NAMHI NOTES

ISSUE NO.21 - MAY 2004

In this Newsletter:

1. AGM 2004: 16th / 17th April, Dundalk

2. Self-Advocacy Conference: 30th / 31st March 2004

3. Local & European Elections: 11th June 2004   

4. 350 Special Education Post: Minister for Education announces 350 new Special Education Posts   

5. Rights Make the Difference Campaign is supported by members of the Commission on Status of People with Disability

6. New Publications: Laois Association - ‘The Blue Book’; NDA: 3 Best Practice Reports

7. Seeing Better Ireland: Exhibition of IT, resources, equipment for those with a sight loss

8. Advocacy: New appointment: Advocacy & Information Officer

9. Forthcoming Events: Parents Seminar – 6th November, Chief O’Neill’s, Dublin

1. AGM 2004

AGM 2004 took place in Dundalk on 16th, 17th April. The conference was opened on Friday evening by Minister of State at the Dept of Health, Tim O’Malley who outlined to delegates the work being done on the Health Services Reform. He took one question from the floor on the Disability Bill, replying that he believed the Bill would be ‘amongst the best in Europe if not the World’. 

The meeting continued on Saturday morning with a seminar opened by Rosemary McCloskey’s keynote presentation ‘Nurturing Positive Relationships in the Family & Local Community’. This was followed by three proactive workshops on each of the themes, Family, Relationships & Independent Living. Workshop 1 on the Family heard presentations form John McEvoy, Psychologist, Mary Connolly, Parent and Audrey Arthure, Social Worker. Workshop 2 included presentations from Dr Elizabeth Healy, Public Health Doctor, WHB, Frieda Finlay, Parent and Gert Job, Independent Training Consultant. The third workshop on Independent Living was a team effort from parent Mildred Dillon, her daughter Ann Dillon a self-advocate who lives independently and David Kieran, CEO, St. Anne’s Services, Roscrea. Each of the workshops finished with questions from the floor and a lively open forum. Copies of all papers are available from the office.  The AGM continued with 14 Motions debated by delegates, including one calling for the immediate publication of a rights-based Disability Bill. Other motions called for funding, resources and supports to eliminate waiting lists. One motion called for the introduction of the now piloted NDA National Standards in Disability Services. We know that vulnerable people with intellectual disability need and deserve the protection of National Standards independently monitored. Another motion called for the Dept of Health to review funding of service provision to examine the possibility of people with intellectual disability and their families purchasing services directly.                     

At this year’s AGM, Jean Spain finished her term as President of namhi after a proactive and busy 2years in office. Members paid tribute to Jean on her tremendous work during her time as President. The incoming President of namhi is Stephen Kealy and the newly elected Vice President is Finula Garrahy. Jean Spain’s final duty as President was to present an award to Joe Little, Social & Religious Affairs Correspondent, RTE for his significant contribution towards increasing awareness around disability and for the professionalism, hard work and sensitivity shown in his reporting. Honorary Life Membership of namhi was award to Joan Tyrell, Mary Davis, Fergus Finlay & Michael John Dineen.           

2.‘My Voice… My Choice’ - 30th / 31st March 2004

On the 30th and 31st of March namhi hosted the first ever National Self Advocacy conference in Dublin. People with intellectual disability discussed their needs and outlined the choices they wanted in their lives. Like all conferences there was a set agenda and speeches, but the really important thing on display at the ‘My Voice... My Choice’ conference was the collective voice of the people attending. The conference was hugely successful with nearly all speeches and presentations from self advocates. People spoke out about not having basic choices in their lives, such as when they go to bed, the food they eat, not being paid for working in workshops and not having access to their own money.  Nearly 200 people with intellectual disability, frontline staff and parents attended the two-day event. Workshops included a lively creative one hosted by Fundrums, another one on Rights given by the Disability Legal Resource. A third workshop was given by a self advocacy group from the UK on ‘How to set up a Self Advocacy Group’ and the final one on Making Information Easy-to Read, presented by NALA. The conference ended with Discussion groups on the setting up of a National Self Advocacy Group. Feedback from the conference was extremely positive and many said it was their first opportunity to voice their views and attend a proper conference. They hoped it wouldn’t be the last. Steve Daunt is doing a full report of the two day event for namhi, which will be available from the office by the end of May.                      

3. Europe in Action – Inclusion Europe Congress

Inclusion Europe will hold its International Congress Europe in Action jointly hosted by namhi in the Great Southern Hotel, Dublin on the 27th, 28th & 29th May. The conference will be opened by Mr Tim O’Malley, and Mr Alvaro Gil Robles, Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe. The Congress will hear from Irish and European speakers on Inclusive Education, Inclusive Employment, the deinstitutionalisation movement, and European policy and Elections. The full programme is available from the namhi office and you can register on the Inclusion Europe website at: www.inclusion-europe.org.  

4. Elections – 11th June 2004

The Local & European elections will take place on the 11th June. namhi has published a leaflet asking members and others to present one to all candidates canvassing for their vote. The leaflet outlines the main issues affecting people with intellectual disability such as the delay in publishing disability legislation and waiting lists for services. Election candidates should be presented with the leaflet and asked to pledge their support to address these and other issues. You will find leaflets enclosed with this newsletter, with more copies available from the office. namhi will also be shortly distributing accessible information and training material on Electronic Voting. We will also distribute an easy-to-read information leaflet on the European Elections and the European Parliament. The leaflet was developed in conjunction with Inclusion Europe.       

5. 350 new posts in Special Education

On the 13th April the Minister for Education announced at the INTO Congress, 350 new posts in Special Education. The Dept of Education and Science, in consultation with the INTO and others has been developing a new system for the allocation of resource teachers. This new system will involve a weighted allocation being given annually to all schools on the basis of their pupil numbers. This weighted allocation will cater for pupils requiring learning support and pupils in the categories of borderline mild, mild general learning disability and dyslexia. Schools will also be given specific teacher allocations for children with more acute disabilities in accordance with the current criteria. The Minister gave approval for the implementation of the new system which will involve the creation of 350 additional teaching posts and will allow for the issuing of responses to schools in respect of the outstanding applications for resource teachers.

6. Rights Make the Difference Campaign

The long awaited Disability Bill has still not been published. Continuing its campaign to ensure the Bill will be rights based, the Rights Make the Difference group reconvened the members of the Commission on the Status of People with Disability on 1st April. Ten of the original members of the Commission, including its Chairperson Justice Fergus Flood assembled in the Mansion House in Dublin to call for the immediate publication of the Bill that sets out the rights of people with disability and means of redress for those whose rights are denied.

 Seeing Better Ireland – ExhibitionThis exhibition of IT, resources & equipment for those with a sight loss will take place in St Joseph’s School for the Visually Impaired, Grace Park Rd, Drumcondra, Dublin on 1st & 2nd June. More info: 01 8373635                

7. New Publications

Laois Friends of the Intellectually Disabled have published an information booklet on disability services for Co Laois, ‘The Blue Book’. The NDA has published three reports on services for people with disabilities in Ireland: -Towards Best Practice in the Provision of Health Services for People with Disabilities in Ireland-Towards Best Practice in the Provision of Further Education, Employment & Training Services for People with Disabilities in Ireland-Towards Best Practice in the Provision of Transport Services for People with Disabilities in IrelandCopies available from the NDA at (01) 6080400   

8. Advocacy

namhi has appointed an Advocacy & Information Officer, Ian Redmond. His work will include focusing on developing advocacy policies for people who cannot advocate for themselves  

9. Forthcoming Events

Parents’ Seminar - 6th November, Chief O’Neills, Dublin. This year’s seminar will hear from speakers on issues around people with intellectual disability’s capacity to give legal consent. Speakers will include parents, members of the legal profession, health professionals and a representative from the Law Reform Commission. The Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has been invited to open the Seminar.