Carmichael House
CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
Articles
IL Case Study: ''Extending the
boundaries: Our experience of Independent Living”
In 2005 CIL Dublin embarked on some
Independent Living (IL) research, supported by a grant from the Department of
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The research, prepared as a
collaboration between Ralaheen Research & Design Ltd, and CIL Dublin,
comprised of a number of case studies based on experiences of CIL members
around a number of themes including Transport, Housing, PA/Leader relationship,
Gender and Assistive Technology, among others. The final research report
entitled ''Extending
the boundaries: Our experience of Independent Living” was launched in
the NDA on February 22 last. It is hoped that this well-edited report will be
of value to policy making - especially in the period following the enactment of
the Disability Bill, 2005.
More information at http://www.dublincil.org/activities/ilcasestudy.htm
Strasbourg Freedom Drive 2005 DVD
Also
launched on the 22 February in the NDA was the Strasbourg Freedom Drive DVD.
Between 5-8 September 2005 people with disabilities from across Europe
converged on the European Parliament in Strasbourg to highlight IL and human
rights issues they felt still needed action. The event was a
continuation of the campaign ENIL started in 2003 with the first
Freedom Drive, to bring these issues to the attention of the European
Parliament. Two years later and very little change prompted the question -
'just how committed IS the EU and its institutions to the citizenship and
participation of disabled people?' A short DVD on the 2005 trip to the EU
Parliament was officially launched on 22 February – funding is being sought to
produce a longer documentary on this trip and related issues.
More information at www.dublincil.org/activities/strasbourgfreedomdrive.htm
For a full report on the
Strasbourg 2005 Freedom Drive go to www.dublincil.org/activities/documents/Strasbourg05Newsletter.pdf
National CIL Network Council Meeting
The first 2006 CIL
Council meeting took place on 18 February last in
the Montague Hotel, Portlaoise. The three newly elected Council Officers were
introduced - Nicola Meacle, Sean Rickard and Pat Hallinan, and progress reports
were given on ongoing projects, including NAG; launch of the IL Case Study and
Strasbourg DVD; NUIM & Leader Training development; IL Movement research;
Leader Forums in the North East, Dublin and Clare. CIL Carmichael House
workplan priorities for 2006 were also outlined. The development work done so
far within the CIL Model
was discussed and CIL Council workplan priorities for 2006 were decided. A
special report was given by Blanchardstown CIL on its information video
project. Sectoral plans from the National Disability Strategy were discussed,
with the group urged to lobby issues through DFI or service users before the
June '06 finalisation of the plans. The meeting also looked Internationally,
with an account of the EU 'Training
as a Vehicle to Employment' project involving CIL Carmichael House, plus
an account of the UN 'International Convention on the rights of people with
disabilities' in New York in February. Next Network meeting will be held in
June, venue to be announched
Go to www.dublincil.org/aboutus/cilnationalmeet180206.htm
for a report on the day or to view the meetings presentation.
Development training continues in accordance with the CIL Network
model which was adopted last year. The model groups CILs according to their
primary functions, and was developed in order to better support all local CILs.
The first development meeting for groups defined in the CIL model was held in
the Montague Hotel, Portlaoise on November 3-4 2005, and attended by a number
of Group 2 CILs. The second development meeting took place in the Montague
Hotel, on 19-20 January 2006. This session was for well established groups -
Primary Service Providers within the CIL Model - and was facilitated by Michael
Corbett. Attendees included Mayo CIL, Offaly CIL, Donegal CIL, West Limerick
CIL and Tipperary CIL. The meeting gave an opportunity to network and share
good working practices. The third development meeting is being planned at
present with a further two to be held
for the remaining model groups throughout 2006.
For more information go to http://www.dublincil.org/aboutus/cilnationalnetwork.htm - cilmodel
To view the model groups and a description of each go to www.dublincil.org/aboutus/documents/CILandNAG.doc
The Dublin Leader
Forum began towards the end of 2005, to specifically address concerns of
many Dublin Leaders, and also to help provide an effective, independent
platform from which any Leader may address any issue they have with their
service provider. Dublin Leader Forum development continues, with two meetings
held in 2005, and another on the 9 March last – giving Leaders an opportunity
to discuss current issues. The four groups within the forum continue to develop
both each group and the Forum itself. Support for the group has been re-located
to Dublin 7 CIL, where the group can avail of some organisational/admin
assistance for the immediate future. The group also launched the DLF website
early this year,where information on the forum, and DLF newsletters can be found.
DLF members are also currently working on their third newsletter.
The DLF held a night out on 24 February last, in the in the West County Hotel, Chapelizod, Lucan. All Leaders and PA's were invited, with food and entertainment provided plus a number of great prizes to be won on the night. The night proved very sucessful, with Leaders and Personal Assistants having a chance to sit back, relax and have a good time!
For more information go to www.dublincil.org/activities/dublinleaderforum.htm
or contact Owen Collumb in Dublin 7 CIL.
The CIL Carmichael House
‘Video-Assisted Networking Project', funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund,
targets fifty Leaders in the greater Dublin area - to give them the opportunity
to interact with others with similar experience, from their own home. Although
CIL Carmichael House is the main partner in this project they are supported by
a strong group of associates including the Central Remedial Clinic, Disability
Federation of Ireland, and Comhairle.
The project will be rolled-out throughout 2006, with
selected Leaders computer systems upgraded and both broadband and video-conferencing
systems installed. Where participants do not currently have computer hardware
in place it will be installed at no extra cost. The only cost, which will
apply to the users of this service, is the monthly broadband charge and any
associated installation costs. CIL
Carmichael House are currently finalising participants for this project – many
of them DLF members (see previous article). If you are interested in
hearing more or would like to become involved please contact the CIL office
asap. It is hoped that the successful project may pave the way for such
an initiative on a National scale.
Go to www.dublincil.org/activities/videonetworkproject.htm
for more information.
Development of the National Leader Forum continues, with
the current priority being the communication and establishment of an NLF model
of good practice nationally. Dublin Leader Forum development has been supported
and monitored with this in mind over the past few months, and Caroline
Mitchell, who has been working with the DLF, will be supporting National Leader
Forum development for the next few months. With the recent emergence of Leader
Forums around the country (such as the DLF, North East Leader Forum and DPOC
Leader Forum) – and an additional number in the pipeline, it is hoped that a
National Leader Forum network will soon be a practical reality.
For more information go to www.dublincil.org/activities/leaderforum.htm
During
2005, CILs were asked to respond to a questionnaire around developing new
training programs for the CIL network. The response rate was high, with most
respondents very positive about new training development. A number of areas
where training would be beneficial to CILs were highlighted, with particular
concern about level and quality of training for PAs, Board Members and Leaders.
CIL Carmichael
House are in the early stages of developing a training program specifically
designed for the needs of Leaders. NUI Maynooth (NUIM) are offering advice and
support around such a course, which may include modules on Personal
Development, Self Advocacy, Communications, Interpersonal Skills, Basic
Financial Management etc. There is also a possibility that further training
could be developed at the Kilkenny campus of NUIM.
More information
on www.dublincil.org/activities/studyboardproject.htm
as the project develops
Independent Living
Movement Research
As a result of discussions throughout 2005 with NUI Maynooth (NUIM), around
training development, potential has been identified for a new area of research
into the Independent Living (IL) movement in Ireland. A research project has
been suggested which will outline the evolution and story of individual CILs,
through participant style research. It is hoped that such research could help
highlight the IL movement, becoming a resource for further research in this
area, as well as clarifying the needs of CILs in order that future planning
might be targeted in the most efficient way. A focus group to start looking at
this area and come up with a research proposal is planned for later this month.
More information
on www.dublincil.org/activities/ilmovementresearch.htm
as the project develops
EU ‘Training as Vehicle to
Employment’ Project – 2006/07
CIL
Dublin is participating in this two year EU wide project, lead by the Institute for Independent Living
in Sweden. The project will see organisations in Europe who espouse the
independent living philosophy, work toward focusing national government
agencies' traineeships to develop, test and promote a set of measures which,
hopefully, would make them inclusive regarding persons with disabilities.
Throughout Europe lack of work
experience is a major obstacle to employment. 37%
of people with a disability are in
employment v 63.8% for the total population in the same age
category. People with disabilities are extremely under-represented in
National and EU programmes for youth exchanges and internships. By getting
National Government Departments and their agencies fully committed to including
qualified people with disabilities, the overall aim is to see examples of good
practice emerge. This will oblige not only other public sector employers, but also
corporations and NGO's (in particular NGO's in the field of disability), to
take up the example.
Go to www.dublincil.org/activities/trainingasvehicletoemployment.htm
for more on the project and its immediate priorities.
CIL
Dublin is supporting the European Network on
Independent Living (ENIL) in this biannual European funded Project. The
UNIACCESS consortium, and ENIL as a partner of it, believes that transport
systems are crucial in the construction of Europe and European Citizenship.
ENIL further states that European disabled people are still denied real
citizenship because society does not want to recognise that transport is the
main disabling factor, responsible for discrimination towards millions of
Europeans. This projects objective is to find technical and political solutions
in designing universally accessible systems for Public Transport.
Go to www.dublincil.org/activities/enil.htm
for further information on ENIL and this project
NUI Maynooth Certificate in Disability Studies
The
Presentation of Awards Ceremony for students of the NUIM Certificate in
Disability Studies course 2004/05, took place on Saturday December 3rd 2005.
The ceremony began with Professor Anne Ryan (Head of Dept. of Adult &
Community Education) welcoming the group, followed by some words from
Josephine Finn (Programme Co-ordinator), and Eileen Daly (CIL Board
Member). Following the ceremony, the group gathered for lunch at the
Straffan Court Hotel.
Go to
www.dublincil.org/activities/documents/Maynooth05.pdf
to view photos of the days events, or to www.dublincil.org/activities/training.htm
for more information on the course.
Links &
Notices
It is with deep regret that we mark the
recent passing of Ursula Hegarty. Ursula was involved in Independent Living
from the ‘80’s and was one of the founding members of CIL in 1992. She will be
greatly missed by her colleagues, friends and fellow members. (We hope to
have a further piece on Ursula and her unwavering commitment and contribution
to the IL movement in our next eletter)
Independent Living
Seminar for People with Disabilities: 24 April
A seminar on Independent Living will
take place on Monday 24 April next in the Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan, Co.
Dublin, from 2-5pm. The seminar will include talks on respite, Assistive
Technology, the Philosophy of Independent Living, and making the transition to
live independently. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided. The seminar will be run in partnership between
'Co-operation Fingal' and 'Fingal Awareness of Equality
& Disability' (FADE) - for more information contact Louise at
Co-operation Fingal (Ph: 01-8020484, or email learly@co-operationfingal.ie
Newsletters
For
new CIL newsletters received since our last E-Letter, please see the CILs
regional page on our website:
–
Dublin 7 CIL - Spring ’06 Edition
www.dublincil.org/nag/documents/Spring06.pdf
Ideas, News and
Feedback!
Please let us know about events,
projects and news in your organisation or your area. Also, any ideas, suggestions,
feedback or comments are very welcome.
Contact Derval Sheridan - dervalsheridan@dublincil.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this e-letter,
please send your name, organisation, and email to dervalsheridan@dublincil.org
CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
Tel
8730 455 /8730 986; Fax 8730 998
Web: www.dublincil.org; Email:
cildub@iol.ie