St Angela’s College, Sligo held a special graduation ceremony on Wednesday 17th April, to seventeen students with an intellectual disability and who have successfully completed the Certificate in Contemporary Living. 

“These students have studied at St Angela’s over the past three years,” explains Ms. Carmel Jennings, Lecturer in the Department of Nursing, Health Sciences and Disability Studies. She adds, “This is a significant achievement for each student and also demonstrates the College’s dedication to opening the College campus to the community.’

Ms. Celia Mahon, from Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim a new graduate from the Certificate in Contemporary Living programme describes her experience: ‘I learned all about cooking and life skills.’

In 2010, students completed studies in personal effectiveness, including learning about their rights and responsibilities, as well as personalised planning and advocacy.  The following year students completed a module that focused on applying mathematical skills to a variety of everyday living skills such as shopping, cooking, managing money, budgeting, and using timetables. Ms. Rachel Taylor a new Certificate graduate from Sligo comments on the value of this module: ‘It helped me manage my own money.  It also helped me to lose weight and deal with difficult life situations.’ Mr. Paul Gorman another Certificate graduate from Sligo adds, ‘It was great, it helped me going shopping, getting groceries and going to department stores.’

The Certificate in Contemporary Living programme was initially developed by Trinity College Dublin, however the delivery at St Angela’s is quite unique as an inter-Departmental initiative with tuition offered by the academic staff in the Department of Nursing, Health Sciences & Disability Studies, the Centre for Special Education Needs, Inclusion and Diversity along with the Home Economics Department.

This past year the students focused their studies on health and well-being. “This module enabled students to acquire the skills necessary to maintain positive physical and mental health,” Ms. Jennings explains, “It focused on developing the students understanding of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in all aspects of their daily life. Students also learned about health screening and about communicating with health professionals.” 
The completion of this final module enabled the students to complete the Certificate in Contemporary Living presented at a special Graduation Ceremony in the Virginia Henderson Theatre of the College.

“This initiative is a wonderful opportunity for people with an intellectual disability to experience college life,” says Dr Anne Taheny, President of St Angela’s College, Sligo, “For the students and staff of this College it is a privilege to share this campus with such enthusiastic students.” At the graduation ceremony, Dr. Taheny addressed the newest graduates welcoming them to become active members of the College’s Alumni Association.

Mr. Philip O’ Donnell, a graduate from Donegal comments on the impact of this achievement: ‘I am the first of my family to have graduated and it is very special for me and my family’.
Another Certificate graduate from Dromore West, Co. Sligo, Ms. Edel Hannon, describes what graduating with this qualification meant to her, ‘My mum and sister went to college. I wanted to go to college and I loved the challenge. I also loved meeting students and lecturers’.

The College anticipates that another cohort for the Certificate in Contemporary Living will be recruited starting in autumn 2013. For more information on the programme, please contact Ms. Carmel Jennings at 071 91 43580 or visit the College Web site: www.stangelas.nuigalway.ie.