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Independent Living 2007 Conference - 2 day conference lead by experts on Personal Assistant Services from Europe, Britain and Ireland. Issues at the cutting edge of independent living were addressed by speakers. Conference took place on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th of June, Mezzanine Suite, Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin 3. Click here.
South East Advocacy Service (SEAS) - The recently formed SEAS is funded by Comhairle and is managed by the South Eastern Region Centres for Independent Living (Carlow, Gorey, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and South Tipperary CILs). The service was set up to provide a one-to-one advocacy service for adults across the South East region, who are either accessing a South East CIL, or are waiting to access a service from a South East CIL. An advocate supports an individual to find out information and to make their views and wishes heard - particulary in relation to services that the individual receives or wishes to receive. It is a strictly confidential service and available to eligible individuals free of charge across the South East Region. For more information please click here.

National CIL Network Council Meeting: 17 June - The second National CIL Network Council Meeting of 2006 was be held on Saturday 17 June last. Report to follow.

West Limerick CIL Service User & Personal Assistant Handbook - It is generally agreed that the Service User and Personal Assistant relationship is a very complex one. In most cases it is a one-to-one relationship, which on occasions, can become intense and personal. The vulnerability of both parties must be considered in order to guard against any upsets that may occur and to establish professional boundaries. If both parties understand exactly what their responsibilities are then problems are less likely to materialise. West Limerick Independent Living have recently published a Handbook for Service Users and PA's to assist them to develop good working relationships. Click here to view (WLCIL website).

Independent Living Seminar for People with Disabilities: 24 April - A seminar on Independent Living took place on Monday 24 April in the Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan. Co. Dublin, from 2-5pm. The free seminar included talks on respite, Assistive Technology, the Philosophy of Independent Living, and making the transition to live independently. (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)

Dublin Leader Forum Social Event: 24 February - The Dublin Leader Forum held a night of fun, food and music in the West County Hotel, Chapelizod, Lucan, on Friday 24th February last. The craic was mighty and a good night was had by all, with food and entertainment provided as well as a number of great spot prizes on the night!!! Events kicked off around 7.30pm... until very late! The night was a great chance to meet fellow Leaders and Personal Assistants, sit back, relax and have a good time!

Launch of NAG, IL Case Study & Strasbourg Freedom Drive '05 DVD: 22 February - The official launch of the National Advisory Group and its Strategic Plan took place on Wednesday 22 February at the National Disability Authority (NDA). The afternoon was opened by Eamon O'Cuiv T.D. (Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs), and included the launch of two more initiatives within the Independent Living movement - IL Case Study 'Extending the Boundaries: Our Experience of Independent Living', and the 'Freedom Drive' DVD which is about a recent mission to the EU parliament in Strasbourg. The afternoons events also included a short and thought-provoking production from the Forum Theatre. Click here for some photos of the day.

National CIL Network Council Meeting: 18 February - The first 2006 CIL Council meeting took place on Saturday 18 February last in the Montague Hotel, Portlaoise. Three newly elected Council Officers were introduced - Nicola Meacle, Sean Rickard and Pat Hallinan and the upcoming launch of NAG, the IL Case Study & Strasbourg Freedom Drive 05 DVD discusssed. Progress reports were given on ongoing projects, including 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 'International Convention on the rights of people with disabilities' in New York in February. Click here for a report on the days events and the Meetings presentation.

CIL Model - Development Meeting: 19-20 January - The second development meeting for groups defined in the CIL Model was held in the Montague Hotel, Portlaoise on 19-20 January last. This session was facilitated by Michael Corbett and was aimed at Primary Service Providers within the CIL Model. It follows the first successful development session held in November '05 for soft service providers within the CIL Model.

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