Helping young Cork people with disabilities to reach full potential

In classrooms across Cork city and county, you will find young people with huge potential, full of ideas, ambition, and talent.

But for some, that potential risks being lost, not because they lack ability, but because we as a society aren’t doing enough to support them.

In Ireland, more than 1.1 million people (that’s 22% of the population) live with a long-term condition or disability.

Shockingly, two in five people with disabilities who cannot work are at risk of poverty, and nearly half experience material deprivation.

Educational disadvantage is stark: 14.4% of people with a disability over the age of 15 left education after primary school, compared to just 7.4% of the general population.

As of 2020, Ireland’s employment rate for people with disabilities stood at 32.6%, significantly below the EU average of 51.3%.

Many fear losing vital disability supports if they take up work, while employer uncertainty only deepens the barriers to opportunity.

At See My Skills, we’re here to change that.

We’re a Cork-based social enterprise that helps neurodivergent young people and those with physical disabilities to build their confidence, develop skills, and get ready for education and employment that suits them.

Founded in 2023 by local entrepreneur William O’Brien, See My Skills is rooted in Cork values: community, hard work, and fairness.

“See My Skills is a passionate and dynamic social enterprise built on the belief that everyone deserves access to real opportunities,” says William.

“After years in business, I wanted to put my energy into something that truly mattered - supporting people with disabilities to develop their talents, access work, and build brighter futures.”

That’s what we’re about. Practical support. Real impact. Local change.

Through our Accelerator Programme, we partner with Cork secondary schools to deliver four-day programme that are all about confidence, communication, and career readiness.

Students take part in mock interviews, CV writing, time management training and even get barista certified.

They also meet employers, learn from working professionals with disabilities, and start thinking about their future in a new way.

As Lisa McLaughlin, a teacher at Nagle Community College, puts it: “I’ve seen first-hand how the See My Skills programme empowers our students to recognise their strengths, build confidence, and develop the essential career skills they’ll carry into life beyond school.

“Above all, the programme encourages young people to reflect on their abilities and aspirations, helping them grow in confidence and self-awareness.

“We are very lucky to be a part of such a wonderful and progressive programme.”

We also run the Empower Programme for adults with disabilities who are looking for meaningful work.

With one-to-one coaching, help with applications, and support finding inclusive jobs, we’re supporting people on their terms.

In our latest quality report last month, participants told us the programme helped them in four major ways:

1. Greater confidence and self-belief

2. Better job-seeking skills

3. A clear sense of progress towards work or further education

4. A real shift in mindset and personal identity

To employers: we know many of you are trying to hire in a tough climate. But are you looking in the right places?

Inclusive hiring is smart business. Teams that include people with disabilities are more innovative, resilient and representative of the community around them.

All it takes is a willingness to look beyond the usual and open up the door.

To schools: please keep believing in your students. Start early, offer support, and know that small moments of encouragement can have a lasting impact.

We’ve heard from students who thought there was no job “for someone like me”.

See My Skills gives young people the tools -and the belief - to change that narrative.

We’re proud to be doing this work in Cork. It’s where we’re from, and it’s where we’re starting something that we believe can grow across Ireland. But we can’t do it alone.

We’re calling on Cork schools, employers, parents and young people themselves to get involved.

Because when we work together, we can build a future where every person is seen, supported, and has a shot at success.

To learn more or get involved, check out seemyskills.org