NO LIMITS: TCPID Students Lead the Way in Disability Awareness at Trinity College Dublin
Second-year students on the Certificate in Arts, Science and Inclusive Applied Practice (ASIAP) at the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID) hosted a powerful and inspiring event titled No Limits! in Trinity College Dublin. The event was a culmination of months of hard work by students in their Disability Rights module, during which they formed their own Event Planning Committee and took responsibility for organising and delivering a full awareness event around the theme of Accessibility, based on Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The student-led committee worked together throughout the semester to plan every aspect of the event. They took on various leadership roles, including Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and several officer positions, and demonstrated excellent teamwork, creativity and professionalism in putting together a meaningful and engaging programme. The theme of Accessibility was selected by the class as a whole, and the students expressed their shared goal of raising awareness of the barriers that disabled people face in education, transport, public services and online spaces.
The event was opened by Professor Carmel O’Sullivan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, who welcomed guests and celebrated the students' leadership. This was followed by a thoughtful and impactful presentation by student class representatives Alex Martin and Orla Hunt on behalf of their class, who outlined the reasons behind the chosen theme and spoke about their personal experiences of inaccessibility, including challenges in secondary school, online learning systems, social events, transport, and employment. Their reflections were honest and moving, highlighting the real-world impact of limited access and the importance of inclusive design in every area of life.
The students were honoured to welcome Minister James Lawless TD, Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, as the keynote speaker. Minister Lawless spoke about the government’s commitment to increasing accessibility in higher education and improving opportunities for disabled students. Students had an opportunity to ask the Minister questions and engage in conversation about accessibility issues that affect them in their daily life and other areas of interest. Members of the committee led the discussion with insightful and well-prepared questions on the challenges they have encountered in accessing college and work opportunities, advocating clearly for policy changes that would make a meaningful difference.
Guests were also treated to a special video message from disability rights campaigner Joanne O’Riordan, who offered encouragement and praise for the students' advocacy efforts. Her message served as a reminder of the importance of using your voice to create change. This was followed by a speech from Tomás Murphy, a proud alumnus of TCPID and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors at Inclusion Ireland. Tomás shared his personal journey through education and into leadership, emphasising the value of inclusive education and the need for accessible career pathways. Once again, the committee demonstrated their confidence and commitment by leading a second Q and A session, asking questions that reflected both personal experience and a deep understanding of systemic barriers.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Professor Conor Mc Guckin (Director of TCPID, School of Education) and Professor Ann Devitt (Head of School of Education), who praised the students for their hard work, professionalism and advocacy. The atmosphere throughout the afternoon was one of pride, solidarity and purpose. The students’ message was clear: accessibility is a right, not a luxury, and all people should be able to take part fully in education, employment and community life.
Among their recommendations, the students called for more accessible school places for disabled children, equal opportunities for study abroad, inclusive apprenticeships, flexible working arrangements, and better access to social and public spaces. They highlighted that many barriers—such as inaccessible transport, mismatched timetables, lack of physical access to rooms, or inflexible systems—can and should be removed with the right will and design.
No Limits! was a celebration of student voice and leadership, and a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when disabled students are given the platform and support to lead. The students of TCPID not only highlighted the issues but offered solutions, showing themselves to be the changemakers of today and the leaders of tomorrow.
You can watch the No Limits event video here:
