', and he spoke about his life and the importance of forgiveness.

The Dalai Lama, who travels the world promoting peace, justice and happiness, talked about our ‚Äòselves‚Äô, our communities and the global world. "We need to be like bees and ants and work together in our communities to bring about change, both locally and globally, for the good of all our world," he said. "Taking care of the well-being of others is the only thing that will give you inner peace, friendship and trust." He answered questions, joking informally with us and with his friend Richard on stage. I found him to be an inspirational person and, despite the hardships he has suffered, he came across as very good humoured. During the event, he shared many illuminating thoughts with us, including that "Respecting all forms of life ‚ - flowers, animals, etc. ‚ - will in turn help us to respect all human life."

When the Dalai Lama was finished, instead of going backstage, he came down the steps of the stage and went over to greet a few people at the front. Just before he went back, he suddenly turned and came down to Linda and me. He hugged and kissed me on the forehead, talking to me for a few minutes. When he touched me, I felt a real sense of positive energy coming off him. When I went home that evening I just couldn’t stop smiling and afterwards, when I told people about the day, I was shaking with excitement. It was a wonderful experience which I will never forget.

For more information contact: www.possibilites.ie or facebook.com/possibilties.ie

Times are changing and organisations, clubs and groups need to evolve and develop to keep up with the new, modern and current ways of working together. By developing this new IWA Youth Services Microsite www.iwa.ie/youth the Association is creating a more useful and youth friendly site because that is what the young people of our Association asked us to do.

Why you ask? We wanted to develop a site that provides up to date information on services around the country, a picture gallery to show off the photos of young people’s activities and a place where young people can check out people’s views, knowledge and life’s experiences.  So it’s out with the old youth page and in with the new microsite and we want you to become a part of this new exciting space.

Eventually I would hope that this page will evolve into our very own youth web site that is run exclusively by our youth members so that our information and sources will grow and grow and meet your needs and desires. With your help and advice we have the potential to make this site one of the top leading youth sites out there. Right now it’s a small seed that we need to water to help grow into an amazing flower!

Dani Weldon, Westmeath