Creative TY Connections

Creative TY Connections is an innovative training programme model where young adults with disabilities and TY students come together to develop their IT, interpersonal, social, and life skills in a supported, safe space, empowering them to take the next steps towards meaningful employment.

Connections Arts Centre shared the impact and value of the Creative TY Connections Programme, at an event hosted at Salesforce Tower Dublin. This event featured TY students and participants from the programme, sharing their experiences and the impact participating in the programme had on them. We also had notable speakers; Minister of State at the Department of Health, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, Anne Rabbitte, Carolan Lennon, Salesforce Country Leader, Miriam Spollen, Founder & CEO of Connections Arts Centre (CAC), Barry Lowry, Government CIO at the Office of the Government, and Prof. Neil O’Hare, CIO of Children’s Health Ireland. Speaking about the value and importance of community and digital inclusion and the importance of supporting unique programmes like Creative TY Connections.

Highlights from the event can be seen in the video below.

Video from Creative TY Connections showcase event at Salesforce Dublin

Connections Arts Centre developed the unique model of Creative TY Connections based on needs and feedback from the disability community. The programme uses creativity, peer-to-peer learning, and digital content to teach skills, create connections, and empower all participants. This short video below will give you an insight into how our Creative TY Connections model creates an inclusive environment for people who live with a disability while addressing the digital divide and breaking down social barriers.

Video of Creative TY Participants sharing their experience

The Ethos

Through work and research in the disability sector, we have learned that existing training/upskilling programmes in our community are a step too far up for a certain cohort of young adults with disabilities. To bridge this gap, a person-centred approach is required to foster engagement with community-based learning. This led us to design Creative TY Connections, a collection of in-person upskilling programmes where members of the disability community and TY students come together to develop their IT, Life, and Learning Skills in tandem.

TY Students

The TY students play a key role in the implementation of all programmes. All programmes are created around the importance of peer learning, each programme partners the TY students with a participant (buddies). The TY students also participate in the course lessons and projects alongside their buddies. Learning for themselves, while supporting their buddies.

Engaging TY students in these programmes, provide the one-to-one support needed by members of the Disability Community. As well as giving the TY students the opportunity to develop their own skills. Ultimately, these TY students are the future decision-makers in our communities and businesses. Our programmes support making them more aware of the skills and value members of the Disability Community have in their own Community, and just as importantly in future workplaces.

Participants

All programme modules are designed based on the needs and wants of participants. The content creation was based on findings from customer discovery interviews and workshops attended by adults from the disability community, family members, and support staff. The programmes are in-person and facilitated in a creative manner to make the program more engaging and accessible to all participants. Supported by our online training platform, students can view the material before attending the class to prepare them and create a comfortable learning space. All class content is shared and is available for family members/staff/carers to continue to support the learning outside the class and after the course has ended. With the availability to return to learning as needed to support repetitive learning.

Minister Anne Rabbitte surrounded by TY students in school uniforms and Creative TY Connections participant. They are all looking at course content on an Ipad

Creative TY Participant and facilitator sitting at a table with a open laptop and microphone in front of them. They are recording during a class.

Programme participant and TY student are both sitting at a table. There is an open Ipad in front of them and a notebook. They are reviewing a course lesson.

Group photo of Creative TY Connections programme participants, TY students, and support staff. They are in three rows and the participants are holding up certificates of completion.

Close up photo of a participant in the Creative TY Programme participant.

Current Programmes

Black and white icon image of a smartphone, tablet, and laptop.

Everyday IT

Every Day IT is a six-week programme which highlights the importance of digital inclusion and how it can benefit individuals ensuring that everyone, including those with challenging abilities, has equal access to effectively use digital technologies, providing and promoting digital literacy and skills development.

By promoting digital inclusion, this programme offers opportunities to gain access to educational resources, employment opportunities, social connections and various services that will enhance their quality of life.

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Money Management

Money management is a six-week programme that aims to improve the participants’ understanding of money and develop their money management skills in a fun and safe environment.

The course will raise each participant’s level of financial awareness and encourage more future-focused behaviour such as planning and saving. This will better equip individuals to manage money more confidently and independently.

Black and white Icon image of a stick figure with a briefcase, walking up a staircase. There is a flag at the top of the staircase to symbolize a goal

Upskilling for Employment

Upskilling for employment is a 10-week programme where the participants go through a series of workshops that address the daily challenges participants face using core technologies and skills used in the job environment today.

The participants go through a series of workshops that cover the areas of; daily problems they face while using technology, life and interview skills, communicating clearly, cyber security, setting up an email account, and creating a video CV.

What people had to say about the programme……..

“I wanted to say that I enjoyed every moment of the peer teaching and I learnt so much! I am so grateful for everything and all the people I met. I hope the project continues next year.”

-Isabel. TY student

“From the start to the end it was invaluable, it will stay with the guys forever. Not only for the IT skills, but for the soft skills such as bus skills and getting around the city centre. Thank you to the TY students for putting their heart and soles into this.It was an absolute pleasure to see the bond that was built up and so much was learnt on both sides.”

-Lynda, Stewarts Care

Photo of Creative TY Connections participant receiving a certificate of completion for a programme. It is being presented by the partner TY student.

“Thank you to everyone who got involved. I laughed, bonded and enjoyed getting to know everyone. I think my confidence has improved and I am thrilled that my ability was not a barrier.”

-Caoimhe, programme participant

“Everyone’s confidence has sky rocketed. They found their passions”

-Sandra, Gheel Autism Services

“It has made me look for jobs, either in voice acting or Mc Donald’s.”

-Jack, programme participant