Email: sarah.chalke@iwa.ie
Pillar: Social Inclusion
Address: St Anne’s Abbeyville, Sligo, Co. Sligo F91 KH5X
Pobal-funded, this project is a three-year long employability and job-seeking skills programme for people with a physical disability aged 18–29. The ethos of The Ability Programme is underpinned by the person-centred model of working. The person-centred model is a way of planning and discovering how a person wants to live their life and what is required to make that possible. It has developed from the social model of disability and a strengths-based approach with a background in the actions of normalisation and independent living. The primary aim of the IWA’s Ability Programme is to fill a gap in service provision supporting young people with a physical disability to develop the skills to become independent job seekers or employees. This will, in turn, enhance their independence and support greater engagement within their local community and labour market. Three specialised Ability Job Coaches are available to meet participants in the Republic of Ireland. The coaches are based in the West, South and East regions.