express - Irish Wheelchair Association

Transcription

Spokeout_Spr_08-cover:Spokeout_Spring_07-cover
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spokeout
Lifestyle magazine for people with limited mobility published by the Irish Wheelchair Association
€4.00
Spring 2008
express
yourself
y
WHY FASHION
AND STYLE
MATTERS
Learning the ropes
A decent proposal
Holidaying at home
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Contents
COVER STORY
4
Express yourself
Four members talk fashion and
style
FEATURE
10 A decent proposal
Proposing marriage on national
television
CAREERS
13 Career profile: Peter Nolan
Working with the National
Employment Rights Authority
HOMES
14 A numbers game
Why it is vital to register your
housing need
17 A place of your own
How Connie Richardson found
her city home
ACCESS
17
MOTORING
28 Playing poker with the new
C02 Emissions Regulations
The implications for drivers with
disabilities of C02-based changes
to VRT and car tax schemes
LIVING
37 Choosing a chair
Advice on choosing a chair and
chair accessories
19 DART problems
Accessibility problems persist
despite investment
40 Culinary herbs
How growing herbs can enrich
your garden and diet
20 Cross your legs and hope
for the best!
Expect the unexpected when
you try to use an accessible
toilet
45 Going to the (nano) heart of it
Nanotechnology explained
23 Taking action
Liz Linnane improves access at
her local Spar
TRAVEL
4
40
59 Getting stronger
Building up confidence through
gym work
NEWS
60 Regional snapshots
What’s going on around the regions
47 IWA news update
Round-up of developments in IWA
REGULARS
49 News mix
Disability, access and transport
news
24 Away from it all
Getting away from city hustle
and bustle to the Aran Islands
53 Learn the ropes
An opportunity to try sailing with
new Waterways Ireland initiative
27 Holidaying at home
Inspiration for an accessible
break in Ireland
54 A sporting life
Profile of table tennis player
Eimear Breathnach
57 IWA gym
Refurbished gym sets example
64 Your views
Letters to the editor
64 Small ads
Sell on unwanted items or pick up
a bargain
YOUR LIFE –
YOUR WAY
See page 31 for details and
booking forms for IWA’s Annual
Conference and AGM 2008
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introduction
ur cover features
Clare-Louise
Creedon, the
inspiration behind
our recent fashion shoot in
Brown Thomas on Grafton Street. Clare-Louise
believes looking good helps you feel your best,
and is frustrated by the absence of people with
disabilities in the fashion world. Clare-Louise was
one of four models – all wheelchair users – to
pose for the shoot with fashion photographer Kip
Carroll.
It seems we’re not the only people thinking
about fashion and disability. BBC3 is starting
production of a new reality TV show and is asking
Spokeout readers to help in its hunt for women
with disabilities who are interested in pursuing a
modelling career.
We also go ‘behind the scenes’ to find out how
Niall McDonnell ended up proposing to his
girlfriend Kathryn as part of a new RTE television
series called ‘Will you marry me?’ The show is due
to air on 30th March.
O
Enjoy the issue.
SEE THE CENTRE PAGES OF THIS ISSUE FOR DETAILS OF
IWA’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AGM 2008
Editor
Joanna Marsden
Cover picture
Kip Carroll
Editorial Assistance
Kiara Lynch, Colette Molloy
Distribution
Shanahan Direct
Editorial Design Manager
Layla Hogan
Joint Managing Directors, Dyflin
Karen Hesse, Philip McGaley
Advertising and Marketing
Design Manager
Diarmuid O’Connor
Editorial enquiries to:
The Editor, Spokeout, Irish
Wheelchair Association,
Blackheath Drive, Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Tel: (00 353) 1 818 6455
Email: spokeout@iwa.ie
Design
Naomi Edwards
Advertising Production
Co-ordinator
Amina Ferradj
Advertising enquiries to:
Dyflin Publications Ltd
Cunningham House
Advertising Production
130 Francis Street, Dublin 8
Ciaran McBride, Michal Bartosz Tel: (00 353) 1 4167930
Advertising Executive
Dara Gallagher
Printing
Precision Colour Printing Ltd
Cartoons
Johnny Connaughton
recycle
When you have finished with
this magazine please recycle it.
2
Spokeout is published by Dyflin
Publications on behalf of I.W.A.
Limited. The copyright rests with
IWA and no material may be
reproduced without the
permission of IWA. The views
expressed in the publication
do not necessarily represent
the views of IWA.
Spokeout is distributed
quarterly by post to 18,962 IWA
members and to Government
bodies and other disability
interest groups.
ISSN NO: 1393-8517
MEET SOME OF
S…
OUR CONTRIBUTOR
Kiara Lynch
Editorial Assistant Kiara Lynch likes
computer gadgets, cinema and books.
This issue, her ‘editorial’ duties were
stretched a little when she was asked to
participate in a fashion shoot. Initially,
hippie-style Kiara was adamant modelling wasn’t her
‘thing’, but she surprised herself by “really enjoying the
whole experience”.
Liz Linnane
Liz Linnane is a mother-of-four who lives
in Lucan, Co Dublin. Liz says she enjoys
a busy life and her interests include
access auditing, music and reality TV
programmes! In this issue, she explains
how she got involved in making her local shop more
accessible.
Gary Allen
Gary Allen lives in Galway with his wife
and four cats. He works as a software
engineer and is a budding journalist in
his spare time. Gary has been making
the most of his weekends with an
amazing ‘away from it all’ trip to Inis Meain. As a keen
sailor, Gary also looks at some new opportunities to get
involved in accessible sailing.
Helen Rock
Helen Rock is an editor, designer,
columnist, critic and garden maker. Her
book, Helen Rock's Irish Gardening is
published by Lilliput Press, Dublin. Helen
has worked on many publications,
including The Irish Times, Irish Garden, Garden Heaven,
and on RTE Television and Radio. From 1995-2006, she
was the Gardening Correspondent of the Sunday Tribune
and is currently freelance.
Robbie Cousins
Robbie Cousins is a freelance journalist
and editor who contributes to a number
of publications and websites. His
interests include politics, football, travel,
and vegetarian cooking. This issue, he
gets the inside track on Niall McDonnell’s elaborate ‘on air’
marriage proposal.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Please send your name, the name of your organisation (if applicable),
address and telephone number, with a cheque or postal order for €15.00
(payable to IWA) to: Spokeout subscriptions, Irish Wheelchair
Association, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
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Express yourself
How often do you see people with disabilities
on the catwalk, or in fashion magazines and
catalogues? Yet, clearly style matters as much
to people with disabilities as to anyone else.
We talk style and shopping with four
‘volunteer’ models
re people with disabilities invisible to the
fashion industry? Wheelchair user ClareLouise Creedon says she finds it all very
frustrating: “I love fashion; it’s so important. It
makes you look good and feel good, and if you look
good, in some way you feel less like you’re in a
wheelchair.”
A few years ago Clare-Louise posed for a series of
photos for a photographer friend and she has also
appeared in Dublin Bus’ advertising campaigns. She
says she enjoys the whole experience of modelling
and would love to have the opportunity to do that type
A
4
of work more regularly.
Inspired by Clare-Louise’s attitude to fashion, we
decided to organise a fashion shoot focusing
exclusively on four models with disability, including
Clare-Louise. The shoot took place in Brown Thomas
on Grafton Street, with outfits selected by Brown
Thomas stylist Gillian Clarke. As all our models have a
strong sense of style, the idea was to work with that
while choosing outfits that reflected the latest trends.
Make up: Sally at Laura Mercier
Photography: Kip Carroll
Hair: Danielle Dorrington at Peter Mark, Grafton Street
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fashion
CLARE-LOUISE
CREEDON
Clare-Louise Creedon is
36 years-old. Brought up
in Foxrock, she now lives
in Shankill, Co Dublin.
Describe your style
Classic, modern, neat. I
don’t like black and prefer bright,
summery colours.
Style icon
RTE presenter Mary Kennedy is a
great dresser. I like her look: Feminine,
fitted and flattering but at the same
time not too revealing.
Fashion crime
Oh, there are so many! Hipster jeans
with flesh overhanging (we all have it –
but try to keep it covered!), jeans
trailing on the ground (picking up dirt
and gum) and belly tops. I also think
really low cut tops are embarrassing
and I just don’t know how people keep
them on!
Monthly clothing budget
Sometimes nothing, sometimes a lot. I
like to buy a few good things every
now and again. I return a lot of stuff as
I can’t try it on in-store as the
changing rooms are too small.
Favourite label
I don’t look at the labels, just the
clothes.
Where do you shop?
Dunnes Stores and River Island. M&S
is the only place I can find jeans that fit
properly.
COMMENT FROM STYLIST
“Feminine fifties is a huge trend on the catwalk this season. I chose this
pretty prom-style dress for Clare-Louise by Jesiré, exclusively available at
Brown Thomas. The full skirt and synched waist really complement ClareLouise's shape. I topped the outfit off with a biscuit-coloured polka dot
cardigan (also from Jesiré) perfect for those chillier summer days. The
pattern and colour is reminiscent of the famous polka dot dress worn by
Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman – one of Clare's favourite movies! A pair of
taupe kitten heel shoes by Bertie from The Shoe Rooms at Brown
Thomas complete the look.”
Is it hard to find clothes that fit well?
Tops are fine but I have difficulty with
trousers and skirts. I look for
elasticated waists, easy fastenings and
comfortable fabrics.
What did you think of the outfit
chosen by the stylist?
I don’t normally wear white but I
thought it was lovely. The dress isn’t
for everyday wear but the cardigan is
more practical.
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LIAM LYNCH
Liam Lynch is 29 years-old and
lives in Co Longford.
Describe your style
Shirts and jeans in the day and smart
casual (shirts, jackets, trousers) for
going out. I like to appear neat and
tidy as first impressions are generally
based on appearance. I very rarely go
for white because pushing my chair
makes white sleeves filthy in a minute.
Style icon
Steven Gerrard from Liverpool FC – he
always looks smart in casual clothes.
Fashion crime
I don’t like David Beckham’s look at
all. He’s too made up with his ‘casual’
beanie hats and
baggy jeans!
Monthly
clothing budget
I don’t buy
clothes every
month. I’m more
of a ‘go shopping
once every few
months and buy
quite a bit’ kind of
fella.
Favourite label
Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Levi,
Wrangler.
Where do you shop?
Zara, River Island, Topman, Lacoste,
and online at www.freemans.ie
Is it hard to find clothes that fit
well?
I generally go for loose materials as I
need some give and take in clothes. I
find it hard to find shoes that fit
comfortably.
Do you ever get clothes tailored?
Rarely. When I do it’s for something
specific like a wedding.
A safe choice! It’s something I’d buy
for myself.
6
“The All American Guy is a look that has been seen on all the catwalks
this season where loose preppie knits and striped tops bring coastal
cool to a long hot summer. A Ralph Lauren jumper in navy and a Ralph
Lauren shirt with a blue stripe, coordinated with a pair of Timberland
boat shoes ensure that Liam's outfit is bang on trend.”
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fashion
KIARA LYNCH
Kiara Lynch is 24
and from
Longford,
although currently
living in Dublin.
Describe your style
My own!
Streetwear/surfer, light
combats, shorts. Hippy
jewellery. Different old
styles mixed with new. I like darker
colours: purple, navy and olive.
Style icon
Lily Allen – sometimes!
Fashion crime
It’s gotta be super skinny jeans and
UGGs. It looks hideous.
Not a whole lot, maybe €20 a month.
I like to eat!
Favourite labels
American Eagle, Old Navy, Billabong,
Animal.
Where do you shop?
The usual suspects: TopShop,
Penneys, A-Wear. The stalls and
shops in Dublin’s George’s Arcade
have unique stuff and you can
usually haggle. Online favourites
include www.ebay.co.uk and
www.fatface.com. I also buy
American Eagle clothes at
www.ae.com and get them posted
to some friends in New York.
“Kiara likes a casual look and also a hippy/vintage style. We chose a great
pair of bootleg jeans from Seven and paired them with a vintage-inspired
lace top from See by Chloé. The tangerine colour of the buttons is made
to sing out by finishing the outfit with a great pair of tangerine flat pumps
by Bertie. The look is young and feminine with a funky twist.”
Is it hard to find clothes that fit
well?
It’s a bit of a nightmare finding jeans
that fit. I find street wear
jeans/combats the best. I prefer zip
fastenings as I get a tad frustrated
with buttons. And I like clothes that
don’t need to be ironed as, to be
honest, I couldn’t be bothered!
I liked it; the top was definitely
something I’d wear myself.
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fashion
STEPHEN HICKEY
Dubliner Stephen Hickey
is 30 years-old.
Describe your style
Casual and comfy, although I
like to look sharp in formal
clothing sometimes. I try to look
fashionable but don’t follow trends.
Fashion crime
A t-shirt and tie – it’s one or the other!
And tartan trousers!
I make a few big shopping trips a year,
spending about €200 each time.
Favourite label
Brand is not crucial but I think Diesel
make great quality clothes.
Is it hard to find clothes that fit well?
Yes, the problem is you can’t try stuff
on. I haven’t always used a wheelchair
so I know how it changes your
clothing needs. I like clothes that are
non-iron and easy-to-care-for.
Do you ever get clothes tailored?
I get suit jackets shortened to keep
them off the chair wheels.
A really well-made, high-quality shirt.
“For Stephen, we chose a green and blue striped shirt from Etro. Very
wearable, ultra fashionable and perfectly practical. The use of stripes also
makes Stephen look long and lean. A pair of elegant black leather shoes
by Paul Smith makes Stephen a leader in the new season style stakes.”
BBC3 MODELLING
COMPETITION
Missing Top Model is a new reality TV
series in which eight women with
disabilities will compete over the course of three weeks
to prove to a panel of industry experts that they have
what it takes to be a mainstream fashion model.
Women aged between 18 and 30, who have a
disability are invited to apply (bbc.co.uk/ouch/models).
The competition is based in London but the production
company, Love Productions, is encouraging Irish
hopefuls to apply.
Eight women will be chosen to move into an
apartment in London, where they will eat, sleep and
breathe the fashion industry over a three-week period.
Three industry experts will train them in every aspect of
8
modelling: from posing for photo-shoots to location
work and catwalks. During the intensive training period
they will be set challenges by the expert judges to see
if they have what it takes to become a model.
Ultimately, the judges will select one winner and her
prize is a photo-shoot with one of the world’s foremost
fashion photographers which will feature in a top
women’s glossy magazine.
Controller of BBC Three, Danny Cohen says “This
series aims to challenge the artificial boundaries that
seem to exist in the beauty and fashion industries. It
would be great to see more disabled models gracing the
covers of the world's magazines”
The BBC’s award-winning disability website, Ouch, will
provide a forum for debate about the issues raised by
the series, as well as exclusive video clips and blogs.
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A DECENT
PROPOSAL
Robbie Cousins talks to
Niall McDonnell about
planning a very unique
wedding proposal
ast year, I interviewed Niall McDonnell about how he
fulfilled a long-held ambition by buying a 1968 Mustang car while in Australia and exporting it back to
Ireland. The Mustang was the car famously used by
the Steve McQueen character in the movie ‘Bullitt’.
This year Niall attempted a more romantic challenge
when he decided to propose to his girlfriend Kathryn as
part a new TV series called ‘Will You Marry Me?’, soon to
be broadcast on RTE. While I can’t spoil the show by revealing the exact details of the proposal, I can reveal some
of the bizarre situations in which Niall found himself while
preparing for and filming the show.
Niall says he and his housemates did not have much
luck when it came to meeting girls socially. After a few
close encounters, one of his housemates decided to join
an online social networking website called
maybefriends.com. At first a little suspect of his friend’s decision, Niall eventually thought, “Why not? If he is happy
doing it, why don’t I give it a go?”
L
10
When Niall was preparing his website profile, he decided
to be up front about being a wheelchair user. “I didn’t want
to have to explain it at a later date if it came to meeting
someone. I think it was the right decision as a few people
who contacted me without reading my profile appeared to
feel awkward when they found out and stopped communicating with me very quickly after that.”
In February of last year, Kathryn made contact with Niall
after she had read his profile on the website. He says: “We
both had an interest in travel and the closing line of my profile was to the effect that I was looking for someone with
whom to share the famous US Route 66 experience.”
Their online friendship developed very quickly and within
a couple of months they started to talk on the phone. Their
first conversation was late at night and lasted two hours
and Niall says there was hardly a pause for breath. They
then decided to move to the next step and met for dinner
at the Lyons Estate in Newcastle, Co Dublin. From there
the relationship blossomed and within weeks they were
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feature
few adaptations to my chair to facilitate me in the challenge.”
making plans for what they might do in the future. Niall
At the start of January, filming started in earnest and over
says: “It was the first time I had ever experienced anything
the next four weeks Kathryn was subjected to undercover
like this. I had dated people before, but we never planned
beyond the next weekend. But with Kathryn it was different filming the like of which is usually only seen in Hollywood
movies. On one occasion hidden cameras were installed in
and we just spoke about doing things together in the long
the Orchard Garden Centre in Lucan, where she went for
term.”
lunch with Ashling and Grainne.
By August, Niall says they were very much in love and he
Another day, Kathryn passed her sister Ashling’s house on
knew that Kathryn was the one for him. Realising this, he
the way home and noticed seven
started to consider how he might
cars parked outside (belonging to the
propose to her. “In my mind, people
“In my mind, people
film crew). When she got home, she
went to places like Paris or the Ring
of Kerry to get engaged, which is
went to places like Paris asked her mother, Betty, why there
were so many cars there. Betty
fine. But I wanted to do something
or the Ring of Kerry to get quickly replied that there were rezonthat was spectacularly unique.”
Kathryn had a particular outdoor
engaged, which is fine. ing issues on the street and there was
a meeting going on about it. “She
pursuit that she was very passionate
But
I
wanted
to
do
hadn’t a clue what was going to hapabout. This set in motion an idea for
something that was
pen,” laughs Niall. Incredibly, although
his proposal. But this pursuit wasn’t
under immense pressure while filmparticularly wheelchair-friendly and
spectacularly unique”
ing, everybody managed to keep
Niall first had to tackle a few logistiquiet and the Big Day soon arrived.
cal problems.
There was just one last hurdle to overcome. Niall exIn September, while away for a weekend, he heard a radio
plains: “I had to get Kathryn to pack a bag to bring with her
advert for a new TV show called Will You Marry Me? They
were seeking people who were planning unique proposals to as I had planned a night away if all went well. Before she
went to meet her dad to partake in their pastime, I told her
their partners. He decided if he could remember the email
to pack an overnight bag, as we would be going for dinner
address he would write to them on his return home.
and staying away that night. She was intrigued but comThe production company behind Will You Marry Me?,
plied. I later learnt that there was great excitement at her
Midas, were very quick to respond to Niall’s email and he
house as she rushed in the door and exclaimed that I might
subsequently met the director to be screen tested. “This all
be planning on popping the question. Again, her parents
went very well, and before I knew it, we were discussing the
managed to maintain their composure.”
logistics of the proposal.” It was decided that in order to
Brendan’s input came in to play at this stage. “His job
have any chance of success, Kathryn’s father, Brendan,
was to make sure that they arrived at a certain place at a
would have be brought in on the ruse. Brendan shared
specific time so I could takeover.” During their journey
Kathryn’s interest in the outdoor pastime in question and
Brendan and Kathryn were being secretly filmed from a helwould become an essential player in the overall scheme.
icopter. Brendan even stopped at one stage to take photos
So the next step for Niall was to call to Kathryn’s parents’
of the helicopter.
house to ask her father “a couple of questions”. “Brendan
Prior to Brendan and Kathryn’s departure, Niall set out on
was very suspicious when I rang to request a private audithe gruelling journey to reach the place where he would
ence. But I called over and we went to the living room. In
meet them. So, did he make it there on time and what haptrue traditional style, I first asked him for permission to seek
pened next? Well, you will have to tune in to Will You Marry
his daughter’s hand in marriage. And in true Irish style Brendan’s first response was ‘Are you sure, Niall?’ He then asked Me? on RTE 1 at 8.30pm on Sunday 30th March to find out!
‘why do you want to marry Kathryn’ and on answering this
question, he gave his consent.”
Then came the tricky question. “I said: ‘I want to propose
to Kathryn on national television on a new programme called
Will You Marry Me? and over the next few months I need
you and the family to help me plan it without giving anything
away.” Amazingly, Brendan consented and, over the coming
months, Niall, Kathryn’s family (Brendan; mother, Betty; sisters, Ashling and Grainne; and brother, Paul) and the production team put their plans together.
The first step for Niall was to take a medical to see if he
was physically up to the challenge of getting to the planned
location. “I passed the medical and then I was off to the gym
to try and get in to some type of shape. I also had to make a
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careers
CAREER PROFILE:
PETER NOLAN
Peter Nolan works as an information officer with the National
Employment Rights Authority. He talks to Josephine Dwyer
about his career path and his passion for travel
Tell us about your career path to date?
I started out working on reception in the Hilton Hotel in
Dublin. I was in that job for two years and had been living
in Dublin five years when I decided it was time to move
back home to Carlow. So I was delighted when I got a job
in VHI’s customer call centre in Kilkenny. I had also done
an interview for the civil service, and got placed on a panel
for future appointments. After two years in VHI, the civil
service offered me a job in the Patent Office in Kilkenny. I
enjoyed that job and met some great characters there.
Then, last June, I moved to my present job as information
officer in the National Employment Rights Authority
(NERA).
What do you find most interesting about this job?
NERA is a totally new section in the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment. As an information officer, I
deal with queries from both employees and employers on
employment issues, such as rights and holiday pay. In
preparation for taking up the post, I undertook a National
University of Ireland training course.
What are your main interests outside of work?
I love to travel. Last year I was in New York for Paddy’s
Day, Spain for a bit of sun, Budapest for a short break and
Germany for a friend’s wedding. Germany is so accessible!
I plan to go to Las Vegas this year – it’s so tacky, it has to
be experienced!
Do you feel air travel caters for people with disabilities?
Don’t get me started! Would you believe one airline tried to
charge me for my wheelchair as luggage? I fought my corner and didn’t pay. As for toilets! Would it be tolerated if a
pilot announced that no passenger could use the toilet during a flight? Disabled people pay the same airfare but don’t
even have access to a bathroom. I know some progress
has been made, but there is still a long way to go.
For further information on employment rights see
www.employmentrights.ie
Your career sounds free flowing. Were all the moves
easy to make?
Looking back, I feel I was lucky to get a job straight out of
college, as I think getting into the actual workforce is the
biggest hurdle. I hesitated on one move because I was
concerned that the new work environment might not cater
for my needs as well as had been the case with the VHI.
Common sense prevailed and I changed job. The civil
service obligation to equal opportunities and work environment standards has certainly proved to be of benefit to
me.
How accessible is your work environment?
I work in a new building and it’s great that no alterations or
adaptations had to be made. I actually took on the position of access officer and push for accessible formats for
all information. I am not the only person with a disability in
the building so I call on my colleagues to inform me about
requirements for people with other disabilities, such as
hearing loss or visual impairments.
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Page 14
Elizabeth O’Farrell outside
her Dublin city apartment,
managed by BIH (Belfast
Improve Homes) Housing
Association
Mairead Manton at her Dublin
City Council apartment
A NUMBERS GAME
You have a right to a home of your own, but local authorities
can’t respond to your housing need if you haven’t registered on
your local housing list says IWA Housing Officer Dolores Murphy
o you really believe that there are only 480
people with disabilities in Ireland in need of
housing? Well, this is how many people have
registered with local councils since 2005.
Frustratingly, people with disabilities have been hugely
under represented on all local housing lists. We all know
that there are many more people in urgent need of suitable
housing, but unless people start registering, the real
housing needs of people with disabilities won’t be
reflected.
This year, county and city councils across the country will
be developing local housing plans, designed to shape the
development of social housing in their areas. These plans
will be based on the numbers of applicants, and the
requested housing types, recorded on their local social
D
Ann Holden
in her HAIL
(Housing
Association
for Integrated
Living) home
14
housing lists when the National Housing Needs
Assessment takes place at the end of March 2008. This
Housing Needs Assessment only takes place every three
years so there is an urgent need for people with disabilities
to make their housing needs known to local councils. By
making an application to your local council before the end
of March, you are underlining the responsibility of local
councils to respond to the right of people with disabilities
to live as independently as possible in their preferred living
situation.
By registering your housing need, you are not only
making plans for your own future, you are also becoming
part of the bigger picture by helping demonstrate to local
authorities that there are many hundreds, perhaps
thousands, of people with disabilities with unmet housing
needs.
While many local councils will work to develop purposedesigned, high quality accessible housing in consultation
with future tenants, this can be a slow process. The only
way to speed up the process is to provide a constant
supply of such housing through better planning and greater
investment.
It is also important that local authorities understand the
diverse nature of housing needs within the disability sector.
While many people aspire to independent living, others
prefer a shared living situation, or transitional housing so
they can learn or regain independent living skills. Local
authorities have a responsibility to meet all of these
different requirements. Help them plan for future investment
by making your need visible!
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homes
HOW TO MAKE AN APPLICATION
Get a copy of the Housing Application Form by:
Downloading it from your local authority
website at:
www.environ.ie/en/Links/LocalAuthorities/
Phoning the Housing Department in your local
authority
Dropping in to the Housing Department of your
local council.
State your preferred housing type:
On the Housing Application Form clearly state your
preferred housing type, even if that housing type is
not actually listed on the form. If this is the case,
write it in yourself or discuss it with staff in the
Housing Department.
Know your rights:
Any person unable to provide for their own housing
need from personal resources is entitled to apply
for social housing and people with disabilities are
particularly named in the 1966 Housing Act as a
group of people for whom local councils are
expected to make housing provision. Remember
that an applicant should not be refused because a
particular type of housing is not available at that
point in time or because they have supported
accommodation with a parent.
Supply relevant documentation:
Be prepared to supply documentation (e.g. birth
certificate, proof of address, copy of photo ID,
proof of income, doctor/consultant report) along
with the completed application. A report from an
occupational therapist stating the design
requirements of your housing preference is very
useful but should not be required at the outset.
Get support:
Ask for support from your family, friends or a
support worker
IWA’s Housing Support Service can offer you
support in signing onto the social housing list.
Email: housing@iwa.ie Tel: 01 818 6400. A useful
leaflet titled Making an application for social
housing can be downloaded from
www.iwa.ie/publications
Questions about housing applications can be
directed to the Housing Officer in the local authority.
Nobody enjoys form-filling, but all the people
who have been successful in getting a home
will tell you it is worth the trouble in the end!
Florence
Dougall in her
new Dublin City
Council home
Hubert
McCormack
at his Dublin
city centre
apartment,
also managed
by BIH Housing
Association
THE RIGHT LIVING SPACE
A new joint study ‘The Right Living Space’ was
launched in January by the Citizens Information
Board (CIB) and the Disability Federation of Ireland
(DFI). This report is about the difficulties
experienced and the barriers faced by people with
physical, sensory, intellectual and mental health
disabilities (and their representative organisations)
in securing appropriate housing. The report
identifies policy recommendations based on the
experiences of people with disabilities, including:
Introduction of procedures that reach out to
those living with parents or in residential settings
whose housing need has been neglected
Improved access to supports for independent
living, such as personal assistance, home help
and home support
Promotion of 'lifetime' housing design to
minimise disruption if a disability is acquired
Inclusion of a number of wheelchair accessible
units in all developments
Increased investment in social housing that
provides a continuum of types of accommodation
to address the diversity of needs.
The report is available to download from
www.citizensinformationboard.ie
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living
A PLACE
OF YOUR OWN
Connie Richardson’s determination to
live independently, combined with her
willingness to explore different options,
helped her find her Dublin 3 home.
Joanna Marsden reports
inding a home that suits your
lifestyle can be a lengthy
process. Most people want to
stay in a familiar location,
close to a support network of family or
friends. Some need access to good
public transport to get them to work
each day. And then, of course, there is
the whole issue of finding a home with
the right level of accessibility. With all
these considerations, it is not surprising that the hunt for the right home
can often take several years.
Connie Richardson from Clane in
Co Kildare was aware of this reality
but nonetheless determined to
achieve her goal of finding a home of
her own as quickly as possible. “I
moved to Dublin a couple of years
ago and started living in one of the independent living units in IWA Clontarf.
This was my first experience of living
on my own and the biggest shock
was learning how to manage my finances. I was used to just spending
money and suddenly I had to worry
about managing bills. I also had to
learn how to get from A to B by myself
without depending on my family for
lifts. This involved getting to know all
the accessible bus routes and trying
to book taxis. It’s like when you leave
school and they tell you that you’re
going out into the big bad world – I
was just a bit late!”
Having got to grips with independent
living and made friends locally, Connie
was more determined than ever to find
a permanent home in the area. With
the support of IWA’s Housing Officer,
F
Dolores Murphy, Connie registered on
the social housing list with Dublin City
Council and started exploring all the
possible options. “I contacted local letting agents and started viewing apartments from daft.ie. The problem was
they were upstairs flats with no lifts or
lifts that were constantly out of order.”
“Then Dolores told me about some
apartments being built in Fairview,
Dublin 3. IWA was in informal talks
with the builder about making one of
these units fully accessible so that it
could be rented under the Dublin City
Council Rental Accommodation
Scheme (RAS). Connie was interviewed by RAS and then asked if she
would work with the landlord to ensure the apartment was fully accessible. Connie agreed, delighted to have
found such a centrally-located home.
“IWA occupational therapist, Vijoy
Chakraborty, and I worked together to
make access recommendations on
the existing plans.” The work involved
lowering counters, choosing flooring,
installing electric windows and changing the position of the wardrobe to
make it easier to access.
Today, after nearly a year in her new
home, Connie says she is “delighted
to have her own place”. “The location
is great and the RAS scheme is very
convenient – you can pay your rent
and bills each month at any post office
with a special card. “ She feels the
apartment meets all her current needs
but hopes eventually to move to a
small house with a garden so that she
can get a dog.”
Connie loves living in
Fairview but has a few
access issues she would
love to see addressed...
Parking on the pavement near
her house – why are people so
inconsiderate?
Lack of dishing – inconvenient and
sometimes dangerous
The
pedestrian
footbridge – I
live opposite
Fairview Park
but I can’t
even go there
because of
that monstrosity. What more
can I say? It
just has to go!
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access
DART problems
despite investment
Irish Rail has invested
significant resources in
upgrading the
accessibility of DART
stations, but has the
investment met expectations, asks
Josephine Dwyer
he DART rail service runs along the densely
populated commuter belt of the east coast, from
Malahide in County Dublin, to Greystones in
County Wicklow. In recent times, Irish Rail has
carried out extensive work to upgrade the accessibility
features of DART stations, including the purchase of over
The slope to access the DART platform at
200 portable ramps. But has this investment met
Connolly proved impossible to negotiate
expectations by delivering full accessibility for wheelchair
users? I spoke recently to two wheelchair users, who are
regular DART commuters.
Keith Hayes uses the DART to travel from his home in
access for wheelchair users – do they think we don’t go
Bray to work in Dublin. When Keith arrives at a station, he
out at night?”
requests the portable ramps so he can embark and
Both Keith and Clare-Louise avoid using Connolly and
disembark. However, his experience has been that there is
Killester stations and challenged us to go and see why. It
no guarantee his request for a ramp will be passed on to
didn’t take Niall McDonnell, from IWA, very long to find
his destination. Keith explains, “When communication
out. The route to the DART at Connolly Station called for
between stations fails, I end up either missing the train or
a very steep slope to be negotiated. It proved impossible
being stranded on it. It’s not the fault
without assistance. The gradient of
of staff. It’s the set up. Surely, with
slope clearly needs to be
“Surely, there should be the
modern technology, there is a better
reviewed in light of current building
evening access for
system than word of mouth?
regulations.
Thankfully, because I use the DART
On the other hand the ramps at
wheelchair users – do
regularly the local lads in Bray station
Killester station did meet the
they think we don’t go
look out for my arrival”.
regulations but the sheer length of the
Clare-Louise Creedon lives just one
ramp proved totally impractical for
out at night?”
stop up the tracks, in Shankill, and
wheelchair use. You would need to be
shares Keith’s experience. “I use the
an Olympic champion to tackle it! The
DART as it’s so close to my home and, when it works, it’s a use of lifts would be one solution to be considered here.
great service. But I’ve got stranded a few times. The last
Both Clare-Louise and Keith feel that accessibility to the
time, I was travelling on my own, which was quite
DART service could be significantly improved by the
frightening; I didn’t know how I was going to get off the
incorporation of an efficient booking system for the
train.”
portable ramps and by adopting a more practical approach
The use of portable ramps becomes even more
to the needs of wheelchair users.
problematic at night, as the smaller stations are no longer
manned at that time of day. This simply means that many
These issues came to light through people contacting us
wheelchair users don’t have access to the service at night.
here at IWA. If you have shared similar experiences and
As Clare-Louise says, “Surely there should be evening
wish to add your voice, please contact advocacy@iwa.ie
T
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access
CROSS YOUR LEGS
AND HOPE
FOR THE
BEST
Cartoons by Johnny Connaughton
Accessible
bathrooms can
be hard enough
to find; but finding
them is only half
the battle; you just
never know what
you are going to
find inside! Our
advice is: ‘Expect
the unexpected!’
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access
TAKING ACTION:
IMPROVING ACCESS
TO LOCAL SPAR
Poor accessibility has a huge impact
on Liz Linnane’s daily life so she was
encouraged when her local Spar shop
asked her to help them improve access
THE ISSUE
As a regular customer of the Spar shop on the Dodsboro
Road in Lucan, Co Dublin, I was disappointed with the
level of access into the premises. Outside the shop, the
pavement was made of uneven brick. A steep ramp led to
the main entrance which had narrow, manually opening
doors. Cars tended to park in front of the shop, overlapping the pavement and making it very difficult for wheelchair users to get by.
THE ACTION
In 2007, the Spar shop began renovating the exterior of its
building. As a regular customer and member of the board
of Lucan Disability Action Group, the General Manager of
the Spar asked me to give my opinion on the renovation in
regard to wheelchair access.
I am also a qualified Universal Accessibility Auditor and,
with these skills, I undertook a professional wheelchair accessibility audit on the exterior of the shop in October 2007.
The result of my audit was to recommend that the ramp
be re-built with the correct gradient for wheelchair access,
or that the ramp be completely removed and the area levelled. I also recommended that the uneven bricked pavement be levelled and bollards placed in front of the
entrance and evenly spaced.
THE OUTCOME
In line with my recommendations, Spar replaced the bricks
with concrete to level the outside area, and put in three
separated dished kerbs (one from each side) for wheelchair access, eliminating the need for a ramp. The manual
narrow door was replaced by a wide automatic sliding
door allowing ample room for reversing and turning manoeuvres.
At times, the consideration and co-operation of people
can be heartening. The fact the management of the Spar
shop invited me to do a wheelchair accessibility audit, and
took on board most of my recommendations, is proof we
are moving forward as a society to include people with disabilities. Their actions benefit not only those customers
with limited mobility, but also parents with young children in
pushchairs and prams.
Lucan Disability Action Group is available to conduct Accessibility Audits. For further information, contact Maria at:
01 610 0475.
UPDATE: ‘UNLOCKING’ OF ACCESSIBLE
TOILET IN NATIONAL CONCERT HALL
Good news for classical music lovers! In the summer
2006 edition of Spokeout, John Graham highlighted
the inconvenience caused by keeping the accessible
toilet in the National Concert Hall (NCH) locked at all
times. After further correspondence with NCH, John
is delighted to report a positive response from NCH
management. “The NCH took on board our concerns and is now keeping these facilities permanently unlocked. I would also like to mention that
with the imminent refurbishment of the NCH, IWA
has been assured that the very important issue of
accessibility will be given every consideration, both in
the preparation of its accommodation brief and the
final specification for the redeveloped premises.”
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23
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Away
FROM IT ALL
For a short break that is totally different, Gary Allen
decided to fly west, to Inis Meain in the Aran Islands,
and had an unforgettable weekend
sland hopping, while not leaving the jurisdiction of the
Irish Republic, wouldn’t jump out at you as an obvious
choice for a holiday, now would it? Well, that’s exactly
what my wife and I did recently, on a weekend break
to Inis Meain, which is the middle Island of the three Aran
Islands, just off the coast of Galway.
I switched off the laptop at 3:30pm on Friday evening
and by 5:15pm I was in my room on the island via the six
minute Aer Arann flight from Connemara Airport.
We stayed at Inis Meain Restaurant and Suites. This
was a fabulous place, but it may not be for everyone as
it’s not all that wheelchair friendly. However, it might be
worth the effort if you are prepared to ‘make do’ with the
slightly cramped toilet facilities. The rooms are really spacious and bright, the owners are very welcoming and the
I
24
views are breath-taking.
‘An Dún’ is another B&B option on the island, which
has two accessible bedrooms on the same level as the
dining room.
On the Friday night after we got settled in we made the
20 metre journey to the restaurant. Seafood is big here
and we had a wonderful meal, most of which featured the
local catch.
Saturday morning started unlike any Saturday I can recall. We woke just after 7am to the most spectacular sunrise and almost complete silence. Now, this is silence on
a whole other level. Traffic is virtually non-existent and the
only sounds were a braying donkey, some crows and
some starlings. Rushing is a totally alien concept here. I
don't switch off easily but this place does do something
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travel
to the brain that makes rushing, or worrying, just plain
wrong.
Inis Meain, with a population of only about 160, is the
least touristy of the three islands. It’s probably most famous because of the fact that John Millington Synge
spent a lot of time there writing. Consequently, ‘Synge’s
Chair’ and ‘Synge’s Cottage’ are popular landmarks.
Is there a downside to the island? Well maybe. This
place is hilly! It was worth the push up the hill, however,
to get to the most populated part of the island where
you’ll find the shop, the church and the pub. Note, just
the one of each! This is where I have to admit to briefly
popping back to the 21st century for a while to watch
some rugby in the pub. When we arrived back to the
suite, it seemed the logical thing was have a little lie
down, which we duly did.
After dinner we found that the fresh island air and good
food really had taken its toll on us and it wasn't long after
sunset before we were panned out.
Sunday started in pretty much the same way as the
previous day, with a huge breakfast. It was with heavy
hearts, but an utter certainty of returning, that we
boarded the 10.15am plane for the shortest of flights
back to Connemara.
An unforgettable weekend!
Inside Gary’s room at Inis Meain
Restaurant and Suites
USEFUL CONTACTS
Inis Meain Restaurants and Suites
www.inismeain.com 086 826 6026
An Dún B&B
www.inismeainaccommodation.com 099 730 47
Aer Arann
www.aerarannislands.ie 091 593 034
Aran Island Ferries
www.aranislandferries.com 091 568 903
K-Nova
Sparkle night and day
Express your personality through an
exceptional aesthetic feel combined
with lightness and performance.
Dazzle everyone with this
Limited Edition Küschall
chair studded exclusively
with Swarovski Crystals.
Invacare Ireland Limited
Unit 5, Seatown Business Campus, Seatown Road, Swords, Dublin
Tel: +(353) 1 8107084 Fax: +(353) 1 8107085
email: dservice@invacare.com www.invacare.ie
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travel
Holidaying at home
Looking for quality, accessible accommodation without the hassle of going
abroad? Look no further...
BOOLIES COUNTRY
HOTEL
Oldcastle, Co Meath
049 854 2675
www.boolies.com
SUNNYSIDE B&B
Blarney, Co Cork
021 438 5779
www.cork-guide.ie/blarney/sunnyside
Boolies Country Hotel is set in
the ruins of a 19th century farm
complex just one mile outside
Oldcastle, Co Meath. The hotel
is designed around a courtyard
setting with all bedrooms opening on to a patio area.
What kind of access is there?
There is level and ramped access throughout the hotel.
How wide are the doors? All
doors are wider than 90cm.
What are the bedroom facilities? All bedrooms are fully
wheelchair accessible with
room for a wheelchair to pull up
close to the bed for transferring.
Bedrooms are located on the
ground floor and first floor, and
there is a lift. You can organise
hoist hire, by prior arrangement,
or you can bring your own.
What are the shower/bath facilities? All en suites are spacious and ‘wet room’ in design
with a shower, fixed seat or
shower chair, and grab rails.
Are the grounds accessible?
The courtyard within the hotel is
fully accessible.
Sunnyside B&B, a comfortable
bungalow run by Mary Walsh, is
located in Blarney about five
miles outside Cork City on the
N617. Sunnyside offers spacious reception and dining
rooms and there are five large
en suite bedrooms, one of
which is fully adapted for wheelchair users enabling total independence.
Level access throughout.
How wide are the doors?
Door widths are 85cm.
What are the bedroom facilities? There is one very large
fully wheelchair accessible bedroom. There is room for a hoist
and one may be hired by prior
arrangement or you can bring
your own.
What are the shower/bath facilities? The en suite is spacious with a roll-in shower, grab
rails, shower chair and fixed
seat.
The patio area is accessible and
is available for guest use.
BIG JIMMY’S COTTAGE
Creevy, Co Donegal
www.creevyexperience
.com
Big Jimmy’s Cottage is one of
three award-winning restored
traditional stone cottages, situated in Creevy on the edge of
the Atlantic Ocean overlooking
Donegal Bay. With all modern
conveniences and a fully accessible kitchen, this cottage can
be rented on a self-catering
basis with an optional house
keeping service.
Level access throughout.
How wide are the doors? All
90cm wide.
What are the bedroom facilities? The wheelchair accessible
bedroom is at ground level with
room for a hoist. Guests are advised to bring their own hoist or
make arrangements to hire one.
What are the shower/bath facilities? The en suite facilities
feature a wet room with roll-in
shower, fixed seat and grab rails
with adequate turning space.
The landscaped area around
the cottage is accessible and
includes a patio area with barbeque.
Somewhere to recommend? Contact colette.molloy@iwa.ie. Compiled by Colette Molloy with help from Harriet Lyall
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Playing poker with the new
CO2 EMISSIONS
REGULATIONS
There is a new game of poker being played in Ireland with three
players: The Revenue Commissioners, car manufacturers/car dealers
and you! Niall McDonnell looks at the implications for wheelchair users
of CO2-based changes to VRT and car tax schemes
Peugeot 308 SX 1.6
e the motorists are
all trying to get the
best deal, with most of us trying to be as environmentally friendly as possible without
going blue in the face. But CO2-related changes in vehicle
registration tax (VRT) and motor tax might end up putting
us in the red! What are carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
and why are we being taxed on them?
CO2 emissions come from many sources. But the fossil
fuels we are burning in our cars, such as diesel and petrol,
are responsible for a high percentage of those that come
from humans. According to scientific sources, these emissions are responsible for increasing the chances of global
warming. Because of this there has been an worldwide effort to reduce them. Part of the international effort includes
the ‘Kyoto Protocol’, which was agreed on 11th December
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28
1997. The agreement sets out how much each
country will have to do to reduce their individual CO2 emissions. Any country that fails to meet deadlines for reduction
levels will receive fines.
As part of the methods of reducing CO2 emissions, the
Irish Government has chosen to introduce VRT regulations
on new cars and how they will be road taxed afterwards.
There are seven bands in the new CO2 emissions regulations ranging from A to G (listed opposite). The scheme will
reward those who purchase vehicles with low CO2 emissions and levy higher tax charges on those that choose
cars with higher emissions. On the face of it this seems to
be a good way of handling the issue.
The breakdown of the VRT on new cars purchased from
1st July 2008 is as follows.
These new regulations have the potential to affect mo-
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motoring
CO2 EMISSIONS BAND
g CO2 /Km
VRT Rate
MOTOR TAX
A
0 – 120g
14%
€100
B
121 – 140g
16%
€150
C
141 – 155g
20%
€290
D
156 – 170g
24%
€430
E
171 – 190g
28%
€600
F
191 – 225g
32%
€1000
G
226g – and over
36%
€2000
torists with disabilities with regard to when they buy their
new car. Why so, you might ask.
I have checked various different vehicles for their CO2 emissions: in total I have surveyed about thirty vehicles. The cars I
chose are a good cross section of vehicles in the market.
They are both petrol and diesel. I have also chosen both the
automatic and their nearest equivalent in a manual variant.
After doing the research it seemed apparent that automatics have a higher emissions rate than their manual
counterpart, which makes them a weak card to be playing.
This could potentially mean that some vehicles with low
CO2 emissions could drop in price from 1st July and some
with high CO2 emissions could see a rise in price. The only
things we do know for now are the rates at which VRT and
motor tax are going to be calculated and, the lower the
CO2 emissions, the lower the price and motor tax will be
from that date onwards.
Some people would look at this and say, ‘Well if it’s cheap
now. I’ll make a killing and buy before the price rises’. But
that may mean the car could be less valuable afterwards
because of its poor CO2 emissions. Alternatively, those
looking at purchasing a vehicle with low CO2 emissions
might look at the price now and say it is going to drop in
July. But they might find that when July comes the manufacturer has put up the profit margin on the vehicle in question and all the benefit of waiting is lost!
This leaves anybody purchasing a vehicle playing a game
of poker, whether we like it or not. Most of the cards in the
game have been dealt – the VRT rates, the motor tax rates
and the commencement date for the scheme on 1st July.
The only card left now is the one to be played by the manufacturers. Their card being that when they set out their new
price structures they can choose how much profit they
have on a particular car model in their range. This is a very
strong card as it has the last call on what will happen.
All we can do is decide whether to play now or later, keep
a straight face and play the game as best we can. The fact
we have an ace to play with the VAT and VRT concessions
might give us a strong hand. But the garages are well used
to dealing with that one. Combine this with the fact that the
VAT and VRT scheme has not been index linked and has
lost much of its financial clout and the cost of cars has risen
substantially, increasing the threshold for the VAT and VRT
over the past number of years, and suddenly we are not
talking aces anymore.
Even worse is the fact that the cost of adaptations has
risen; I myself was quoted over €1,000 for a simple hand
control, which in the past could be obtained for under
€400. What was a strong hand for us is now being further
threatened with the new CO2 emissions, maybe dealing a
telling blow to our already fragile automatic card, turning it
from that hand of aces into a hand of jokers...
There are bound to be some winners and, unfortunately,
some losers. We just hope the game is not that little bit
rigged by the fact we have no choice because we have
been dealt a hand of automatics. I will be keeping an eye
on how things progress and will keep you informed as to
how much prices have changed come July and hopefully in
what direction the best hands might be found.
On a closing note, to date I have found only one car so
far that has the same CO2 emissions in both automatic
and manual variants and that is the new Peugeot 308 SX
1.6 with a 159/Km combined urban / extra urban cycle for
both gearboxes. Hopefully, others can follow this standard
and with any luck make the automatic our royal flush again.
Please send comments on CO2 emissions, or other motoring issues, to niall.mcdonnell@iwa.ie
THE CO2 EMISSIONS TEST
The new VRT and car tax rates are derived from an
EU test procedure called the New European Drive
Cycle. The test involves a 19.6-minute test in two
parts: Urban cycle – a series of 12 starts and stops
at an average of 12mph and never exceeding
31mph; and Extra Urban cycle – a faster single
sequence of acceleration, deceleration and steadyspeed driving, never exceeding 75mph.
An average of the two parts, based on their
respective distances, gives the EU combined fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions figures.
The measurement of CO2 emmisions from cars is
not based on fuel used. The procedure analyses a
combination of exhaust gases and fuel usage, and
from this CO2 emissions are derived.
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living
Choosing a chair and
CHAIR ACCESSORIES
If you spend most of the day sitting, it is vital
you have a chair that is tailored to meet your
needs. Your size, degree of mobility and any
existing pain are some of the factors which
should influence your choice of chair, according to
Dara Woods from Assist Ireland
hen choosing
a chair it is
vital that the
dimensions
match your size. The height
Seat with drop
of the seat can determine
down arms
how easy it is to get in and
out of it. A high seat will make
it easier to stand up and sit down. The
correct height can be calculated by measuring the distance from the floor to the back of the knees.
The seat should be wide enough to allow you to sit comfortably but narrow enough so you can make use of the
armrests. Ideally, it should be the width of your hips plus a
clenched fist on either side.
The depth of the seat, from front to back, is another critical
dimension. This needs to be deep enough to support the full
length of your thighs and is calculated by measuring the distance from the back of the hips, along the thighs to approximately three centimetres behind the back of the knees.
When seated you should be able to place two fingers together between the seat edge and the back of your knees.
Other design features to be considered include the
shape and angle of the backrest, the armrests, the seat
and the legs. The backrest should be gently curved to
match the natural curve of the spine. It should be angled
slightly backwards and should provide good support, particularly around the small of the back and the head. The
armrests should provide side support, and help you to
stand up. Drop-down or removable armrests can help you
get in and out of the chair from the side, and are therefore
useful for wheelchair users.
Chair seats are usually foam-filled or have springs. Some
suppliers incorporate special pressure relieving features in
the seat, which may be worth considering if you find it difficult to adjust your position or sit for long periods. Chair
legs can be straight or splayed. Splayed legs offer greater
stability, especially when you push down on the armrests.
W
GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CHAIR
There are various options you can consider to make it easier to get in and out of your chair. These include reviewing
your technique, raising your chair, using a standing frame,
using a riser cushion or exchanging your chair for a high
seat chair or riser chair.
Firstly, get an assessment by a physiotherapist or occupational therapist, if you are uncertain of your technique.
The next option to consider is raising your existing armchair using chair raisers. These increase the height of the
chair legs, thus increasing the seat height so that you can
stand up and sit down more easily.
Seat riser cushion
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living
Standing frames can be used to help you in and out of a
chair. These frames are adjustable so they can fit around a
chair and they have two handles which extend upwards to
provide support for you to push against when standing or
sitting.
Alternatively, you could consider buying a high seat chair,
which has a high, firm seat, stable armrests and a high
supportive backrest.
SEAT RISER CUSHIONS AND CHAIRS
If you have difficulty getting out of a high seat chair, you
could consider getting a seat riser cushion or riser chair.
These have a spring or hydraulically operated mechanism
which, when activated, tilts the seat forward to assist you
to get out. Seat riser units can be placed on top of the
original seat cushion or on the base of the chair.
Manual riser chairs have seats that are hinged at the front
edge. When a lock is released a gas or spring operated
mechanism tilts the seat forward to help you stand up.
Powered riser chairs use mains electricity and need to be
placed within easy reach of a socket. There are three different types of powered riser chairs: one with a mechanism
that raises the seat only; one where the seat and the armrests rise; and one where the whole chair rises – seat, armrests and backrest. To use these chairs safely it is
important you have sufficient strength and control in your
trunk and legs.
With all riser cushions and chairs, care is required to ensure that the mechanism does not trap any part of your
body, your clothes, or items such as walking sticks.
RECLINING CHAIRS
Reclining chairs allow you to alter your position during the
day and often have integrated leg rests to support your
calves. On some models that leg rest operates simultane-
Riser
chair
38
ously with the backrest,
which is ideal if you only
use the chair for sitting or
lying. On other models the
backrest and leg rest can be
operated independently,
which is more suitable if you
need to elevate your legs
Metal chair
while sitting up.
with riser seat
If you need to recline the backrest without elevating the leg rest
there can be a tendency to slide forward on the seat. A tiltin-space chair (where the seat and backrest tilt backwards
maintaining a 90 degree angle between them) may be the
best option in this case.
Riser recliner chairs recline in the same way as those
mentioned above, but they also have a seat lift to help the
person stand up and sit down.
MORE COMPLEX SEATING NEEDS
If you have complex seating requirements, make
sure you get an assessment from an occupational
therapist or physiotherapist. Your therapist will help
you evaluate options including:
Chairs with adjustable angle seats and
backrests
These high seat chairs have adjustable seats that
can be sloped backwards and adjustable backrests
that can be reclined so the overall seat/backrest
angle remains at 90 degrees. This type of chair is
suitable for somebody who tends to slide or fall forwards in their chair.
Multi-adjustable deep seat chairs
These multi-adjustable chairs can be tailored to
your individual needs. The height, width, depth and
angle of the seat are adjustable, as is the angle of
the backrest. Some of these chairs have a tilt-inspace mechanism so that the whole seat and backrest unit can be angled backwards to provide a
deep seat. Additional side and head supports can
be fitted and adjusted according to the user's
needs.
Modular seating systems
These multi-adjustable systems consist of an individually moulded system placed on top of a chair
frame or a basic chair with a number of components (such as pommels or foot or head supports)
added to it. Most of these systems are made up of
components, so they can be replaced as the person grows or changes posture.
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CULINARY HERBS
An organic herb garden
will intoxicate your senses
and enrich your meals
says Helen Rock
here is an old saying that goes: "If you want to be
happy for a few hours, get drunk. If you want to
be happy for a few years, get married. If you want
to be happy for life, get a garden."
This is probably very true, but more especially if you garden with nature rather than against, and with respect for
yourself and the environment. That means never using noxious chemicals, nor wood from non-renewable forests
(much of the timber for decking is a case in point), and refusing to buy endangered bulbs and plants stolen from the
wild.
There are no mysteries about organic gardening. In fact,
it's simpler, more satisfying and less expensive. The secret
is in the soil, that is, getting your ground into fine, fertile fettle, full of earthworms, good bacteria and micro-organisms
that will fight the good fight against enemy pests and disease.
Most herbs are easy to grow and you don't need an actual garden to grow them. Pots, window boxes and raised
beds in back yards can accommodate myriad kinds quite
T
The herb Hyssop used to edge a vegetable bed in the restored walled garden
at Marley Park in Rathfarnham, Dublin
40
A double border of Oregano in full flower
at Marley Park in Rathfarnham, Dublin
happily, once you give them comfortable living quarters. A
fragrant herb garden will make you feel happy, and enable
you to use generous, health-enhancing amounts of fresh
herbs in your soups, stews, pasta sauces, salads, quiches
and stir-fries.
Edible flowers from seed – such as Pot Marigolds (Calendula officinalis) and trailing Nasturtiums – would be a great
addition to any herb garden. If you also grow some ‘lucky’
lavender (you don't have to eat it, though in medieval times
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living
In spring 2007, members of the Dochas Programme,
Clontarf, created a herb garden. The garden is thriving
and the herbs are being used in meals prepared for
members in the centre. Pictured: Members Anne Landers
and Frank Healy tending the herb garden.
a little lavender was regularly used in sweet and savoury
When first making a herb garden of any size, take addishes), you’ll be able to cut and dry some of the flowers
vantage of a south-facing aspect if you have one, as most
(do this before the flowers are fully open in summer) and
herbs need sun to produce their volatile oils. A gently slopthen use them to scent your linen press, deter moths and
ing position is best, ensuring that any excess water can run
lift your spirits on dull winter days.
off, away from plant roots. This is
An organic herb garden in
fairly essential for those aromatic
flower will intoxicate the senses. It
herbs that originate in warm, dry
“A fragrant herb garden will
will be alive with songbirds, with
climates.
make you feel happy, and
big bumbling bees drunk on necIn pots, good drainage can be
enable you to use generous, created by putting a layer, at least
tar, with butterflies, ladybirds, the
good black beetle (the Irish ciahealth-enhancing amounts of an inch thick, preferably more, of
rog) and big, fat juicy worms that
broken ‘crocks’ at the bottom of
fresh herbs in your soups,
will break down the soil into a
the pots, and then mixing plenty of
crumbly, workable tilth for you.
stews, pasta sauces, salads, fine, horticultural grit or river sand
Give the herb bed a focus for
into the compost, to open it up.
quiches
and
stir-fries”
the eye, maybe a little clipped bay
The compost should be claytree in the centre, or an upright
based, not peat-based. This will
rosemary bush, or, if the bed is
hold water and nutrients better and
large enough, a pretty quince tree. Related to the pear, the pots will be heavier and less prone to blowing over. A good
quince has beautiful spring blossom, gorgeous leaves and John Innes No. 2 mix is ideal.
wonderful, scented yellow pear-shaped fruits, which can
During initial construction, raised herb beds can be set
be made into a jewel-coloured jelly, usually eaten with
at a slight angle or tilt, though this is not essential. When
cheese and cold meats.
filling-in with earth, the same rules of good drainage apply.
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“An organic herb garden in flower will
[…] be alive with songbirds, with big
bumbling bees drunk on nectar, with
butterflies, ladybirds, the good black
beetle (the Irish ciarog) and big, fat
juicy worms...”
Wooden railway sleepers are often used for making
raised beds and if using them, you must reject any that
have been treated with creosote or other preservative beforehand, as this will continue to leach from the wood and
into the soil, poisoning your plants.
A raised bed made of brick or stone can be a very handsome alternative.
Some of the greener herbs – such as parsley, coriander,
rocket, sorrel, fennel, lovage and mint – also like plenty of
water along with their drainage and don't need a place in
full sun. Most herbs are easy to grow and require little attention once established. Mint is probably the easiest and
is currently very fashionable. Try mint tea. Very good for the
digestion.
Mint can be invasive, so if space is limited, grow it in a
bottomless bucket, or a big plastic pot plunged into the
ground. You can also keep it within bounds with broken
bits of slate pushed well down around it, to stop the roots
running.
There are many lovely varieties of mint, including delicious Apple Mint and Pineapple Mint, which is so pretty
and decorative that it's often grown at the front of flower
borders. Mints are perennial and most of them die back
completely in winter, though you can pot up a few roots in
autumn and keep them indoors for a supply of fresh leaves
to pick until growth starts again in late spring.
A dressed salad decorated with
the edible flowers of Nasturtium,
Borage and Pot Marigolds. All
three will reseed themselves in
the garden from year to year
FOUR EASY HERBS TO TRY
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): Indispensable
and full of iron. Traditionally, the seeds are sown
on Good Friday "when the Devil is busy elsewhere". Will do in sun or semi-shade and each
plant lasts for two years, after which the plants
need to be replaced. The roots can be added to
soups and stocks. The curly moss-type makes a
good soft edging
herb. Loose-leaf
‘Continental’
parsley is just as
easy to grow and
many think its
flavour superior.
Parsley helps
deter greenfly if
planted under
roses.
Sage (Salvia officinalis): The common grey, narrow-leaved sage, which looks good all year, has
pretty flowers and the best flavour. Singers use an
infusion as a throat gargle for its antiseptic qualities. Purple sage is very decorative, but some
types never flower and the flavour is inferior. Both
kinds are perennials and can be pruned quite hard
to keep them in shape. Sage likes sweet, stony
soil in full sun and can be harvested all year round.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus): If this shrubby herb
grows well in your garden, it’s said that there's a
strong woman in the house (ditto parsley). One of
my favourites is the architectural form known as
'Miss Jessop's Upright', which makes an elegant
small feature or can be kept clipped as a mediumsized hedge. It is very hardy but still needs a mild
spot out of buffeting winds. Horizontal, sprawling
rosemary looks good making its way down the
walls of a raised bed. The varieties 'Sissinghurst'
and 'Fota' have flowers of a very good blue.
Rosemary is said to strenghten the brain and
memory and an infusion can be used as a conditioning hair rinse.
Thyme (Thymus): This herb is indispensable in
cooking and has many medicinal uses, including
the use of essence of wild thyme as an antibiotic
for chest ailments. Thyme loves to be baked in the
same sweet, arid soil as all herbs of Mediterranean character. Varieties include delicious lemon
and attractive silver. Creeping thymes are used to
make aromatic lawns and garden seats.
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news
GOING TO THE (NANO)
heart of it
Recent publicity about the potential of
nanotechnology may have caught your attention.
Researcher Dr Marek Radomski explains what
nanotechnology is and why it matters
he prefix of the word nanotechnology – ‘nano’ –
derives from the Greek word ‘nanos’, meaning
‘dwarf’. Nanotechnology is a field of applied
science and technology that deals with matter at
dimensions in the range 1 to 100 nanometers. These are
truly miniscule dimensions when considering that one
nanometer is one thousand millionth of a metre and by
comparison is about 80,000 times smaller than the width of
a human hair. So why does such a tiny matter, matter? This
is because when materials are reduced to the nanoscale
and form nanoparticles they can show very different
properties compared to the macroscale. For example,
insulators become conductors or opaque materials become
transparent. These unique properties of nanosised matter
are widely used in various industries including cosmetics
(creams, spray, lotions etc) and computing (e.g. Intel chips).
Medicine has been also fascinated by the exciting
prospects of nanotechnology, and nanomedicine is a
rapidly growing area of medical research. This fascination
may have started in 1960s with a science-fiction concept
advanced by the giant genre author, Isaac Assimov, who in
his book Fantastic Voyage injected a miniaturised
submarine and researchers into the human body to treat
intractable blood clot in brain. Amazingly, after one half of a
century, nanoresearchers are investigating if nanoparticles
and nanodevices could be used in diagnostics, imaging
(diagnosing illnesses and visualising pathologies in much
earlier stages than currently possible) and therapeutics
(targeting drugs and devices only to the cells affected by
T
the disease process, but not to healthy cells). Patients
suffering from cancer, infectious or cardiovascular diseases
are likely to benefit from this research.
What about patients with severe neurological
degenerative diseases with limited mobility? Neurology is
also a potential beneficiary of nanomedical research. The
‘neuronano’ research is focusing on very topical, but
extremely difficult-to-achieve therapeutic goals of neuronal
protection and neuronal regeneration. Neuronal protection
(preventing detrimental effects of toxic agents such as
oxidants) and neuronal regeneration (encouraging re-growth
of damaged neurons) are facilitated by nanoparticles.
Interestingly, nanoparticle surfaces provide encouraging
scaffolding for the re-growth of damaged neurons. Such
permissive environment and spatial and temporal cues for
guided neuronal re-growth and ‘knitting’ the brain tissue
together might be the key to neuronal regeneration.
How far are we from a very challenging goal of
regenerating damaged neurons using nanomedical
devices? At this point in time, a straight answer to the
question is not possible. There is sizable initial investment
in nanotechnology and nanomedicine worldwide, as well
as in Ireland in scientific institutions such as Trinity College
Dublin, University College Dublin, Dublin City University,
Dublin Institute of Technology or University College Cork to
mention only a few. This investment needs to be increased
in order to stimulate quality research and facilitate
therapeutic developments. The road from the initial
discovery, through the ‘proof-of-principle’ demonstration,
safe therapy design, testing to the clinical application is a
long one and paved with difficulties. However, a rapidly
growing community of nanoresearchers is working very
hard to make a science-fiction dream the reality.
Dr. Marek Radomski MD, PhD, is a researcher working in
Trinity College Dublin. He is Professor and Chair of
Pharmacology in the School of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences and one of the Principal
Investigators in the Centre for Research on Adaptive
Nanostructures and Nanodevices. His interest and
research focus is on nanomedicine.
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IWA NEWS UPDATE
The IWA Annual Conference and AGM take place in May this year and will provide an opportunity to
share views and launch IWA’s strategy for the next three years. Kathleen McLoughlin, CEO, looks forward
to meeting you all there
Our spring edition of Spokeout
includes our normal line-up of
features, together with news
of our forthcoming AGM and
Conference which takes place on 17th
and 18th May in the Crowne Plaza
Hotel, Santry. Our conference theme
this year is ‘Your Life – Your Way’. This
theme reflects the right of people with
disabilities to have more choices
about the way in which they live their
lives.
Thanks to the great attendance at
last year’s conference, we did have
some overcrowding problems at the
workshops. We have, as a result,
changed the format this year and instead of workshops, we will be having
presentations from a number of
keynote speakers. These presentations
will hopefully prompt some interesting
questions for our panel discussion. The
work on the development of our strategy has also provided us with much
food for thought and we hope to formally launch the strategy at the conference.
I have been delighted with the level
of response we have received both to
the questionnaires we issued, and
also the attendance at the regional
workshops held to facilitate the development of the new strategy. Even the
preliminary analysis is showing a huge
amount of consensus around what
you see as the key strategic objectives
for the Association for the next three
years. I look forward to presenting you
with the outcomes from our research
in May.
I am particularly pleased that this
year we are able to provide members
who cannot attend the conference
with an opportunity to vote by post.
Please read the information included
on this subject carefully and make
sure to register on time if you wish to
avail of this opportunity. To those of
you who will be in a position to join us
for the conference and AGM, please
book early to avoid disappointment
and to ensure you get the hotel of
your choice.
I am looking forward to seeing a
huge attendance again this year. I can
promise plenty of lively debate and
hopefully some opportunities to meet
old friends and have some fun. Do
come along and ensure that your
voice is heard, at this once a year
gathering of the members of the Association, your Association.
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news
FIRST PUBLIC ADULT
CHANGING ROOM
INSTALLED
‘INTEGR8’ INTERACTIVE YOUTH
WORK DVD LAUNCHED
Minister of State, Seán Haughey, TD, recently launched Integr8, a new
interactive youth work DVD, which aims to increase awareness of the needs,
desires and wants of young people with limited mobility. Integr8 was developed
to increase awareness and to promote more inclusive approaches to young
people with limited mobility among young people, youth leaders and those
involved in managing the youth sector. The DVD aims to reduce the anxieties
that some people have regarding including young people with limited mobility in
their programmes and to change behaviours towards young people with limited
mobility. The DVD comes with a supporting booklet which can be used in
classrooms or youth clubs. The programme duration is approximately ten
minutes but the discussion time can last up to an hour depending on the nature
of the group.
The project was funded by the Irish Youth Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy
Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Foroige, the National Youth
Development Organisation.
For further information or a copy of the DVD contact daragh.kennedy@iwa.ie
IWA develops access standards
IWA is in the process of finialising IWA Access Design Standards. The
standards will give the specifications recommended by IWA for access
to the built environment and to services and facilities within the built
environment. The standards will include the recommended IWA sizes for
public toilets; hotel guest rooms and bathroom facilities; entrance to and
circulation within buildings; parking; and audience and spectator
facilities. The specifications are intended to provide best practice
guidelines in order to facilitate access for all people, including those
using large powered wheelchairs. The standards are being developed by
the IWA Access Group, which includes several wheelchair users. A draft
version of the standards is now available. IWA is keen to get the
opinions of other wheelchair users and interested parties on the
proposed specifications. If you would be interested in being part of this
process, just request a copy of the Draft Access Design Standards from
Dolores Murphy on 01 818 6400 or dolores.murphy@iwa.ie. Your
comments and opinions will be welcomed.
The Scotch Hall shopping
centre, Drogheda, is the first
public building in the country to
install a changing room for
older children and adults. The
facility consists of a wide
hydraulic bed, which can be
raised and lowered to enable
children (from age two) to
adults to be changed
comfortably. Ursula Regan of
Special Needs Active Parents
(SNAP) approached Scotch Hall
with her plan, who took it on,
and she was then the
fundraiser behind this idea.
Ursula would like to see this
basic facility in all large public
facilities. Next on her campaign
list is Marshes Shopping Centre
in Dundalk and Dublin Airport!
JUBILEE SAILING TRUST
COMING TO DUBLIN!
This year’s Dublin Docklands
Maritime Festival will take place
from Friday 30th May to Monday
2nd June. The Docklands
Maritime Festival features several
spectacular tall ships, an array of
maritime-related street theatre,
and musical entertainment from
top acts. One of the tall ships will
be the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s (JST)
Lord Nelson. On Sunday 1st
June, the Lord Nelson will hold an
‘open ship’, giving visitors a
chance to come onboard. It’s a
chance to get a real feel of a
working tall ship, and, as the Lord
Nelson is one of only two
wheelchair accessible tall ships in
the world, it’s well worth seeing
the ingenious methods JST have
discovered to get around barriers
that would otherwise hinder a
wheelchair user from sailing and
being a working member of the
crew! Ship Ahoy!
For further details visit:
www.dublindocklands.ie or
www.jst.org.uk or contact Kiara
Lynch at kiaralynch@gmail.com
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news
TCD study on mums
and mums to be...
Little is known about some women’s experiences as they avail of
maternity, childhood and other health services during pregnancy,
childbirth and early motherhood in Ireland. A research team in
Trinity College Dublin is attempting to address this. The team is
inviting women who are over 18 years of age and who are
pregnant (or have had a baby in the past two years) to
participate in a study. Women should have an intellectual
disability, a visual impairment, a hearing impairment, a physical
disability, or experience as a user of the mental health services.
Taking part in the study will involve being interviewed (on one,
two or three occasions – you choose how often). One interview
will take place during pregnancy, one soon after the birth and
one when your baby is one to two years old. You will also be
asked for your views about your experience of the maternity
hospital, baby clinics and other health services that you have
attended. The rights of privacy and confidentiality will be
protected during and after the study.
For further information, contact: Denise Lawler, School of
Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, 24 D’Olier Street,
Dublin 2. Tel: 086 378 9758. Email: lawlorde@tcd.ie
Dublin Bus stop survey
Currently over 60 percent of the Dublin Bus fleet is accessible.
It is planned to have 100 percent accessibility by 2012.
Unfortunately, the design of many bus stops prevents
wheelchair users from entering and exiting many of these
accessible buses. As a result, IWA has decided to conduct a
survey to try and identify the particular bus stops which cause
wheelchair users difficulties. The results of the survey will be
presented to Dublin Bus to try and stimulate some action on
the relevant bus stops. Please send details of problem bus
stops to tony.maher@iwa.ie or Tony Maher, National Mobility
Centre, Clane, Co Kildare. Please give the exact location of
the bus stop and details of bus route (e.g. 66A).
DUBLIN AIRPORT LIFT WORK
Dublin Airport Authority has asked us to inform readers
that the two lifts that connect the Shopping Street (once
passengers have been through the security screening
area) with the airside mezzanine food area in Dublin
Airport are being replaced.
The bad news is Dublin Airport Authority deemed it
impossible to phase the replacement of these lifts. This
means that there will be no lift access to the Nude food
area for about four months until 20th June. During this
time, passengers are advised to use other food outlets in
the vicinity of the Shopping Street. The good news is the
replacement lifts will be much easier to maintain therefore
making them more reliable.
Eleven Dublin churches
GET ACCESS AWARDS
Eleven churches in the Dublin Diocese have been
recognised by Crosscare’s Disability Awareness
Programme for making their church space and
ceremonies more accessible to people with
disabilities. The Cedar Award, which certifies that
every effort has been made to include people of all
abilities in the life and work of the parish, was
presented by Archbishop Martin on Saturday 1st
December in the Church of SS Peter & Paul,
Balbriggan.
This is the first time an event like this has been
held in the Diocese where churches were awarded
for their efforts in providing better access. The
improvements included providing accessible
ramps, platform lifts, wheelchair bays, automatic
entrance doors, loop systems for hearing aid
users, as well as books and notices in large print.
For further information on Crosscare and the
Disability Awareness Programme please contact:
Marie Carroll, The Red House, Clonliffe College,
Drumcondra, Dublin 3. Tel: 01 836 0011. Email:
mcarroll@crosscare.ie
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news
LEARN THE ROPES
There is nothing like the feeling of freedom you get
from sailing, says Gary Allen, so why not give it a try
this summer with the Waterways Ireland accessible
sailing initiative?
hat comes into your
head when I mention
the word ‘sailing’? Well,
I’d wager it conjures up
images of the open sea. Of course,
you wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that
a lot of sailing takes place off our
coastline. However, it’s easy to forget
that we have many wonderful lakes
and rivers all over the country, and,
after all, water is water… so why not
make use of them for sailing?
Well, Waterways Ireland is thinking
very much along these lines and has
recently launched an accessible
sailing initiative. The purpose of this
programme is to provide access to
our inland waterways for groups that
previously did not have access to this
fantastic resource. This summer, the
programme will be run in conjunction
with Lough Ree Yacht Club, Lough
Derg Yacht Club and the SHARE
centre, a 60-acre site on the shores of
Upper Lough Erne. All three locations
will be holding ‘come and try it’ days,
designed to give people with
disabilities and their families or friends
the opportunity to experience the joys
of sailing.
W
According to Waterways Ireland, the
‘accessible’ aspect of the project is
about more than simply attracting
people with disabilities. The
programme is open to anyone, ablebodied or disabled, who wishes to
give sailing a go but hasn’t had an
opportunity to get involved before.
Martin Dennany of Waterways Ireland
says: “Promoting greater use of the
waterways by all user groups and
enabling access for people with
disabilities is very important and is
something that Waterways Ireland will
be focusing on more and more.”
The timing of this programme is
spot-on as recreational sailing is
becoming increasingly popular
amongst people with disabilities. I
took up the sport a couple of years
ago after a similar ‘come and try it’
day organised by the Irish Disabled
Sailing Association (IDSA) in Kinsale
Yacht Club, Cork.
Once you’re on the water, there is
little to beat the feeling of freedom you
get. I would suggest that sailing is one
of the only sports where a disability is
irrelevant. Indeed, Irish Olympic sailor
John Twomey has proven as much by
winning many times against ablebodied sailors.
And if you take to the sport, you
may wish to move on to foreign
waters with the Jubilee Sailing Trust
(JST), an organisation that has two tall
ships especially designed for sailors
with disabilities.
So, no matter what part of the
island you live in, be it right on the
coast or well inland, accessible sailing
can be a great way to have fun in the
fresh air. Go on, get out there and give
it a try. I promise you won’t regret it!
USEFUL INFORMATION
Waterways Ireland
www.waterwaysireland.org
0044 028 663 46209
Irish Disabled Sailing
Association
www.sailforce.ie
Irish Sailing Association
www.sailing.ie
01 280 0239
Jubilee Sailing Trust
www.jst.org.uk
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A sporting life:
EIMEAR
BREATHNACH
29-year-old Eimear Breathnach from Ballinteer
recently qualified for the Paralympics in table
tennis. She took time out from her training
session in Clontarf to talk to Kiara Lynch
How did you get involved in wheelchair sports?
After my accident in 1996, I was in the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), Dún Laoghaire for several months. At
the time, I was only 17-years-old, and before my accident I
had been highly competitive and involved with many
sports. The physiotherapist at the NRH encouraged me to
start playing table tennis to help build up my confidence in
my abilities.
The NRH team organised for IWA Sport to come and talk
to us about their accessible gym in Clontarf and the various
sports, teams and leagues. It was an ideal opportunity to
54
ask some questions and find out more about wheelchair
sports. Soon after, I started training and playing a range of
sports with IWA including table tennis, wheelchair basketball and rugby, field, and athletics.
When I left the NRH, it was back to school, where the
Leaving Cert had to take priority, and then on to college. I
was about 20 when I really started getting into sports again
– wheelchair rugby, table tennis and field. I was still in college so I had time to go to training sessions and travel to
tournaments. I really enjoyed playing and I loved the feeling
of being able to compete to the best of my abilities again.
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sports
Apart from seeing table tennis play a major role in
the film ‘Forrest Gump’ I don’t know much about it!
Enlighten me a bit about the sport
That was a great film! Well, table tennis in the Paralympics follows pretty much the same rules set by the International Table Tennis Federation, though there are
slight modifications for wheelchair athletes. Athletes from
all disability groups can take part. Athletes receive classifications from one to ten. Classes one to five are for
those in wheelchairs and classes six to ten are for those
who have disabilities that allow them to play standing.
Within those groups, the more function the athlete has,
the higher the classification. I’m a ‘class two’ but have
often played against ‘class five’ players, as the first few
rounds of any tournament are open, meaning your opponent won’t necessarily be the same class as yourself.
You have a keen interest in sport across the
board, so why did you choose Paralympic table
tennis?
It was pretty simple really. I wanted to compete at the
highest level and that’s the Paralympics, so it seemed
the natural next step. As for choosing table tennis, in
the end I had to choose between table tennis and field
athletics. I narrowly missed qualifying for both teams in
the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, so at that point I decided I was going to choose one sport and concentrate
on getting to the 2008 Paralympics. I felt I was more
able for table tennis; field athletics has a very gruelling
training schedule and, by that time, I had a full time job
with FBD Insurance. After an eight-hour day of work, it’s
really difficult to motivate yourself to train for another
three. There is support funding available from the
Sports Council and the Paralympic Council of Ireland,
but it’s hard to get.
What did you need to achieve in order to qualify
for the Paralympics?
It all depends on your ranking. For each tournament you
compete in, you get points, and these points go towards
your ranking. However, for the Paralympics, only tournaments played in 2007 are taken into account. The idea is
to take part in as many tournaments as you can and
choose your best six. There are twelve places on the Paralympics table tennis team; the players ranked from first
to tenth will go to the Paralympics. There are also two
places known as ‘wildcards’. These wildcard places are
for people who would be good for the team, for example
someone who is very strong in paired events.
Were all these tournaments in Ireland?
No, just one was in Dublin. One was in Chicago, and another in Croatia. This year alone I’ve been to Slovenia
twice. It sounds great, like you’re traveling around the
world, but it’s not like a holiday; usually you see the airport, your hotel room, and the venue!
What do you think are the benefits of the Paralympics
in general?
The obvious ones are representing your country, getting an
opportunity to compete against other world class athletes,
and the chance to converse with other athletes from
around the world. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of
Paralympic sports set up each country has. Another positive is the atmosphere; it’s electric at tournaments, so it
must be ten-fold when you’re representing your country!
How often do you train and where?
I train once a month with the Paralympic table tennis team,
and then twice a week I train here in the IWA Oliver Murphy
Sports Centre with some other team members from the
Dublin area.
As I’ve been injured recently, I’ve been concentrating on
table work. However, I’m starting to do weight training and
stretches to strengthen my back and shoulders which will
give me a better chance against opponents in a higher
class then me. General fitness is crucial; some tournaments run from 9am to 9pm, and although you won’t be
competing all day, you often have no choice but to wait
around. It can be physically and mentally exhausting. It will
all be worth it in September though!
INSPIRED BY EIMEAR AND IRELAND’S
OTHER PARALYMPIC ATHLETES? WHY
NOT CONSIDER TAKING PART IN THE
PARALIONS PROGRAMME?
To coincide with the Beijing 2008 Paralympic
Games, the Paralympic Council of Ireland (PCI) has
launched a Paralympic Awareness Campaign called
‘ParaLions’ which will run until November 2008. The
overall aim of this programme is to introduce young
people with a physical or sensory disability and their
families to Paralympic sport in Ireland, providing
them with information on how to get involved in the
Paralympic sport of their choice.
The programme is designed for any centre/group/
organisation with more than six participants with
physical or sensory disabilities of any age. As part of
the programme, a Paralympic athlete will come to
the centre and give a presentation on their Paralympic sport. Each participant will also receive a resource pack containing a bag, t-shirt, pen, scribble
pad, poster, key ring and, most importantly, an information booklet containing contact details for each
Paralympic sport.
The programme is supported by The Irish Sports
Council, The International Paralympic Committee,
and O’Neills Irish International Sportswear Co. Ltd.
For further details: Web: www.pcireland.ie
Email: info@pcireland.ie Tel: 01 625 1175.
spokeout
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sports
Advanced accessibility
AT IWA GYM
IWA’s refurbished gym in Clontarf is setting an example to other gyms by
providing both accessible facilities and accessible gym equipment
n recent issues of Spokeout, we have featured reviews
of several accessible gyms around the country, but we
think it’s fair to say that few gyms can compete with the
recently refurbished IWA gym, located in IWA’s Sports
Centre in Clontarf.
Whilst the gym has been operational since January
2004, recent development means it can now rightfully
claim to be a leading accessible sporting facility. As part of
the development, the gym floor was moved to a larger,
open-plan area. Additional equipment was also purchased,
ensuring the gym is fully equipped for all types of user from
elite Paralympic athlete to first time gym user. The facility
now boasts a variety of dual-use cardio equipment, dualuse weights machines, free weights, and a stretching area.
According to IWA Sports Facilities Manager Nicky Hamill,
“This facility is now the benchmark for accessible gyms
across the country and it offers the leisure industry in Ireland
an example of what accessible gyms should provide in terms
of accessible facilities and accessible gym equipment.”
“Many gyms claim to be disability-friendly but the reality
can be very different. Leisure centre managers should not
confuse accessible buildings with accessible gym equipment. Too often centres claim to be accessible simply because their building and toilets are accessible, but they don’t
have appropriate gym equipment. Here in IWA, we are proud
I
that we can present the full package. This includes everything that is involved in a visitor’s experience such as good
parking spaces, a fully accessible building, accessible toilets
and showers, and dual-use gym equipment.”
“The limited accessibility of many leisure centres is particularly disappointing as there are now so many suppliers selling
‘dual use’ gym equipment,” adds Nicky. Having developed
the gym so extensively, Nicky feels IWA is “now in a position
to advise leisure centres about what they should be doing to
make their gym more disability-friendly”.
As part of the development of the gym, IWA is providing
increased opening hours and improved staffing supervision. The gym has a number of membership packages designed to cater for all users.
For more information about IWA’s gym or to arrange a visit,
contact Sports Facilities Manager Nicky Hamill on 01 818
6422 or email nicky.hamill@iwa.ie
IWA GYM ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RATES
IWA Member, Staff, Sport
Student & Older Adult
Public
Corporate / Group
€50.00
€100.00
€200.00
5 for €500
spokeout
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sports
Getting STRONGER
IWA’s gym in Clontarf gave Maureen
Hedigan the opportunity to build up
strength and confidence after her
stroke. Elaine Meaney reports
aureen Hedigan has come a long way since
her severe stroke and haemorrhage in October 2005. At that time, she was brought to
Beaumont Hospital where she was unconscious for seventeen days. She spent thirty-five days in
bed, had two brain surgeries and was finally told by doctors that she had lost at least twenty-five percent of the
use of her legs and that her muscles were wasted.
At the age of 58, the future looked bleak for Maureen
who had always had a hectically busy life. She was a qualified nurse, which meant she understood better than most
the implications of the prognosis. For seventeen years,
she had worked hard running her own private nursing
home and raising her three children. As she says, “When
your first child is born, you are no longer number one –
parenting takes over as the main priority in one’s life and
that is the way it remains.” However, the sudden medical
emergency meant a reprioritising of everything for Maureen.
A common side effect of serious illness is a loss of confidence. We all identify ourselves by our work, our family
life, and what we do. When the ability to work is suddenly
removed without warning or notice, one can be left with
little sense of self and all that one worked for and towards
suddenly fades into the background.
The IWA Sports Centre in Clontarf was a saving grace
for Maureen. “I lacked confidence after my stroke, and the
gym really got me back on my feet. The whole atmosphere of the place influenced me. It was private, and I
M
found Nicky, (the Manager of the Sports Facility) to be a
very calming influence. He has a lovely disposition. He
moves quietly and is very gentle but yet he is very definite
and in no way a pushover. I was never in my life a gym
person and carried weight for years, and, when I began,
the one-minute target on the treadmill seemed out of the
question. I would count to sixty in my head and think it
would never come – it seemed like an eternity!”
But Maureen persevered and kept coming back to the
gym, where she has built up her muscles and her confidence. “There were people less well off than me all
around and there is also a lovely atmosphere in the place
which encourages me to go back. It’s truly been my saving grace, and what I have achieved has been an absolute miracle.”
Maureen now lives each day for the moment. She says
things that used to concern her now go over her head.
“Life is for living and it’s about regaining one’s status as
number one in your own life and living it to the full.” Maureen feels sure that the gym in Clontarf has contributed
greatly to her recovery.
spokeout
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ACHIEVEMENTS
INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS
Paula Noctor from Clontarf in Dublin 3 is working towards
living independently. Paula, who last year attended IWA’s
Skillbase centre, recently spent a number of weekends at
an open training house run by St Michael’s House in
Templeogue. She also completed a project exploring the
issues involved in living independently.
Mary Smyth
with Áine Brad
y, TD, cutting
the ribbon
EXTENSION TO CLANE RESOURCE AND
OUTREACH CENTRE
November 5th saw the official opening by Áine Brady, TD, of the
much-needed extension to Clane Resource Centre. The
celebration was attended by Gerry McMahon, Chairperson,
Kathleen McLoughlin, CEO, and Mary Smyth, Regional Director,
along with members, service users, volunteers and staff.
EVENTS
EUROPEAN DISABILITY DAY
An information day titled ‘Making
Connections’ was held on 6th December to
mark European Disability Day. The event was
organised by Clontarf Resource and
Outreach Centre and Northside Partnership.
The event was spearheaded by IWA member
Brenda O’Neill and North Dublin Community
groups including NCBI, Headway and
Work4U attended. A series of presentations
of local interest also ran throughout the day.
Finian McGrath, TD, dropped in and NEAR
FM local radio was on site for a live
broadcast. This successful initiative and
partnership is now likely to become an annual
event. Sadly, organiser Brenda O’Neill passed
away in February. Brenda had great spirit
and was a fine mentor to many – she will be
sadly missed by her good friends in Clontarf.
60
Organiser
Brenda O’Nei
ll (RIP)
WESTERN REGION PLANNING DAYS
A planning event for Western Region staff was held in the Western
Region in November. Staff from the North West, West and Mid
West attended a two-day workshop in Cuisle designed to update
them on organisational
developments and give them
an opportunity to reflect on
their many strengths and
plan for the coming year.
Kathleen McLoughlin, CEO,
addressed the opening and
acknowledged the valuable
contributions of staff in the
region.
SKERRIES RESOURCE
CENTRE CELEBRATES 10TH
ANNIVERSARY
Members and staff came together in
November at Skerries Resource and
Outreach Centre to celebrate 10 years
providing services. On the day, there
was an exhibition of art, photos
depicting activities at the centre, music
and the launch of a commemorative
booklet. Carol Doolan, Disability
Manager, HSE, was among the invited
guests. Member Colin Ross, Skerries
Resource Centre, is pictured cutting
the 10th anniversary cake.
14/03/2008
13:05
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snapshots
FUNDRAISERS
TIPPERARY TOWN RESOURCE CENTRE
Tipperary Town Resource and Outreach Centre was delighted to
accept the proceeds of a fundraiser held in conjunction with the
‘Pride of Tipperary’. This event spanned a number of weeks during
July and August and included days at the races and a fashion show
presented by Celia Holman-Lee in the Aherlow House Hotel.
ANGEL IN ENNIS!
Back row l-r: Thos O'Leary, IWA Fundraiser South; Peter Roe, Manager, Tipperary
Racecourse; Ann Moloney, Pride of Tipperary Committee. Front row l-r: Fergal
Purcell, Manager, Aherlow House Hotel; Teresa Walsh, IWA Supervisor;
Josephine Hennessy, IWA Programme Assistant
Michelle Mata, Ennis, pictured at the coffee
morning at the ‘Copper Jug’, Lifford, in aid of
IWA’s Angel Campaign and People in Need.
Local county councillors and TDs participated
by serving tea and coffee!
ANGEL CAMPAIGN
Students at Mount Sackville School, Dublin, raised an
amazing €3,850 for IWA’s Angel Campaign. Their
fundraising efforts included staging the musical ‘Oliver’
with the help of teacher Maeve O’Neill, an event that
was attended by members from Lucan resource centre.
DUBLIN CITY MARATHON
Pictured: Staff members Chris Hoey (left) and John O’Grady
presenting a cheque for €8,000 to Kathleen McLoughlin, CEO,
IWA. Chris and John along with colleague, Nicky Hamill,
together with friends, took part in the marathon and would
welcome more ‘runners’ to join them in 2008!
spokeout
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snapshots
ES
E CENTR
HOLIDAY AND RESPIT
CARMEL FALLON
RESPITE CENTRE
James Downey from
Kildare enjoys activity-filled
breaks at the Carmel Fallon
Centre in Clontarf
Just after the Carmel Fallon
Respite
Centre in Clontarf was
Guests and
staff at the ce
ntre
opened I was up in Clontarf for a
sports day with the Athy bunch. I
decided to call over and have a
look at the new respite centre with the idea of making a
booking. I was met by a very friendly lady called Deirdre
Carroll and given a tour of the centre. I was very
impressed and got an application form which I returned
the following day. That year, I spent 10 glorious days in
Clontarf, and I have been returning regularly ever since.
Karen Cronin is in charge now and runs a very homely
respite centre. On arrival, you are always welcomed by
a staff member. Once everyone is settled down, the
activities are discussed and a list of activities is planned
for your stay. The activities I enjoy most are cinema,
bowling and greyhound racing. I also enjoy the freedom
of going into town myself and browsing around the
shops. Other activities enjoyed by guests are siteseeing, eating out or a few drinks down at the local.
I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at the centre and find
the staff very helpful in making my stay as enjoyable as
possible. It also gives my mother a much-needed break. I
always feel very relaxed and recharged after my stay in
Clontarf. Hopefully, I will keep returning for many more
years. I would like to thank all the staff for a job well done.
Johnny Gerety wit
h his sister Conn
ie
CUISLE HOLIDAY
CENTRE
Cuisle sets standards that
many hotels could learn from says John Graham,
from Dublin, who spent Christmas 2007 there
Every few days guests arrive at Cuisle Holiday Centre,
bringing with them their own needs and expectations.
When they enter the front door, their needs are
extracted from the equation by the highly trained staff,
leaving them to concentrate on enjoying their stay.
Nothing is too big nor too small to ask of the staff. On
the wall there is a framed newspaper article on Cuisle
entitled ‘The Centre that never sleeps’. This is a true
reflection of Cuisle.
Once again, Cuisle came to life over the Christmas
2007 period when an in-house programme was
executed smoothly. This included various musicans,
competitions and the old reliable disco! Sincere,
heartfelt gratitude must go to members of staff whose
kindness and assistance was outstanding. This
gratitude is also extended to the kitchen staff who
produced excellent meals.
At the end of their stay, guests go away from Cuisle
happy, refreshed and looking forward to their next visit.
It is tempting
to ask why
some of the
excellent
services
offered in
Cuisle aren’t
available at
Pictured l-r: Frank Healy, Anne
other Irish
Landers with Jimmy Sheridan
hotels?
CUISLE BALL UPDATE
The recent charity ball held to celebrate the 10th
anniversary of Cuisle Respite and Holiday Centre,
Roscommon, raised €60,000. Jean Coleman,
Manager, said this money would go towards the cost
of a new hydrotherapy room including a Jacuzzi and
sauna. These facilities will further enhance the holiday
centre which has undergone extensive development
in recent years. The charity auction, including two
cars and many other kind donations, was an
upbeat affair, conducted by Councillor Dominic
Connolly and Ivan Connaughton. Guest speaker, Mary Davis, CEO Special
Olympics, gave an after-dinner speech where she spoke about the importance
of community in society. The altruistic spirit of the night was summed up when
Jean Coleman told the crowd about a young Roscommon girl, Katie Kelly, who
donated all of her birthday money to Cuisle.
Helen Martyn, Re
gional Director;
Tony
Cunningham, Are
a Manager; Jean
Coleman, Mana
ger, Cuisle; and
Una
McDermott, Are
a Manager
CEO, with
cLoughlin,
Kathleen M (MC for the night)
rty
Willie Hega
a Hegarty
and Dympn
14/03/2008
14:04
Page 64
letters
YOUR VIEWS Got something to say? Write to us at Spokeout,
Irish Wheelchair Association, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3
INACCESSIBLE SET-DOWN AREA AT HELIX
HOW TO RE-USE OLD STAIR LIFTS
Dear Editor
I attended the Helix Theatre on 5th January 2008 with a
group of people in wheelchairs. We hired a wheelchair accessible mini-bus for the occasion. We were disappointed
to find there was no large accessible set-down area and
that the general set-down area was surrounded by high
kerbing and hence totally inaccessible.
As a result, we had to take the wheelchairs off the bus
on the roadway in the dark. This was made more difficult
by the fact that the concourse at the front of the building is
only dipped in certain places and is lined with bollards.
After the show, the mini-bus again had to park on the
road, leaving both wheelchair users and helpers at risk
from traffic waiting to overtake.
I was appalled that wheelchair access could be so bad
at a modern building/complex. It was such a pity that the
access was so bad as, once we got through the doors,
everyone in the theatre was wonderful, helpful and co-operative.
Yours faithfully
C Daly, Lusk, Co Dublin
Dear Editor
I would like to bring to your attention something that is
bothering me. I will soon be moving out of my large old
house – which is likely to be demolished soon afterwards –
to a new home. There is a stair lift in the house, in very
good condition, which cost €12,000. Would you know of
anyone who could use it? It seems a pity if it just ends up
on the scrapheap! I am sure I am not the only person in
this position and wonder what others do? In a world where
money is often short and environmental waste is to be
avoided, surely there must be some way of recycling these
valuable items. Any ideas?
Kind regards
E Barrett, Santry, Dublin 9
Editor’s comment: If you are interested in this stair lift, or
have any ideas on how to encourage the re-use of stair
lifts, contact spokeout@iwa.ie or ring 01 818 6485
small ads
Cars and accessories
Nissan Prairie 1.9LX 1993 Converted for wheelchair passenger,
raised roof, ramp at rear, swivel
front passenger seat + extras.
Best offer. Tel: 01 450 6064
Ford Focus C-Max TDCi Zetec
2004 Passenger swivel seat, all
electric, air conditioning, metallic
blue, immaculate condition.
€13,750. Tel: 087 245 8484
(Donegal)
Kangoo 1.4 petrol 2002 Wheelchair to rear, 5 doors, airbags, remote control locking, full service
history, excellent condition.
€11,000 ono. Tel: 087 132 7100
Kia Carnival 2.9 diesel 2007
64
The views expressed on this page are the views of
individual readers and do not necessarily represent the
views of IWA
If you have an item for sale, a holiday contact or a personal advert,
please send approx 25 words to Small ads, Spokeout, IWA,
Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Small ads are free-of-charge
to members. Adverts for accessible holiday accommodation are
€20.00 (cheques or postal orders payable to IWA Ltd).
Automatic, 19,000 miles, full lowfloor wheelchair accessible conversion. €32,000. Tel: 085 164 3133
Wheelchairs, scooters and
adaptive equipment
Storm X power wheelchair Excellent condition. €3,000 ono. Tel:
087 645 7316
Monami four-wheeled mobility
scooter Adjustable folding tiller
and swivel seat. 10 months old,
as new. €1,000. Tel: 086 875 8040
Sun Emerald motorised scooter
Large seat with armrests, front
basket and headlights, battery
charger and padlock. Paperwork
and warranties included. Cost
€3,000 in May 2006, sell €1,300
ono. Also, brand new Days wheelchair, for indoor use, included
free of charge with scooter. Tel:
086 407 4057
Stairlift Suit right-sided stairs, remote control, perfect condition.
Free to ‘good home’. Tel: 087 697
9294 (Dublin)
Accessible holidays
Tralee apartment(s) for summer
holidays. Ground floor. Four en
suite bedrooms with one
adapted for wheelchair user. All
mod. cons. Parking. Convenient
to church and shops. Ideal base
for enjoying Kerry’s many attractions. For details contact 087 822
7519 or email summerhol@eircom.net

express - Irish Wheelchair Association

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