The National Institute for Intellectual Disability

The National Institute for Intellectual Disability (NIID) is one of Trinity College Dublin's most innovative initiatives.  It has a mission of promoting inclusion for people with intellectual disability through education, research and advocacy. One of its flagship projects is the internationally pioneering Certificate in Contemporary Living , the first full-time course for students with intellectual disabilities, offered within a third-level setting in Ireland. Through its other work in research and advocacy, NIID also seeks to raise awareness and understanding of the enablers and barriers in terms of the full inclusion in society of people with intellectual disability .

NIID always welcomes volunteers to provide support in the research and education offices at 3 college green. There are also mentoring and job coaching programmes in existence which allows the volunteer to gain great experience working with and supporting students with an intellectual disability. Mentors support NIID student to attend three mainstream courses on the Trinity campus and job coaches meet with an NIID student to support them through a two hour long work placement each week for a number of weeks during term.

Volunteer Amy Colla says 'I know that I am making it possible for the student to experience being part of a workplace for the first time. Her excitement and pleasure are really great to see.' Read more about her experience here.

If interested in joining the NIID on a volunteer basis, please contact Niamh Lally on lallyn@tcd.ie or 8962179.