Inverness College UHI's learning disability week will be a celebration of every student’s individual achievements
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Inverness College UHI is celebrating learning disability week with a range of events organised by staff and students within its supported education department.
The theme of this year’s awareness week – running from Monday – is community, with the focus on celebrating the talents and achievements of people with learning disabilities and the importance of being involved and included in the local community.
The college runs a range of supported education programmes for people with additional support needs to build skills and confidence or enable them to progress on to further study, volunteering or work.
Yesterday, the department welcomed residents from Cradlehall Care Home for a community tea party, including a sing-along with students.
From 10am-noon today the supported education department is holding an open event at the college as an opportunity for people to find out more about supported education programmes and meet current students.
On Tuesday and Friday the college will be holding a graduation ceremony for students on its Skillsbuilder 1 and 2 programmes, who are moving on to new ventures, ranging from further study to work placements.
The department will be celebrating the students’ individual journeys.
Skillsbuilder students have also contributed to a photography exhibition celebrating their community involvement, which runs all next week in the college's learning resource centre.
Lindsay Macleod, Skillsbuilder 1 programme leader, said: "This week is a celebration of every student’s individual achievements over the past year, however big or seemingly small.”
Anne-Marie Harmsworth, Skillsbuilder 2 programme leader, said: "This is the largest amount of students with learning disabilities that we have ever had graduating from Inverness College UHI. We have worked hard to support them through their transition process and we can't wait to see what they go on to achieve within their communities.”
Dean Stewart, a Skillsbuilder 2 student, said: "I'm so excited for my graduation and feel prepared and ready to leave Inverness College UHI. I'll be setting up my own anti-bullying organisation with the help of People First called ‘Spread the Sunshine’ when I leave. I'll be running workshops in youth clubs to tell young people why they shouldn't be mean.”
