Government funding for young people with learning disabilities

For a good cause

My niece works at 180 cafe in portadown

My daughter is leaving school this year,and has her name down to join 180 restaurant to train, she has a learning disability,

To help people who need help

To help the young people that work in 180 xx

I signed this because i think this would be a great idea! And it's about time the government done something good and worthwhile with the money that's actually going to help people and not ruin their lives

My neice works in 180 restaurant .

I have a severely disabled brother who benefits greatly from day care opportunities

I have a brother who is facing similar problems.

Someone I know attends this facility.

We have been 'regulars' at 180 for a number of years and have supported this vital training and opportunity for young people with learning disabilities. This would leave such a void in the community, both with a first class restaurant with excellent food and a service for the clients, which need is not being met anywhere else. Adults services for people with learning disabilities are few and it is rare to have such an excellent training opportunity available. I do feel it would be a great loss to the clients/trainees, their families and the community as a whole to lose this unique training restaurant and for this reason I sign the petition.

I feel strongly that these invaluable services should be maintained for the well-being of our young people and for the contribution this venture makes to all of our lives in Northern Ireland.

Having spent 14years working as an OT with people who have a learning disability, I know first hand the benefit of schemes such as these - and the huge gap they leave if they lose funding.

Because it supports a cause I believe in helping give young people equal opportunities for support into employment.

180% is a trainging opportunity for young pople with Learning disabilities. Young people with leaning disabilities identified the needs and helped sahpe and design the servicee.YP with LD can access the specialist training and support at programmes like 180% which will help them reach their full potential and contribute to society. The Governement has a duty to provide equitable opportunities to all young pople through education training and employmnet. Therfore they must fund such services to ensure that young people with learning disabilities can exercise their rights the same rights as thier non disabled Peers.

My daughters friend has just left school at 18 and there is nothing out there for him. He has been offered a place in a day care centre but the next youngest is 62 years of age. Nothing short of mental cruelty. Our children deserve better, they deserve equality of opportunity.

Young people with learning disabilities have the same right to education training and employment as any other young person. However, they also require specialist training and support. Unlike their non-disabled peers young people with learning disabilities do not have multiple choices or opportunities where they can access staff who understand often complex communication and learning needs, suitably equipped premises or individual learning plans.

Major gaps in the availability of such services in NI have been identified in a range of recent research reports. However, Step by Step provided such an opportunity for young people providing training for employment as part of an award winning restaurant that is much valued by the young people who take part in their programme and their families.

The closure of 180 will have a devastating effect not only on the current trainees but on all of the other young people with learning disabilities transitioning from school in the near future.