Linda Dunphy, pictured right, has just completed a Certificate in Contemporary Living at Trinity College and she is very excited and happy with her achievement. Linda studied art, English, communications, international awareness, literacy and numeracy.

She also had to research and present a special topic. Linda is a great soap fan and decided to focus on ‘Eastenders’. She devised a Power Point presentation on the computer and communicated her knowledge verbally as she demonstrated the slides. She was able to put me out of my misery by telling me that Phil Mitchell was not going to be jailed for the murder of Stella as the CCTV camera showed that she fell and was not pushed.

With that crucial piece of information out of the way, Linda went on to tell me that as part of her international awareness module she visited Budapest with the other 18 students on the course. Of course Linda has also been to Spain, Turkey, Crete, Australia and Florida so she is no novice when it comes to travel. Linda has made some great friends during her studies and she hopes to keep in touch with them in the future.

Linda has been on the course for two years and during that time she has learned a great deal. One of her most important achievements is being able to travel independently. She had to come into town four days a week on her own in order to undertake her studies. Linda is now able to cook for herself, although Sandra, her mother, hasn’t abdicated this role altogether just yet.

One of the most important elements is obtaining employment and Linda was fortunate enough to do work experience in the head office of the ESB in Fitzwilliam Street. This proved to be a great success and everyone there was sorry to see her go as she had proved to be such an asset. Linda has two interviews lined up and she will be happy whatever job she gets. A key aim of the Certificate programme is to ensure that the students go on to appropriate employment.

The Certificate in Contemporary Living is run by the National Institute for Intellectual Disability in Trinity College. This course is unique in Europe and ground breaking internationally. The plan is to replicate the programme at other Irish universities with the hope that third-level education will become standard for people with intellectual disabilities. The emphasis is on life-long learning so that each person can achieve their full potential.

Linda can be seen selling tickets for Clanna Gael in the Yacht each Sunday with great success. No one can refuse that winning smile.

To become involved in supporting the work of the National Institute for Intellectual Disability contact Eileen Punch, Trinity Foundation, East Chapel, Trinity College. Dublin 2 Tel: 896 1714 or email eileen.punch@tcd.ie