An Adult Education Programme commenced in January 1998 for people attending Stewarts Day Services. The aim of the programme is to empower students with the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to progress from a dependent lifestyle to a more independent one, having regard to their special needs and requirements.

The Adult Education Programme is based in the main Stewarts Campus and at the Coach House. Several outreach dimensions to the Programme have been developed to enhance the students learning by facilitating their interaction with non-disabled students on an academic and social level. These include local 2nd level schools i.e. Kings Hospital, Deansrath College Collinstown Park, Lucan Community School and Senior college in Ballyfermot and 3rd level colleges i.e. Trinity College and (National Institute of Intellectual Disability) and N.C.A.D (National College of Art and Design).

There are thirty-five students with a Intellectual disability participating in the Programme at any one time and five students presently attend the Trinity College Programme. The duration of the Programme is generally three years with the students following the FETAC Foundation Level Programme. This Programme requires students to complete three core subjects and five elective subjects, e.g., Maths, Personal Effectiveness, Communications, Art & Design and Computers. These modules are assessed by the FETAC in October each year.

An important part of the students’ welfare while attending local secondary schools, colleges, and universities is the social interaction that takes place with other students and lecturers in the restaurants and around the Campus. The bus training to and from the College is also an important part of making our students independent. The students love the prestige associated with being given the choice to attend schools and colleges as part of mainstream education, and it is important to them in their strive to achieve their full potential.

For the FETAC Foundation Certificate there is no requirement for prior academic attainment. The students are selected according to varying abilities involving concentration, responsibility, group participation and stamina. Motivation and a wish, based on realism, to cope with the challenges are also considered.

The Adult Education Programmes in Stewarts provides a balanced learning environment that helps to compensate for any missing links due to emotional or social circumstances. Therefore, the timetable is designed to broaden each students experiences; teach them independence; cooperation and teamwork; and prepare them for progression to the world of work.