Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) has officially launched an innovative education programme, aimed at empowering people with Down syndrome to examine how political decisions affect their lives, and to participate in elections.

The ‘My Opinion, My Vote' education programme is a two-year course and it has come about following eight years of research and development by DSI. According to DSI chief executive, Pat Clarke, people with Down syndrome ‘are members of the electorate too and there needs to be far greater recognition of that'.

The programme aims to empower people with Down syndrome to discuss and examine how political decisions affect and impact their lives, and to support them to ‘exercise active political influence like their peers'.

It has has been piloted since 2014, but is now being rolled out across Kildare, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Waterford and Kerry.

"People with intellectual disabilities, such as those with Down syndrome, are those whose life conditions are most dependent on political decisions, yet they represent the people in society who are most frequently excluded from the political process. ‘My Opinion, My Vote' aims to change that through empowerment and helping those with Down syndrome to find and use their voice through politics," explained Grainne de Paor, head of adult education at DSI.

She said that the programme aims to encourage people with Down syndrome to ‘form and express an informed opinion/decision during local, national and European elections and referendums'.

Meanwhile Mr Clarke pointed out that DSI regularly calls on political parties to produce easy-to-understand information ‘so as to facilitate people with Down syndrome to make an informed choice'.

Cathal Griffin, who is doing the course every Friday in Tralee in Kerry, said he has found it very helpful.

"Basically it is all about politics and the politicians in Ireland and in Europe. We learn about political issues like education, employment and justice. It is good really to know about these things when you are meeting politicians and voting.

"We went to the Dáil last week and to the European Parliament in Brussels last year. I will be voting in the General Election and I know what to do. We practice voting and have elections during class all the time. It is very important to go out and vote," he said.

For more information on the ‘My Opinion, My Vote' programme, click here