CUMAS CONTINUES OFFERING SUPPORT
CUMAS has developed a School Leaver Ability Project which support students and families by helping them to set expectations and create pathways to provide opportunities for a better life.
Providing an intervention programme that enables students to exercise their rights to further education, employment opportunities, inclusive access to their communities and the continued development of their independence, the project team works with young adults with a disability and their family members, people who attend mainstream schools, who are home schooled and in special schools in Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, and Carlow.
The project team, led by Dayna Bradley, provides support in the school during the school year and the student’s home or community during school holidays for the final two years of school. The project team of Lorraine Flood, Aileen Murphy and Rory Flynn work closely with relevant HSE Occupational Guidance Officers to create a holistic support structure for students and families.
During the current Covid-19 outbreak, the school Leavers Ability team are in contact weekly with over 150 students and families that they were working with before school closures. The team offers this support through phone calls or video meetings. The team also offers social distance meetings for the students who may need more support because of anxieties or any other issues that might be affecting them during this current state of unknown.
Ms Bradley said the transition from school to the next pathway is a time of uncertainty in normal circumstances, making the case that support during Covid-19 outbreak is essential as it brings a whole new level of anxiety and uncertainty for all involved.
‘ The team are there to support individuals, families and teachers to get through it together. During the current Covid-19 outbreak, the school Leavers Ability team are in contact weekly with over 150 students and families that they were working with before school closures.
‘ The team is providing support around questions by students regarding pathways or any other queries regrading them leaving school and going on to the next part of their life. Students are very unsure right now.’
She said the Cumas team is also trying to contact all the different pathways and schools to see how they can support the student doing their current work and also to get ready for the next step.
A member of the team said: ‘It’s is important to note that for some families the School Leavers Ability Team are the only outside contact/support during this time other than immediate family and this contact helps to break up the week and give the students and families another outlet for conversation.’
One parent said: ‘Having the school Leavers Ability Project has been a life saver in this current situation [Covid-19] as schools have closed and our teen cannot go out. It’s very hard for them to understand the situation we are in and having this connection on a regular basis helps. My son’s facilitator is constantly in contact and has great, easy to understand advice on keeping up with schoolwork getting out for walks and looking after his mental health”.
The student himself said: ‘I look forward to my facilitator ringing me even if I don’t have much to talk about. I really love going for a walk, it’s easier to talk and walk. I look forward to when this is all over as its very worrying and I need to see my Nan and Grandad.’
The school leavers team is also providing resource packs to student and families in the way of contact numbers for services around their area, some activities to do to keep busy, ways of structuring your day, online resources to explore and other information on an individualised basis.