Down Syndrome Ireland ‘Laois Branch’ believes its training centre of excellence is close to becoming a reality at a site in Abbeyleix in the near future.
“With regard to our Laois ‘Field of Dreams’ we are very excited about this Sheltered Employment/Training Centre of Excellence for our adult members,” their PRO Michael Gorman said.
“This is an area that has been ignored for far too long and now Down Syndrome Ireland ‘Laois Branch’ intends to fill that void for our adult members,” he added.
Mr Gorman confirmed they are in negotiations with Laois County Council for an identified plot of land in the Abbeyleix area and hope to bring that to fruition in the near future.
“We have already submitted preliminary plans to the Director of Services at LCC to check the feasibility of the plans and are awaiting a response to those,” he said.
The local branch is a socially inclusive organisation with members who have Down Syndrome, Autism, Worster Drought Syndrome, Pader Willie Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Di George Syndrome and other (non-specific) disabilities.
“We envisage giving our members the basic skills to seek out and hold down a job in mainstream society. We will do this by training and then matching the job to the individual rather than the other way around.
“This is a proven tried and tested method of successfully integrating people with intellectual difficulties to sustainable jobs that are successful. This, in turn, will help to support and maintain the long term good mental health and well-being of our adult population,” Mr Gorman said.
He added that this is the branch’s way of marking World Down Syndrome Day in the most meaningful and positive way possible for its adult members here in Laois.
“Last year alone we delivered well over 300 heavily rebated therapies to our members, not to mention all the subsidised services and supports on top of that, none of which would have been possible without the huge generosity of the people of laois in the first place,” Mr Gorman said.
Laois County Council offices recently turned purple to mark World Down Syndrome Day.
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