In March, Connections Arts Centre (CAC) launched its Creative Transition Year Connections (CTYC) impact report, which showcased the effects of its community education programme for adults with disabilities.

The social enterprise is aiming to create a positive impact by championing arts, lifestyle, and learning programmes that bridge educational gaps and promote inclusivity for people with disabilities.

Since launching as a pilot in 2022, with two programmes in its first year, CTYC has expanded to include TY volunteers from four schools.

To date, 14 programmes have been delivered to 308 participants. The report outlined some of the main impacts the programme has had including:

  • Increased confidence and communication skills among participants.
  • Improved mental wellbeing through creative engagement.
  • Provided TY students with hands-on experience in inclusion and disability awareness.

    • For people with disabilities, the programme serves as a pathway to further education and employment. Participants develop key skills incorporating financial, digital, interpersonal, and social skills training.

    Each programme comprises of four modules, with 10 participants and 10 TY students per module. The students support the one-to-one learning needs of individuals with disabilities, enhancing accessibility within the programme.

    “At its core, the Creative TY Connections programme is about more than education – it’s about connection and inclusion,” says Miriam Spollen, founder and CEO of Connections Arts Centre.

    Support needed

    Despite its success, CTYC currently operates without structured state support. To scale the programme nationwide, CAC is calling for a government-led dialogue between the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Department of Health, and the Department of Education and Youth to embed community education for adults with disabilities into national policy.

    “Everyone deserves access to community education. With support, we can expand CTYC to more communities across Ireland and make it a cornerstone of Ireland’s commitment to inclusion,” says Miriam.

    By 2030, CAC aims to:

  • Scale CTYC to reach 590 adults with disabilities and 708 TY students, indirectly impacting nearly 4,000 people.
  • Develop additional programme modules to enhance lifelong learning for adults with disabilities.
  • Expand to new geographic locations across Ireland to ensure wider accessibility.

    • See connectionsartscentre.ie/ creative-ty-connections