Meitheal icent
Improving financial literacy among adults with Down syndrome
)
The project partners were:
Down Syndrome Tipperary-Meitheal 21
The Source Arts Centre
Tipperary Education and Training Board (TETB)
About this project
This project used a café setting to improve financial literacy skills among adults with Down syndrome. Participants used sum up machines, cash boxes, the Revolut app, calculators, and iPads to enhance their understanding of money.
The project took place in the training café at the Source Arts Centre in Thurles between May and December 2025. Participants learnt how to work as a team, interact with the public, and take responsibility in the workplace. They became more confident and independent with each passing week.
Practical activities allowed participants to:
develop money handling skills,
build budgeting skills,
learn about transactions, and
process customer payments.
Educators used a visual ordering system as a teaching tool to help learners build confidence with money and technology. They created an inclusive learning environment that combined employment training, digital skills development, and financial literacy.