Navan's National Learning Network open day taking place tomorrow

The National Learning Network (NLN) is inviting the public, employers, and policymakers this Wednesday (15th April) to see first-hand how it supports people with disabilities and those facing barriers to employment.

The NLN Open Day will be held across 50 locations across the country on Wednesday, April 15th from 11am, including at its Navan branch in Mullaghboy Industrial Estate.

Part of the Rehab Group, every year NLN supports hundreds of people with disabilities and mental health challenges to take the next step into meaningful employment or further education. Through accessible programmes and tailored supports, NLN creates pathways that enable students to thrive in their own way.

Visitors to NLN centres nationwide during the Open Day will have the opportunity to meet students currently undertaking training programmes, discuss supported education pathways and learn how NLN supports people into employment or further education.

Despite policy commitments, Ireland continues to lag behind many European countries in the employment of people with disabilities, with participation rates significantly below the national average. Just 33 percent of disabled people in Ireland are in employment, compared with an EU average of 51 percent. Persistent structural barriers, including limited access to training, employer misconceptions and a lack of inclusive workplace practices, continue to hold people back.

NLN is working to change that by providing flexible training courses and employment support services to people who need extra help to succeed in the workplace.

Damian Smyth is one of many attending NLN and it has marked a turning point in his life.

“My life was at a very low ebb and in the darkest of places. I didn’t want to be here anymore,” Smyth said. “I knew something had to change, but I didn’t know where to start.”

That starting point came when he joined NLN’s Fresh Start programme. “NLN wasn't just offering me a sanctuary, where I could rebuild my life through building blocks, opening on open doors, a place where I could find the real me. Maybe discover talents that had laid dormant. But the most important thing for me to find was my voice” Damian said.

Through tailored training in computer skills and communications, Damian progressed to employment as a warehouse associate. Within a short time, his performance led to a promotion to Warehouse Manager and he is now leading a team of people due to the support he received.

“Never in my darkest days did I think I would be trusted with that level of responsibility,” he said.

“This is about more than training, it’s about futures,” said Dr. Rita Day, Director of Learning with Rehab Group.

“Through our partnerships with over 700 employers, we are not only preparing people for work but actively connecting them with opportunities where they can grow and thrive and find jobs with a purpose.”

As Ireland faces ongoing skills shortages across multiple sectors, NLN is calling on more employers to engage with inclusive employment initiatives.

“There is a clear opportunity here, not just socially, but economically,” Rita Day added.

“Inclusive employment is not charity; it’s smart business.”