The service users and staff at Eolas have put together a Disability Awareness Programme to be delivered to local and community groups.
The aims of the programme are:
• To raise awareness of disability issues in the wider population.
• To promote integration for people with I D
• To counteract some of the negative myths and misunderstandings surrounding people with disabilities .
The service users put a lot of work and thought into the programme. They came up with issues relating to their daily lives which they believed should be addressed including ….
• Access issues for physically disabled people and the concept of universal design.
• Harassment in the community and how to deal with it.
• Discrimination in areas such as employment ,education and relationships.
The format of the programme involves services users delivering a power point presentation on the positive aspects of their lives highlighting their achievements, goals and ambitions for the future. This is followed by a video made by Sunbeam Media focusing the ethos and activities of SHS and the supports it provides to service users. Finally the service users and their support staff will address an open question and answer session .
To date the group have delivered the programme to the staff and students of Wicklow VEC, leaving cert applied students from Kilcoole and a group of Wicklow County Councillors’
Feedback from all concerned has been extremely positive. Community groups have commented on how educational and interesting it was to meet and get to know the service users. Where as the service users who devised and delivered the programme said they gained confidence and skills from making the presentation.
We have now been asked to do a piece for East Coast Radio on the same themes.
In the future we hope to continue to deliver the programme to young people in schools and colleges and any other interested groups in the community.