The Creative Pathways Programme is an initiative built around art, film, design, and photography that fosters co-learning, creativity, and skills-building, for learners with intellectual disabilities. Funded under HEA PATH 4, the programme creates a meaningful, accredited pathway toward higher education, personal independence, and creative industries opportunities.

The pioneering initiative was part of a pilot scheme, supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), involving 11 higher education institutions nationally that aimed to support an enhancement of course provision for students with intellectual disabilities, and to also inform future policy considerations for students with such disabilities. IADT’s graduating class received Level 6 certificates.

“Providing real access to the benefits of higher education is very much at the heart of IADT’s mission, in both how we teach our students, and in the range of creativity-based programmes we offer. The achievements of this first class of Creative Pathways students at IADT is to be celebrated. Throughout their studies, they have proven through their talent and creativity, and their huge enthusiasm for learning, that students with intellectual disabilities fully deserve the right to participate in the opportunities that higher education can offer,” said David Smith, IADT’s President.

Designed to open doors to creative education and careers, the programme brought participants together in a collaborative learning environment where they developed their creative practice, built their confidence and explored their next steps. Through hands-on studio work, mentoring and peer learning, the group grew into a supportive community of emerging creatives.

Co-learning is the heart of the programme, bringing participants with intellectual disabilities into shared studio spaces alongside mainstream students and creative practitioners in a supported environment. This encouraged the students to share ideas, take creative risks, and recognise the value of their own voices.

“IADT brings together bright minds and creative talent from all over the country. I thought my disability would not allow me to obtain these experiences, but I was wrong and gladly so. Creative Pathways is home to students with intellectual disabilities who haven’t had the chance to express their creative talent before. If you are one of those students, then Creative Pathways is the place for you,” said Pierce Walsh, one this year’s Creative Pathways graduates from IADT.

These graduates are progressing to further study, employment and other creative projects. The programme’s success has laid the foundation for the next iteration of the Creative Pathways Programme, which is due to commence at IADT in January 2027.

Applications for the Creative Pathways Programme are available: