Dr. Rosalyn Tamming:

There are very positive findings from those and they are positive case studies. I have heard a little bit about both of those. One of the problems is that we are a great country for pilots, but not so much for the implementation afterwards. I know that one of the pilots was funded by the Department of education but is run by WALK, the Walkinstown association for people with disabilities. It is very successful but is ending at the end of this year with uncertain future funding. The problem is that they build up a certain expertise among staff and gather skills but it then ends and the staff leave. If they get funding, they have to recruit again. That lack of continuity is an issue. In terms of scaling it up, they both have to be fully evaluated. You have to see the evidence that they both work, but the preliminary data is certainly very promising. It is then a case of rolling it out, getting all schools on board, setting up the system, setting up the structure, staffing and building on the momentum that is there. It is very much about getting people into meaningful after-school work.

It could be voluntary work or further education and day services is where some people go. Often participants have had opportunity to explore other avenues before they decide that is what is most suitable for them.