Post-school education and training for students withintellectual disabilities.

Life-long learning is essential for persons with intellectual disabilities wishing to enter the labour market. This paper describes an integrated curriculum provided by a leading agency in Northern Ireland that provides ‘real work’ training to students aged 16 to 40 years. It has three, inter-linking components: 1) training courses leading to accredited vocational awards; 2) realistic work experience in social enterprises managed by the agency and 3) supported work in mainstream employment with on-the-job training from job coaches. The critical features of the model were validated through interviews with a range of stakeholdersincluding trainees, family carers and disability specialists.