Together Academy

The Power of a Purposeful Day

Together Academy is a unique training and employment initiative aimed at providing young adults with Down syndrome specialised and individually tailored training. We provide young adults with both certified and vocational training, practical work experience, employment opportunities and a critical social and support network.

Reaching potential

We believe that with the correct supports everyone can reach their potential. Often it is our environment that disables us. At Together Academy our dedicated teaching staff, pathways to employment team and occupational therapist ensure our students success by assessing the individual needs and providing customised supports and work place accommodations.

With our partners Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education Training Board (DDLETB) and Pobal, we offer two training programmes designed to prepare our students for employment in the community. We know that positive encounters change perceptions and therefore create opportunities for our students to make valuable contributions to the communities in which they live.

Two year culinary skills programme

Together Academy partners with the Education Training Board (ETB) and the state agency Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), delivering a class-based training course for young adults who have Down Syndrome. This two year programme, Employability Skills with a focus on Culinary, Hospitality and Retail Skills, equips the students with suitable expertise to enter the workforce in a supported employment environment.

Click the button below to download our course brochure.

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Together Academy Vocational Training programme

We offer a 20 week vocational training programme which will run twice a year with an emphasis on workplace readiness. Our Vocational Training Programme will run for five months, two days per week and includes the following modules: CV building, Interview Skills, Communication Skills, Time and Fatigue Management, Computer skills for work. followed by supported work experience and eventual placement into employment.

Click the button below to download our course brochure.

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Pathways to Employment

Our Pathways to Employment team works to bridge the gap between training and employment for our students. Working closely with employers, they carve job specifications to meet the individual needs and interests of our students. Training of employers has been a key aspect of our work as the team help employers understand how best to be successful when hiring one of our young adults. Post-employment support is a vital aspect of our offering.

Click the button below to contact paula@togetheracademy.ie for more information.

Contact Paula

Diversity & Inclusion training

We provide training in Diversity and Inclusion for organisations and companies wanting to create a culture of inclusion. Always looking at and talking about best practices through our experience of placing people with Intellectual Disabilities in meaningful employment.

Our belief is that success is when inclusion is embedded in the entire culture of an organisation. We provide training that can be given to leadership teams and rolled out to all of the employees within an organisation.

Alongside our bespoke consultancy services, Together Academy offers a wide-ranging programme of training in intellectual disabilities. Some of the training covers topics such as Understanding Disability Rights and Legislation, reasonable and accessible accommodations that need to be made. Identifying barriers within a workplace and finding solutions to those barriers. We also look at why the organisation wants to implement this training and together learn why this work has been so needed and successful.

All sessions are co-facilitated with a person with an intellectual disability.

Meet our Students...

Portrait photo of Laura Rumball, Together Academy student

Meet our Students...

I love coming to work and concentrating on the task I am doing. The teaching staff make me smile while learning and working hard to learn skills I can use in my current and future work.

Laura Rumball

Student

Portrait photo of Charlie O'Reilly, Together Academy student

Meet our Students...

It means so much to me to be part of a team. I love coming to college and work to see my friends and be part of a social enterprise. One day, I would like to work in an office as part of a team. Together Academy gives me great training towards this goal.

Charlie O’Reilly

Student

Portrait photo of Eoin McHugh, Together Academy student

Meet our Students...

I really love the staff at Together Academy. I enjoy being the front of house when working in the café so I can greet customers and make them feel welcome. I have a busy life, and the experience and training I receive in the academy helps me meet my goals.

Eoin McHugh

Student

Meet our Students...

Being part of Together Academy makes me feel great! I really enjoying all parts of working in the café. One day, I hope I will be in charge of my own business. The staff in the academy help me work towards this dream.

Daniel Kennedy

Student

Portrait photo of Orla Casey, Together Academy student

Meet our Students...

A goal in my life is to be an advocate for people like me. Together Academy is helping me find my voice, and has given me the chance to speak up and state my needs. The college and café programmes have opened up doors for me, and I hope they show people how capable people with Down syndrome are. We can do anything.

Orla Casey

Student

Portrait photo of Tim Guidera, Together Academy student

Meet our Students...

I love Together Academy. Seeing my friends here every week, and welcoming people into the café is something I really enjoy. One day, I hope to work in an office, or maybe a café. Someday, I may even study to be a barrister or politician.

Tim Guidera

Student

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