'We focus on abilities not disabilities'

When Ciaran Costello from Clonmellon joined the Ar Aghaidh Linn course run by the National Learning Network (NLN) at the Springfield Centre in Mullingar in early 2018, he was at a low ebb.

A self employed taxi-driver, he was forced to give up his work due to his health problems, including arthritis and complications from a hernia operation that means he will be on antibiotics for the rest of his life.

By the time he enrolled at Ar Aghaidh Linn following a recommendation from a public health nurse, he had been out of action for the best part of seven years.

Described on the NLN’s website as “a social exploration course designed for students who have had a setback in their lives as a result of physical/sensory disability”, Ar Aghaidh Linn gives students the chance to explore different education, training and community opportunities open to them.

Ciaran says that he instantly felt at home with his new classmates.

“I settled in very quickly. Everyone is here for the same reason, we all help one another. Hillary Claffey (Programme Co-ordinator) and Paula Smith (co-instructor) do the different lessons but it’s more fun and you are learning a lot more than think because of that.”

Since he joined the course almost two years ago, he has acquired a range of new skills, including a number of computer qualifications. His literacy and numeracy have improved significantly and he has also developed an interest in art and in pyrography (wood burning), in particular.

Ciaran left school at the age of 13 after a less than positive experience in mainstream education. He was unsure about his ability to acquire new skills, but he says that Hillary and Paula, as well his classmates provided the support that he needed.

“It’s like a little family. We can express ourselves if we don’t feel well or don’t agree with something. You’re not put down. That’s down to the way Paula and Hillary teach us.

“I’ve learned a hell of lot more in my nearly two years at Ar Aghaidh Linn than I did in my nine years at school when I was younger.”

While the skills he has acquired have help improve his self confidence and his sense of self, Ciaran says that the social aspect of the course is equally if not more important.

“It gets you back into life and interacting with people. This has been way better than winning the Lotto, I have made a hell of a lot of friends.”

Coming to the end of his two year programme at Ar Aghaidh Linn, Ciaran has established a charity Safe House to provide a range of supports for patients.

“We will be there for people, and will offer them a place to meet and talk. Sometimes when you’ve been sick you can feel that you are the only one who feels the way you do. We also intend to raise funds to help people pay for procedures such as blood tests.”

If he hadn’t joined the course, he says that he wouldn’t have had the skills or the self belief to establish Safe House.

“I would recommend this course to anyone. I am much more confident than I was before I joined. I am proud of myself and proud that I have been able to learn new things, it is a good feeling,” he said.

Ar Aghaidh Linn’s programme coordinator Hillary Claffey says that many people follow a similar journey to Ciaran during their time on the course.

Open to anyone aged between 18 and 65, she says that the participants learn as much from each other as they do from instructors.

In recent years, a number of students have continued their education, with some progressing to third level courses. However, success and progress comes in many forms, Hillary believes.

“If someone is under 65 they can come and do two years free rehabilitative training. We do confidence building, self esteem, food and nutrition, basic computers. All of the basics.

“Paula, my co-worker, was chatting to someone the other day who’s new to us and she said, ‘This is your time. You’ve been a wife and a mother for years, this is your time out to build up your skills’.

“We have an ex-student who gives basic art classes and you should have seen what she did. I said, ‘You’ve done this before’. She said, ‘I haven’t done this in 20 years. I didn’t know I could still do it’. That’s success. Looking at what you can still do; finding out what you still have.

“This is a stepping stone. It’s rehabilitative. People get two years here. They can move to other courses. Everyone is unique and works differently. Rote learning doesn’t suit everybody.”

“We had a man who has gone over to LWETB and is upskilling on computers. He has a spinal injury and he uses his chin and his voice.

“We have six or eight people every year who move on from here and go on to do another course. Other people do volunteer work, which they find hugely rewarding. We link with many of the voluntary groups in the area. It’s not always about education or returning to work. It’s more about the socialisation and the community re-integration.”

Hillary says that Ar Aghaidh Linn has an “open door policy”, which means that former students regularly visit for a chat or to get a bit of advice or support. The progress that students make over the course spurs on both their colleagues and instructors.

“We had another student who was a double amputee. A huge character. He left us to go back to the The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire to get his prosthetic legs.

He came back here and walked every day and was an inspiration for everyone else. He then went back to do a welding course in Athlone training centre. All of the outcomes are very different.

Hillary has been working with Ar Aghaidh Linn for the best part of 20 years. She says that she loves what she does and a large part of that is down to the students she has met.

“People come to us from all walks of life. We have had chefs, computer analysts, lots of people with degrees and suddenly they are struck down and don’t know what they are going to do. We focus on people’s abilities not disabilities.”

The National Learning Network is one of the group’s participating in the Options in Education and Employment and Training showcase that is taking place in the Annebrook Hotel on January 23 (10am-12.30pm).