We Mean Business Project
Empowering neurodivergent young adults, ensuring that
Inclusion and diversity is in all fields of education, training, youth and sport by focusing specifically on marginalised groups.
Hearing the voice of the target group of young people with fewer opportunities and focusing on hearing their voice directly through meeting with and including them. Understanding their needs and how to address them via effective, respectful, collaborative solutions that involve the young person.
We also provide a professional space for our neurodivergent young people to showcase and sell their handmade creations, unique crafts that celebrate their talent and creativity.
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About the Project
Empowering Neurodiversity
The WE MEAN BUSINESS PROJECT is an Erasmus+ Key Action 210 project funded by the Irish National Agency for EU funding.
This We Mean Business project was approved in 2025 on September 1st.
The target group was youth with Intellectual Disabilities and/or Neurodivergent Conditions who are Not in Employment, Education and Training in the Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo areas.
The priority objective of this project was to facilitate increased employment for people with Intellectual Disabilities (IDs) - including Autism, ADHD and/or General Learning Disability (categorised by IQ/Cognitive and/or Adaptive Functional Behaviour Assessment). Young people who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) include a disproportionate number of young people who are Neurodivergent with IDs, and this acts as a barrier for them to further their education and training and also accessing employment for a variety of reasons.
They achieved this priority objective via a focus on moving away from an approach of assimilation and moving towards one of amalgamation, by delivering the following concrete objectives:
- Providing training within communities to those delivering further education and training, support staff within the health/social/youth sectors, family members and potential employers in the local area.
The objective of the training was to ensure that those with the ability to offer support to the target
group can do so with a well-informed understanding of the target group.
- Complete an exchange visit between Ireland and Lithuania for young people involved in services for people with Intellectual Disabilities and/or Neurodivergent Conditions in the Northwest of Ireland connected to the Cavan Autism Centre, meeting Young People involved in the Lithuanian Solidarity
Coffee Project. Project SOLIDARITY COFFEE / Projektas SOLIDARUMO KAVA
- Develop a published Irish Best Practice Model to disseminate to key stakeholders and decision
makers in the field of Disabilities, A Best Practice Guide to Creating Inclusive Communities,
where Neurodivergent Youth Feel That They Belong.
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Partners & Support
These incredible organizations support the We Mean Business Project and our mission to empower neurodivergent individuals.
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