Operation Sign-Up - Irish Wheelchair Association

Transcription

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spokeout
Lifestyle magazine for people with limited mobility published by the Irish Wheelchair Association
€4.00
Spring 2011
Orla Murray on behalf of Paul Sherwood Photography
Operation
Sign-Up
IWA CALLS ON
MEMBERS TO
REGISTER THEIR
HOUSING NEEDS
WITH CITY AND
COUNTY
COUNCILS
The sky really is the limit
The husky express
Vertical gardening
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Contents
INTRODUCTION
7 Message from the CEO
Kathleen Mc Loughlin, CEO of IWA,
invites members to IWA’s Annual
Conference and AGM
COVER STORY
EDUCATION
& CAREERS
19 University access
Services and facilities available
to applicants and students at
universities
8 Operation Sign-Up
IWA’s new housing initiative
supports members interested in
applying for their own home
22 A day in the life
Lisa Weldon on the challenges
she faces in her role as ALS
Co-ordinator
FEATURES
ACCESS
10 Words of wisdom
Clare-based author Donnacha
Rynne talks about his book
Being Donnacha
25 Virtual relationships
Internet dating cartoons
12 Nightmare in Sleepy Hollow
Judie Bruno’s story of her move
to a wooded canyon
PRODUCTS
16 Clean as a whistle
Aids and appliances to tackle
hygiene issues
27 Terminal 2
Review of access arrangements
at Dublin Airport’s new terminal
TRAVEL
28 The husky express
Niall McDonnell and Sharon
Shannon go dog-sledding in
Norway
36 The sky really is the limit
June Scannell explores
New Zealand, on the road
and in the skies
40 Holidaying at home
Accessible holiday
accommodation in Ireland
36
51 Sports focus 2011
What to look forward to in 2011
NEWS
55 News
Disability and fundraising news
REGULARS
60 Regional snapshots
What’s happening around the
country
63 Crossword
Crossword No 11 by Gordius
63 Your views
Letters to the editor
64 Small ads
Sell on items or pick up a bargain
SEE p31-34 for booking forms for
IWA’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE
AND AGM ‘A Home of My Own’
LIVING
42 Virtual gardening
How to bring wall spaces to life
with flowers, herbs and even
vegetables
28
MOTORING
45 Simple mobility solutions
Low cost easy-to-install
adaptations for drivers and
passengers
SPORT
49 Father of the Paralympics
The story behind the foundation
of the Paralympics
49
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introduction
pring is here, at last, and in
this issue we have plenty of
stories to inspire you to get
out and about. Californian
wheelchair user Judie Bruno
writes about her move to her
dream home in a wooded canyon. Niall
McDonnell talks about learning dog-sledding in
Norway with musician Sharon Shannon, and
June Scannell describes meeting new relatives
and discovering extreme sports on an
exhilarating trip around New Zealand.
We interview Clare writer Donnacha Rynne,
who has joined the ranks of his creative
extended family by publishing a book of
reflections on living with a disability.
For the green fingered among us, we look at a
new trend for vertical gardening – in other words,
gardening on walls or shelves – which offers
exciting possibilities for people with limited
mobility.
Enjoy the issue and please get in touch if you
have a story or opinion to share.
S
Joanna Marsden, Editor
Spokeout on CD and tape
Spokeout is now available on both tape and CD.
Please contact Colette Molloy on 01 818 6485 or colette.molloy@iwa.ie
Editor
Joanna Marsden
Cartoons
Johnny Connaughton
Editorial Assistance
Kiara Lynch, Colette Molloy,
Anita Matthews
Distribution
Shanahan Direct
Editorial Design Manager
Layla Hogan
Advertising and Marketing
Design Manager
& design this Issue
Diarmuid O’Connor
Advertising Production
Co-ordinator
Amina Ferradj
Advertising Production
Ciaran McBride
Printing
Precision Colour Printing Ltd
Cover photo
Orla Murphy
(Paul Sherwood Photography)
recycle
When you have finished with
this magazine please recycle it.
4
Joint Managing Directors, Dyflin
Karen Hesse, Philip McGaley
Editorial enquiries to:
The Editor, Spokeout, Irish
Wheelchair Association,
Blackheath Drive, Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Tel: (00 353) 1 818 6455
Email: joanna.marsden@iwa.ie
Advertising enquiries to:
Dyflin Publications Ltd
Cunningham House
130 Francis Street, Dublin 8
Tel: (00 353) 1 416 7930
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 20,200 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 is from Co
Longford, but lives in Dublin. Kiara spent
the winter wrapping up in hats and scarves
trying to avoid swine flu, and is relieved to
feel spring in the air. Over the past few weeks, she’s been
helping her older sister with wedding dress shopping,
while getting some ideas for her own ‘big day’ next year.
June Scannell
June Scannell lives in Blarney, County
Cork. Despite having muscular dystrophy,
she is an ardent global traveller, counting
South Africa, Hawaii and New Zealand
amongst her favourite destinations. In the 1990s, upon
discovering she had been adopted as a child, June set out
to find her paternal siblings, a quest which brought her on
a magnificent trip to New Zealand for a family gathering in
2009.
Jim Hayes
Jim Hayes lives in South Dublin and is one
of the parents involved in the Dublin Swifts
Junior Sport Club, which runs every
Sunday in Clontarf. Jim has a keen interest
both in sports and in history, and he has recently been
researching the history of IWA Sport and the paralympic
movement, including finding out more about the man who
founded the Paralympic Games, Sir Ludwig Guttmann.
Judie Bruno
Judie Bruno lives in Silverado, California,
but is a good friend of Carlow member
Hamilton Delargy. She is currently
renovating her new home in a wooded
canyon, where she lives with her much-loved assistance
dog Fred. Judie says Fred helps her live by herself and,
most importantly, gives her a reason to get up and about
even on a bad day. She gives him walks, food, brushing,
and training – and he gives her lots of love in return.
Niall McDonnell
Motor enthusiast Niall McDonnell works in
IWA’s Moblity Centre in Clane, and enjoys
vintage cars in his free time. In December,
he took part in an unusual RTE
documentary – soon to be broadcast – for which he
travelled to Norway with traditional musician Sharon
Shannon to learn how to dog sled with huskies.
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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introduction
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
Kathleen Mc Loughlin looks forward to IWA’s
Annual Conference and AGM in May, which will
provide a forum to debate the housing issues
affecting people with disabilities
Welcome to the first Spokeout of 2011. The cover of
this issue features the launch of Operation Sign-Up, a
campaign designed to support and encourage our
members to register their housing needs with their local
city or county council. We will be continuing the
housing focus at our Annual Conference and AGM on
May 21st and 22nd, where the theme for presentations
and discussions will be ‘A Home of My Own’.
I look forward to the Annual Conference every year
because it symbolises the democratic basis on which
the organisation is run. The event gives members an
opportunity to highlight issues that are impacting on
their lives, and to shape the strategy and policies of the
Association. It is vitally important that IWA stays in
touch with the wishes and needs of the members it
represents, and I encourage you to come along and
have your say.
AGM 2011
This year, the
Annual Conference
takes place in the
lovely setting of The
Heritage Golf & Spa
Resort, Killenard,
Co Laois. As well as attending to the business end of
things, there will of course be a social dimension to the
event with the Gala Dinner on Saturday evening and a
Summer Fête on Sunday.
Each year, I enjoy meeting new people at the Annual
Conference, as well as catching up with old friends,
and I warmly invite you to join us for the weekend.
Note: If you are unable to attend the Annual
Conference, please consider registering for a postal
vote by following the steps below.
A HOME OF MY OWN
Annual General Meeting of I.W.A. Limited 2011
Saturday 21st May 2011 | The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, Killenard, Co. Laois.
REGISTER FOR YOUR POSTAL VOTE
Follow the three steps below...
1
Request a Registration Form in writing by Wednesday
20th April 2011 from the Company Secretary, I.W.A.
Limited, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3 or by
calling Tel: 01 818 6403
2
Complete the form and return it to the Company
Secretary by 5pm Wednesday 4th May, 2011
3
Upon approval by the Company Secretary, you will
receive a voting paper. This voting paper, to be
effective, must be returned to the Company Secretary
not later than 5pm on Wednesday 18th May, 2011
Memorandum and Articles of Association of I.W.A. Limited
Article 35:
A member with limited mobility is entitled to a postal vote for
general meetings of the Company.
Article 36:
Members may register for the postal vote at any time of the year.
When the registration is approved by the Company Secretary a
member may vote by post (but not in person) at all general and
extraordinary general meetings of the company for a period of
twelve months. The minimum time for registration is sixteen (16)
days prior to the meeting at which the member intends to use the
postal vote. The ballot paper must be received by the Company
Secretary two (2) full days before the relevant meeting.
Article 37:
When such a member receives a ballot paper they will also receive
a declaration of identity form. This form must be signed by the
member and witnessed by a person who is known to them. The
witness should not be aware of how the member has voted.
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Orla Murray on behalf of Paul Sherwood Photography
IWA member Robert Vaughan
with Teresa Conlon, Allocations
Officer with DCC, at the launch
of Operation Sign-Up
SIGN UP NOW! Visit www.iwa.ie/house
Operation SIGN-UP
Do you want your own accessible, affordable accommodation?
Anita Matthews hears how IWA’s new housing initiative can help
those interested in living in their own home
peration Sign-Up is an IWA housing initiative
which encourages and supports people with
disabilities who wish to live in their own homes,
but cannot do so from their own resources, to
apply for social housing through their local city and county
councils.
Social housing is an umbrella term used to describe
subsidised rental accommodation funded by the
Government and provided by a city or county council and
by approved housing bodies, often known as voluntary
housing associations or housing co-operatives. Social
housing is provided to people who are assessed as being
unable to provide for the cost of their housing need from
their own resources. City and county councils are the main
providers of social rented housing.
Operation Sign-Up offers people with disabilities a stepby-step guide to applying for social housing in the area in
which they wish to live. The first and most important step is
to apply to place your name on the local council housing
list of the area in which you would like to live. Being
registered on the council housing list makes it possible for
you to be offered a home by the Council, by a voluntary
housing association or by a housing co-operative, and also
to make an application for rental supplement for private
rented accommodation through the HSE.
O
8
IWA has broken down the ten steps involved in the
application process and has also listed other information
required during the application process, such as contact
details for local councils, information links to local health
centres and tax offices, and details of local IWA centres.
All information and details about Operation Sign-Up and
social housing can be found on www.iwa.ie/house. This
website is a unique and innovative development, providing a
large range of information, resources and contact details to
IWA members in a simple easy-to-use format. The website
also provides information and details regarding many other
housing issues including: the direct provision of housing;
housing information; advice on housing tenures; and related
services and supports.
This campaign has been developed by IWA to support its
members to live as independently as possible. People with
disabilities often have very specific housing and
accommodation requirements. There are a variety of options
available to meet each individual’s circumstances and the
new website provides as much information as possible about
the different housing options available.
People with disabilities must register their housing need
with a local city or county council so that the council can
plan to meet their housing requirements. Local councils do
not have a clear picture of the number of people with
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cover story
disabilities who need housing or their preferred living
situation, unless individuals register their name on the
social housing list. Teresa Conlon, Allocations Officer in
Dublin City Council, says, “In my experience an awful lot of
people with disabilities have not registered their housing
needs with their local authority. This is a pity because local
authorities need to be made aware of these needs so we
can factor them in when we make planning applications or
decisions to purchase.”
Local councils have a responsibility to respond to the
right of people with disabilities to live as independently as
possible in their preferred living situation but unless they
know what this need is, they can’t meet it. “I would
encourage IWA members to register their housing needs
as soon as possible,” adds Teresa.
IWA members who have undertaken the application
process also share their success stories on the Operation
Sign-Up website, www.iwa.ie/house
MY STORY
Robert Vaughan, who lives in a Dublin City Council bungalow in Donnycarney,
tells Joanna Marsden how he tackled the application process
Robert Vaughan grew up in the Artane area of Dublin 5,
and when it came to looking for a place of his own he
wanted to stay in his comfort zone. “Apart from a short
spell working in Holland in my 20s, I’d always lived in
the family home. The idea of living independently in the
same area was less daunting because it meant I could
still do all the same things, like meeting friends and
going to local pubs or shops.”
Robert registered with Dublin City Council (DCC) in
2005. “I have a form of muscular dystrophy which
progresses slowly, and while the family home had been
adapted, it was just my mam and me living there. Mam
was getting older and, with only 12-14 hours of PA
support a week, it was becoming hard work for her.”
When Robert decided to apply for local authority
housing, he met with a family support worker in
Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI) and with IWA’s
Housing Officer, Dolores Murphy. “I got a lot of help
from both MDI and IWA. Dolores knew what was
coming up in terms of accessible housing and she
informed me that DCC were building some bungalows
in Maypark, Donnycarney, less than a mile from my
family home.
“Dolores made it clear that the first step towards
getting one of these units was registering on DCC’s
housing list. There was a bit of form-filling involved, and
I had to get an OT’s report. I knew it was a process that
would take time, but in the end, it all happened more
quickly than I expected.
“The way it works,” adds Robert, “is that someone
from the council comes out and assesses the suitability
of your current accommodation. They award you points
based on your disability and requirements. In my case, I
got a call from a DCC architect just 18 months after my
initial application. He said he’d been allocated my file in
relation to the Donnycarney development and wanted
to have an initial meeting to discuss my requirements in
terms of door widths, bathrooms, etc.”
Being allocated a property was only one aspect of
Robert’s transition to independent living. “The main
issue I had was getting a care package in place to
support me – and I think this is something that is
getting even harder in the current climate. Eventually,
through the support of MDI and IWA, I was allocated
more or less full-time support, including overnights.”
Robert now has four PAs – Kash, Novica, Samantha
and Ciaran, “When I first moved into the bungalow, I
found the adjustment difficult. I had to change my
phyiso, OT and IWA co-ordinator because I’d moved
from community care area 8 to community care area 7.
The bungalow was also a lot smaller than the house I’d
been used to, and it took a while to get used to having
PAs there all the time. But I think everyone goes
through a transition period and you settle after a while.
“The financial aspect of independent living is a big
thing. Everything that comes through the letterbox has
your name on it. It’s no longer your mam’s responsibility,
or even a shared responsibility. You have to keep on top
of everything.”
Over the past few years, Robert has also continued
to develop his career. “I started out many years ago as
an auto-electrician and I worked in Dublin Bus for 16
years before taking redundancy in 1997. After that I
took a course in electronics and got a job in an
electronics company for seven years. More recently I
did a year’s business course in Killester College, and
went on to get my current job, working in admin in
Kartel Clothing. I‘ve been lucky because I’ve always
been working or studying.”
Robert says he is always happy to talk about his
own experience of applying for a house because he
hopes it will encourage others to do likewise. “I think
there are lot of younger people out there in
difficult situations who would like to have more
independence. I’d encourage them to start the
process by registering with their local authority. Yes,
there will be red tape and bureaucracy, but the end
result is well worth the effort.”
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Words OF WISDOM
Donnacha Rynne was born with cerebral palsy and developed
multiple sclerosis in his early 20s. Living with this complex disability
has given him a unique perspective on life, which he shares in his
book Being Donnacha. Joanna Marsden met Donnacha and his
mother, Anne, at his home in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare
“I always say Donnacha was born old,” says Donnacha’s
mother, Anne Rynne. “He is very inspirational and full of
wisdom. His attitude is, ‘The sun is shining and the sky is
blue, we’re going to have a good day’. I’ve never heard
him utter a word of complaint. He is patient and positive
despite all the physical negativity in his life.”
Donnacha was born in Co Kildare in 1970 and has a twin
brother, Niall, as well as two other brothers, Davóg and
Turlough, and a sister, Áine. The family moved to Co Clare
when he was young, and for many years they ran a hostel
in Spanish Point. Donnacha writes, “The happiest time of
my life was when I was a teenager looking after the hostel.
I had an interest in earning money. It gave me legitimacy as
a man.” Although Donnacha was born with cerebral palsy,
he has only become a wheelchair user in recent years, as a
result of multiple sclerosis (MS), which he developed in his
20s. “Now being disabled is a full-time job. Life is a job for
me.”
Donnacha comes from a creative family and it was his
uncle, Barry Moore (aka Luka Bloom), who first mooted the
idea of a book. “Barry came to see me one day and we
had a long chat,” remembers Donnacha. “He went away
saying, ‘That fella has a book in him but the question is
how to extract it.’”
Anne adds, “After a lot of chatting, we decided to ask
our good friend Tom Prendergast to work with Donnacha
on the book. It was a very onerous task, because
Donnacha’s memory is limited, and it took two and a half
years of regular visits and recordings to gather the material.
It became a real team effort. Donnacha’s brother, Turlough,
even designed the book.” `
Being Donnacha is divided into three chapters. The first
chapter is composed of a series of Donnacha’s reflections
on aspects of his life, such as being a twin or wishing he
was in a relationship. The second chapter is a collection of
16 poems written by Donnacha during an intense period of
creativity in his 20s. The third chapter, titled ‘Knowing
Donnacha’, is a collection of tributes to him, in prose and
poetry, written by those who know him well, including his
uncles Luka Bloom and Christy Moore, and good friend
Gerry Adams.
The book is presented in a way that enables the reader
10
Donnacha relaxing at The Electric Picnic, 2008
to dip in easily, as one would with a book of quotations.
It has clearly captured people’s imaginations because the
initial print run of 500 copies has sold out. “Not a day goes
by,” says Donnacha, “that we don’t get a telephone call, an
email, a card, or someone stopping me on the street, to
say how much they’ve enjoyed the book. I even got a letter
from Bishop Willie Walsh complimenting the book.”
Donnacha’s family believes his health has improved
enormously as a result of the book and the feedback it has
received. “Absolutely,” agrees Donnacha. “To say it’s given
me a lift is right. It’s the connection and the pride. I feel like
I have contributed to the world.”
Although Donnacha has a close circle of family and
friends, he finds it hard to get to know other people. “I
sometimes feel that people behave superficially towards
me, and it bothers me a great deal. [...] They may feel
uncomfortable around me and that could be because of
fear. I wish people weren’t so afraid, that they would
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feature
The Rynne Family, 2008. Back row: Davóg, Turlough and Áine.
Middle row: Donnacha, Niall, Anne, Davoc and Sophie.
Front row: Léane and Amelia.
engage with me more. I hate when people talk at me,
which they do. I prefer if they talk to me.”
Donnacha says when he meets new people they often
seem “like rabbits caught in the headlights”. He hopes his
book will help people understand him better and perhaps
lose their awkwardness around disability. “If people really
want to know about me, they can buy my book. In
fairness, I have nothing to hide. I like to think I’m
philosophical and pretty laid back. Disability can cause a
sense of hopelessness but I deal with it day by day. I need
to and like to create my own positivity. Hope is very
important too. [...] There is an air of gentleness about hope.
I exaggerate the hope I have in order to make life a little
easier.”
Developing MS has made life much more difficult for
Donnacha. “But I made a decision in the early days not to
get angry,” he says. Sometimes this can be hard. Anne
recalls, “When Donnacha was 16 or 17, I had a sense that
a huge anger was welling up in him. He was a free spirit
and he got teased a lot in school. My brother Christy
suggested yoga, and it really showed Donnacha that there
was another way. Although Donnacha has found it hard to
practise yoga in recent years, we often go on retreats to
the Spiritual Care Centre at Dzogchen Beara [a Tibetan
Buddhist Retreat Centre in West Cork].”
Donnacha lives independently in an adapted bungalow in
Miltown Malbay. “Things could be so much worse,” says
Donnacha. “I enjoy going to Ping’s for a coffee, and
sometimes I meet people there. Lots of people know me in
Miltown, but I wish more would come to visit. [...] It can be
very lonely. I need to be distracted from myself. I recognise
I’m not the only disabled
person with these problems.
[...] When my carers are gone
a whole lot of nothing
happens. To get from one
moment to the next means
just grinning and bearing the
situation. There is no joy in it.
The cover of
It feels empty. It feels as
Being Donnac
ha
though there is always
something missing from my life.”
This emptiness is something that Donnacha attributes
largely to the fact that he does not have a relationship. “I
would like to have a partner, even children, though I know
it would be difficult. I am human after all. [...] I’m tired of
being in a single bed all my life. I’d love a double bed and
someone to share it.” He also writes, “I have no sexual
identity in a wheelchair, or there is no sexual sense of me. I
don’t know where to go or what to do with these feelings.”
Donnacha says he feels relief when he shares his
thoughts and feelings with others, which is perhaps why
the book has had such a positive impact on his health. “I
love these recordings as they give me an opportunity to
express myself. They make me feel complete. I don’t like
to complain or to ask people to do things for me, but I
realise that sometimes I should. It’s not good to keep it
bottled up all the time.”
Being Donnacha can be ordered online at
www.beingdonnacha.tumblr.com or by sending a cheque
or postal order for €20 (including p&p) to Anne Rynne,
Miltown Malbay, Co Clare.
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Nightmare in
SLEEPY HOLLOW
When Judie Bruno moved from Palm Desert, California, to her new
home in a wooded canyon just a few days before Christmas, she
knew it would be the start of an adventure, but she wasn’t prepared
for what happened the night she arrived
One of Judie’s neighbours’
homes, which was covered
by a mud-slide
had always wanted to live in a cabin in the woods, but
because I use a power wheelchair, I can’t manage
snow. My new home in Silverado, California, seemed
perfect because it is in a wooded setting, known as
Sleepy Hollow, but doesn’t have the extreme weather
conditions – or so I thought! This is the story of my move
there in December 2010, during the worst storm since
1929.
On the Tuesday before Christmas, my movers arrived at
my condo in Palm Desert at around 8am with a truck that
was way too small to move my things. While one of them
went back for a larger truck, the other two loaded up a van
with fragile items, paintings and boxes, but it still got us off
to a late start. Around noon, when there was wasn’t
anything else my mom and I could do, we left the movers
to finish packing and close the condo, and with my
assistance dog, Fred, we headed up to Silverado Canyon.
It’s usually a little over a two hour drive, but with traffic and
rain, it turned out to be around three hours.
I found when we arrived that my new cell phone didn’t
work at the house, though it would work around the centre
of town. I had told the movers to call me when they were
about to enter the Canyon and I would meet them. I waited
in town for them and they finally arrived around 6pm. We
left the truck in town and took the van down to the house
I
12
so they could unload that first. It was about that time that
the rain really started to come down.
About an hour later, I noticed the bathroom toilet had
flooded and there was an inch of clear water on the floor.
There was nothing I could do about it that night. There was
another very small bathroom down the hall to the shed with
two steps down. I couldn’t use my power chair, so we put
my manual chair in the hallway. The steps were not easy
for me, but I felt blessed we had another bathroom.
My realtor [estate agent], Mary, stopped by to bring us
some snacks and two short wave radios. She briefly told
me that when the radios were on, to tune to channel 16, as
that was the emergency signal. I didn’t pay much attention
to them at the time and put them on a ledge.
The movers exchanged the van for the truck. It was
raining so hard that they got soaked taking things inside. It
was after midnight by the time they finished and I offered to
allow them to stay the night, but they decided to turn the
truck in at a nearby place and drive the van back to the
Desert.
About an hour later, Mom and I had made our beds and
climbed into them totally exhausted. We had been up since
6am. I had been in my chair or driving almost all day long,
and my foot was so swollen I couldn’t even get my large
slipper on. The house was cold and damp, and I couldn’t
seem to get the temperature up high enough, but we had
plenty of quilts and blankets.
My bedroom sits a bit over the creek in the back of my
house, with double French doors and a window on each
side. I remember looking at the creek then and being
amazed at how high the water had risen, but I fell asleep
soon after turning out the light. I was sleeping on my airbed
on a platform in my bedroom. Mom, who is 85, was in bed
in the little bedroom off the living room.
Something woke me around 4am and I looked outside to
see all kinds of lights in the mist of the rain. I couldn’t figure
out what they were and even thought it might be a fire,
maybe started by lightning. I remembered Mary telling me
that if I heard loud rumbling it wasn’t thunder but boulders
rolling in the creek, so when I heard it I wasn’t too worried.
Just then I saw someone on the bridge shining a light
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cover
LEFT: The creek on a normal day
ABOVE: Judie with her assistance dog Fred, who
was by her side through the whole adventure
onto the water and it scared me. It looked as if the water
I had no idea where my candles might be in all the
was about a foot from going over the embankment across
boxes, so I gently woke my mom, trying not to scare her,
the creek from the back of my house. I didn’t know at the
and asked if she knew where they might be. Thankfully,
time that my house sits much higher, and I was afraid that
she did. I then heard on the radio that someone was
soon the water would be coming in through the French
asking if anyone could go and check on Judie Bruno, the
doors. I also noticed that the power was off, as I had left a
new lady in the wheelchair who had just moved in on
light on in the living room for my mom. It was very dark and Sleepy Hollow, past the bridge, with her elderly mother, as
I have to admit I was very scared sitting in my bed with no
we had no phone and probably didn’t know what to do.
way to communicate, no phone, no TV or internet, and not I’m sure Mary had called them to check on me.
knowing what was going on.
I decided to get on the radio myself. I told them who I
It was then that I remembered the
was, that we were okay and the house
radios Mary had brought. I used the LED
was dry, but that I was concerned about
The joke seemed to how high the creek behind it had risen. I
light from my power chair and a lighter to
find them, put them together, load the
be that I had told didn’t know at the time that the sides of
batteries and read the directions. I finally
the creek and bridge are made of
everyone I was
got one on to channel 16 and started to
concrete and stone, and that the
moving in Tuesday foundation of my house is built right into
listen and I sure didn’t like what I heard. A
woman had had her whole house covered
‘come hell or high them, and very strong. The woman
by a mud-slide. They had gotten her out
running the emergency radio said ‘10-4’
water’ and it sure and that she would report I was okay.
but mud was all over the place, and more
homes were being covered in it. Another
A few minutes later there was a knock
looked like we had
house at the mouth of the next street to
on my door and a woman named Diane
had both!
mine was also full of mud. The house on
was there to check on me. She lived two
the corner was full of mud in the back,
doors down. I told her I had no
and the street was blocked by mud and no one could get
emergency lights and was a bit afraid. She told me not to
in or out. Two houses up the mountain had completely
worry, that my house, built the way it was and so high, was
collapsed, a car had gone over into the creek, and they
probably one of the safest in the area. She said she would
had evacuated the area called ‘Cabin Town’ right behind
come back with some lanterns.
the centre of town where two good friends lived.
Soon afterwards, another neighbour, Tom, a volunteer
The creek outside my bedroom window was getting
fireman whom I had met just for a second the previous
higher by the minute. It had reached the level of going over
week, came by. He told me that the creek would flow over
the bank across from me by the bridge and I feared it
the other side if it did get over the bridge. That went a long
would soon be the same on my side of the creek.
way to help me relax.
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feature
Fred, Judie’s assistance dog, looking happy in his
new surroundings
The side of Judie’s new home, which is built into the
side of the creek. Judie watched the rising water from
the French windows in her bedroom
Soon Diane was back with three storm lanterns, and
with those lit it all felt much better. We were cold of course,
with no power, but just having light goes a long way to
making one feel warmer. I told my mom all would be okay
and she went back to sleep. It was about 5:30am but I sat
up in bed watching and listening the rest of the morning.
A few hours later Diane returned with a thermos of hot
coffee, and then the lights and power came back on,
including heat of course, and all seemed so much better.
On the radio I listened as the whole community came
together over that day to help everyone, clear mud, cut
down trees and get diggers and tractors in and out. It was
amazing to see how everyone pitched in. I wished there
was something I could do but mud was blocking the street
so I couldn’t get my wheelchair through, or access my van.
I have a very nice courtyard with a good wooden fence,
and I left my gate open the rest of the day so I could see
what was going on outside. Mary and so many of my new
neighbours stopped by to see if there was anything they
could do. No one was injured badly, no one was killed, but
23 homes had been ‘red tagged’ as dangerous to enter.
There was damage everywhere. Bridges out, homes full of
mud, some collapsed, cars also. One of my neighbours
said that this was our Katrina. I know it wasn’t that bad,
and we only have a little over 270 homes in the whole
Canyon, but still, I had never been in a situation of this type
before. There was also damage in the other canyons in the
area and the road going in and out was blocked, so no
one could leave.
The Red Cross came by to see if there was anything we
needed, like prescription drugs, but again we were just
fine. My mom felt better about my move to this new house
when she saw how everyone checked in on us. She felt I
was safe living here.
The joke seemed to be that I had told everyone I was
moving in Tuesday ‘come hell or high water’ and it sure
14
looked like we had had both! I asked them what they had
planned for next week’s entertainment. They all thought
that was funny.
On Thursday, Diane drove my van to my gate and I was
able to drive into town to check my phone messages, get
my mail at the post office and stock up at the store.
Christmas Eve I baked a Cornish game hen in the toaster
oven. It came out just fine, and with half a yam each and a
bag of veggies it wasn‘t a bad dinner at all. Merry
Christmas, we laughed.
My friends brought us dinner on Christmas Day. On
Sunday, the previous owners sent a plumber out to unblock the toilet. People stopped again just to chat. I met
more new neighbours. Then the volunteers started again.
There were trucks, diggers, all kinds of equipment going up
and down the street outside. I couldn‘t believe how hard
everyone was working. Fred loved it all: the people, noise,
smells, except I wasn’t able to take him out for a walk. He
kept wondering why I didn’t follow him out the gate and
down the road, but I could only allow him to go as far as
the flexi leash would go out. I kept telling him it was okay to
do his potty stuff in the courtyard, but I’m sure he would
rather have been out and about checking out the new
surroundings.
I remember saying that this 63-year-old, one legged
woman in a wheelchair with a dog on her lap was up for
one more big adventure in buying this house and
remodelling it, but I had no idea what I was getting into the
very first night.
When it rains now, I can hear a few boulders moving
down the creek, but they have cleared away everything that
had caused it to rise so high. I wanted to live out in the
woods and still do. This is my dream house, my dream for
the rest of my life, and no matter how hard at times, a
dream is worth working for.
Judie Bruno became a wheelchair user as a result of sky
diving accident when she was in the US Army in the 1970s.
She is a friend of IWA member Hamilton Delargy from
Carlow, who kindly sent on her story.
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CLEAN AS A WHISTLE
We all like feeling clean and comfortable, and there are many aids
and appliances on the market to help us tackle the more complex
hygiene issues says Kiara Lynch
FEMALE URINAL
This female urinal is anatomically designed for use while sitting,
standing or lying down. It has a flat-bottomed base so it can stand
on flat surfaces without tipping over. The urinal has an integral
handle and a graduated chamber. The clear plastic material
means the user can see when the device is full. It can be
chemically cleaned and machine washed up to 100oC.
Available at approx €17 from a range of suppliers,
including: Murray’s Medical Equipment, Dublin (01 855
5733); Beechfield Healthcare, Laois (057 868 2304); JS
Dobbs & Co Ltd, Dublin (01 839 1071); MED Surgical Ltd, Dublin (01 839 1511).
TOE WASHER
This toe washer provides a way for individuals with
mobility difficulties to wash their feet and between their
toes without having to bend over. The rectangular
towelling pad is mounted on a flexible wire shaft, which
can be angled as required. It has a built-up plastic handle
that is easy to grip. A spare pad is included.
including: Murray’s Medical Equipment, Dublin (01 855
5733); Beechfield Healthcare, Laois (057 868 2304).
16
BED PAN WITH HANDLE
This toileting aid is designed to be used in bed and
may be helpful for frail individuals or those with
limited mobility. The bedpan is made of plastic and
can be sterilised by steam, boiling or chemicals. It
has a horseshoe-shaped sitting surface with an
opening at the front so liquid can be disposed of
easily. The bedpan has a horizontal handle at the
rear for transportation.
including: Murray’s Medical Equipment, Dublin (01
855 5733); Beechfield Healthcare, Laois (057
8682304); H & H Products, Wexford (053 942
0914); Tools for Living Ltd, Dublin (01 855 5551),
Galway (091 773 782), Cork (021 487 5055).
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products
BEDWELL
This toileting aid is
designed to be used in
bed and may be
helpful for frail
individuals or those
with limited mobility.
The bedpan is made of
plastic and can be
sterilised by steam,
boiling or chemicals. It
has a horseshoeshaped sitting surface
with an opening at the
front so liquid can be
disposed of easily. The
bedpan has a
horizontal handle at
the rear for
transportation.
Available at approx
€42 from a range of suppliers, including: Murray’s
Medical Equipment, Dublin (01 855 5733); Beechfield
Healthcare, Laois (057 8682304); H & H Products,
Wexford (053 942 0914); Tools for Living Ltd, Dublin (01
855 5551), Galway (091 773 782), Cork (021 487
5055).
SUCTION BRUSH FOR NAILS OR DENTURES
This scrub brush has two rubber suction cups that
secure it to any flat, non-porous surface. The mounted
brush allows the user to scrub dentures or fingernails
with just one hand. Available at €9.95 from Murray’s
Medical Equipment, Dublin (01 855 5733).
URIWELL
Uriwell is an easy to use
and sanitary urinal. It
bends easily in any
direction so that it can
be used in any position
– standing, lying or sitting
– with no spilling, meaning
that users can stay in their
car, chair or bed when
nature calls. Uriwell is
unisex with an hermetically sealed lid which
minimises odours and spilling. Uriwell can be
collapsed to the size of a soft drink can, fitting neatly
into a glove compartment, handbag or rucksack.
When expanded it has a capacity of 750 ml.
There is also a
children’s version of
the Uriwell, the
Happypee. It’s more
colourful and looks
more like a toy, but
has all the same
characteristics of the
Uriwell. The Uriwell,
and the Happypee are available at €14.99 from Peter
Nolan, Rubicon Healthcare, Louth, Tel: 041 983
7258, Email: peter@rubiconhealthcare.com,
Web: www.rubiconhealthcare.com.
WHIZ FREEDOM
The Whiz Freedom is a guide funnel for use with urinals to
allow women to urinate in sitting, standing and lying
positions. The guide allows the user to urinate without
splashes and without the need to undress. The urine guide
can be folded away when not in use so that it can be
transported in a bag or pocket. Available at €43.13 from
Murray’s Medical Equipment, Dublin (01 855 5733).
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education & careers
University ACCESS
In part one of a two-part feature, Robbie Cousins highlights useful
services and facilities available to applicants and students at a
number of universities
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, GALWAY
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
Contact details: NUI Disability Support Service (DSS).
Tel: 091 492 813. Email: disabilty@nuigalway.ie
Web: www.nuigalway.ie/acces sibility.html
Opening hours: Mon - Fri, 10am – 4.30pm.
Contact details: DCU Disability & Learning Support Service (DLSS).
Tel: 01 700 5927. Email: disability.service@dcu.ie
Web: www.dcu.ie/students/disability
Opening hours: Mon - Fri, 9.15am – 5.15pm.
APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS
Generally through CAO. There is a five percent target
for places to be filled through DARE. Students with a
disability can also apply under Mature Student and
FETAC admission schemes. Applicants with
disabilities requiring specific accommodations to
attend interviews should contact DLSS in good time.
Applications through CAO. Twenty percent of places
reserved through Disability Access Route to
Education (DARE). If an applicant needs assistance to
attend an interview, they should contact the DSS,
detailing requirements, and DSS will work to facilitate
the applicant.
ACCESS SERVICES
A full range of accessible services are provided by the
DSS, with service staff, note takers and trained PAs
available as required by individual students. Students
are assessed when they enroll and facilitated in
accordance with their individual needs. If a lecture is
missed due to medical reasons, extra tuition is
available. The Assistive Technology Service is located
on the ground floor of the university library and
provides a range of services, equipment and software
to enable students to participate fully in their courses.
FACILITIES
All new buildings on campus are fully accessible.
There is on-campus accessible parking. Public
transport is close by the campus and PAs are
available to collect students from public transport or
taxi, if required. There is some on-campus accessible
accommodation on the ground floor of the Corrib
Student Village.
ACCESS SERVICES
Supervised third level qualified and trained PAs with
note taking and IT skills are hired for students on fulltime undergraduate/postgraduate courses subject to
HEA funding allocations. Based on personal
assessment, DLSS provides a range of access
services. This assessment will include assistive
technology needs, and required hardware and
software. If a lecture is missed due to medical
reasons, additional tuition can be provided.
FACILITIES
There are over 25 buildings on campus, with varying
degrees of accessibility. Check-out the DisabledGo
Guide at www.disabledgo.com/en/org/dublin-cityuniversity. Accessible parking is conveniently located
in a number of areas around the campus. There is an
accessible bus stop on Collins Avenue and at the
Ballymun road entrance. PAs can meet students at
the stop if necessary. There are a number of
accessible apartments with hoists and ensuites. DCU
Sports has won many O2 Ability Awards and staff are
trained in access issues.
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education & careers
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK
Contact details: UCD Disability Support Services. Tel: 01 716 7565.
Email: DSS@ucd.ie. Webpage: www.ucd.ie/access
Opening hours: Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm
Contact details: UCC Disability Support Service (DSS). Tel: 021
490 2985. Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie Web: www.ucc.ie/dss Facebook:
UCC - Disability Support Service Opening hours: Mon - Fri, 9am to
5pm. Late opening Tues 7pm.
APPLICATIONS
Applications through CAO. UCD participates in DARE
and HEAR (Higher Education Access Route). There is
a quota of 15 percent, shared between DARE/HEAR
and mature student entry. Other entry routes include
Grounds of Mature Years, FETAC and an Access
Course run by the Adult Education Centre. Applicants
attending campus should contact DSS and they will
arrange supports.
APPLICATIONS
ACCESS SERVICES
ACCESS SERVICES
The UCD Access Centre has a team of 11, of which
six work directly in DSS. There is normally one
qualified PA per student. Each student’s specific
needs can be facilitated. Common services include:
transport, PAs, note takers, exams accommodations,
use of a laptop, digital dictaphone, mentoring and
learning support. Other services include: classroom
supports, access librarian, assistive technology,
dedicated disability adviser, learning and peer
support. There is peer assisted learning for first year
students.
UCC can accommodate all forms of disability. It has a
full complement of FETAC qualified PAs as well as
DSS office staff. The UCC DSS team assesses and
works with students on an ongoing basis to ensure
they have the right equipment (assistive technology),
right assistance (PAs, note takers) and right access
(transport, parking, and building facilities). Extra tuition
is available if required due to illness or the nature of a
particular disability.
FACILITIES
All UCD lecture halls, libraries and dining halls are
accessible. A designated access librarian is located in
the main library building. There are accessible rooms
in the student residences. Lifts have been retrofitted
to ensure accessibility. Each campus building has
accessible parking bays. There are three main bus
stops at UCD, two on campus, one at the N11
entrance. Students can be met at the bus stop and
also avail of funding for taxi services where they are
unable to access public transport. UCD works with
the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer in Dun Laoghaire
Rathdown Local Sports Partnership and with IWA
Sport. There are no separate clubs for people with
disabilities as students are encouraged to join existing
clubs.
Applications through CAO. UCC takes part in DARE
and the Mature Student Access Programme (MSAP).
There is a minimum first year student intake target of
five percent having a disability. Any person with a
disability attending campus should contact DSS and
they will facilitate them, including organising transport
to campus within a 15-mile radius.
FACILITIES
There are some access challenges in a few older
listed buildings, but all modern buildings are fully
accessible. Libraries, gyms, dining and other
amenities have lifts and ramps. UCC’s Mardyke
Sports Centre has an accessible pool and accessible
gym with circuit room, and staff members are trained
in access issues. The campus has extensive
accessible parking. A campus bus service facilitates
the movement of students with disability around
campus, and from 8.30am to 10.30am and 4pm to
6pm, a bus can transport students living within a
three-mile radius of the college. Accessible taxis can
be organised for students living further from the
campus. There are a number of accessible lodgings
on campus, including high dependency units, with
accommodation for PAs.
Whichever third level college you plan to attend, make sure you contact its DSS office directly. In the next issue, we will
be highlighting facilities at Trinity College Dublin, NUI Maynooth, Dublin Institute of Technology and University of Limerick
20
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A day in the life...
In the first of a series of interviews with frontline IWA staff,
Joanna Marsden talks to Lisa Weldon about the challenges
she faces each day in her role as Assisted Living Services
(ALS) Co-ordinator for Laois/Offaly
Lisa at her offices in
Tullamore Resource and
Outreach Centre
isa Weldon is IWA’s ALS Co-ordinator in
Laois/Offaly, a role which involves working with 59
service users and 46 Personal Assistants (PAs) to
manage the delivery of 2,500 hours of frontline PA
service hours each month. “A lot of my day is spent
communicating,” says Lisa. “I work between two teams,
IWA and the broader community health area. A typical day
might include carrying out assessments with potential new
service users, carrying out PA inductions or service user
reviews and responding to service user needs by finding
ways to improve and enhance their services, including
liaising with other services, within the organisation and
networking with local community services.
Lisa’s current position is actually her second as a Service
Co-ordinator for IWA, “I worked as an ALS Service Coordinator in Clontarf from 2000-2002, when the service
was still in its infancy. I sent my CV into IWA on spec
because I was interested in working in a new area. I had a
Diploma in Intellectual Disability Nursing and had been
working as a staff nurse in hospitals for five years, but I
wasn’t sure whether I wanted to stay in that area. On my
days off, I’d done a bit of agency work which had given me
L
22
the opportunity to try out working in community care and
with older people.”
The role proved to be a big change for Lisa. “I’d come
from a very structured environment, where I handed over a
report at the end of my shift so that someone else could
take over, and suddenly I was very much working on my
own initiative. If I didn’t get the work done, no one else was
going to do it. I got a very good induction but it was a case
of, ‘Here’s your case load. You have all the information you
need, so off you go!’ I found it daunting but it made me sit
up and realise what I could achieve.
“ALS was just starting out at the time,” says Lisa. “There
were only three of us working the whole of Dublin, Kildare
and Wicklow – I’d say the number of staff has increased
significantly since! Back then, we had a list of people
waiting on assessments but there was ample funding.
Each time you did an assessment, you learned something
new. It also made you aware of what wasn’t out there for
people with disabilities. The service was developing all the
time and we worked closely with groups like Rehab Care
and the Centre for Independent Living on pilot projects.”
After two years in that role, Lisa, who is originally from
Monasterevin in Co Kildare, decided she wanted to move
nearer home. “I left IWA and took a job with Rehab Care as
a Day Centre Manager in Portlaoise, and after that I went
back to nursing for a couple of years with the intention of
up-skilling.” Lisa kept in contact with her old friends in IWA
and in 2006 she heard that the IWA ALS service would be
expanding into the Midlands. “I heard IWA was looking for
an ALS Co-ordinator in Tullamore. By then, I was living in
Tullamore with my husband Alan, and I’d already built up
community links through my work in Laois, so it seemed
like a perfect opportunity.”
Lisa has now been ALS Co-ordinator in Tullamore for five
years, during which period she has taken maternity leave
twice for daughters Isabelle and Ruby. “The ALS service is
very well developed in the Midlands at this stage. I share an
office with my IWA colleagues and I also work on a daily
basis with other community services. In the Midlands, we
03/03/2011
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education & careers
have a Clearing House Committee which meets every
month and includes representatives from voluntary service
providers and HSE. When an application for PA services
comes in, we all work in partnership with the aim of utilising
hours to the best possible effect and making sure no one
falls between the cracks. Sometimes applicants have a
preferred PA service provider but most of the time the
committee simply looks at which agency is best placed or
who has hours available at that point in time.”
If IWA is selected as the service provider, Lisa’s first step
is to organise an assessment in the person’s home. “We
use a formal ‘self-assessment tool’ which focuses on three
areas, namely how much support the person needs with
personal care and family tasks, how much support they
need within the home, and how much support they need in
getting out to access educational, work and community
activities.” Hours are allocated according to a Clearing
House priority system. “Support with personal care tasks
like getting washed and dressed is prioritised over tasks
like enabling people to access their local community for
social events. Sometimes this can be hard, because for
some people getting out seems like the most important
thing. I could recommend 20 hours of services and there
may only be 10 hours available immediately. There are
many people who would benefit from enhanced services
but at the same time I know there is no one who can’t get
out of bed in the morning. It’s up to me to keep advocating
for people who need more hours and hopefully we will get
there in the end.”
While hours can be limited by funding, Lisa believes there
are other ways in which IWA can improve its services.
“Sometimes a service user will say, ‘If my PA could do this
or that, it would really help me’. Part of my job is to
research how we can train the PA to support the service
user with tasks that might go beyond the standard training.
For example, one of my younger service users uses a PEG
feed (a feeding tube passed through the abdominal wall
directly into the stomach to provide nutrition via liquids). His
PA has recently been trained to operate the PEG feed so
that he can have more freedom and choice in his daily
routine, and so his mum can have a much-needed break.
Support with clinical tasks like this can be vital in enabling
people to live independently.”
“New supports like this don’t happen overnight,” says
Lisa. “First I have to research what is required, find an
appropriate external training provider, and then draw up a
policy for the new service. Throughout this process, I draw
on the support and advice of one of IWA’s National
Development Officers. The training is provided by a
member of the broader community team, whether that is a
physiotherapist or public health nurse, or one of the
medical companies which supply equipment.”
Lisa says it can be very rewarding to see the positive
changes which can come about as a result of the PA
service. “One of our service users, Julie Bailey, who has 22
hours each week, uses the service to enable her to access
Lisa with service
user Julie Bailey
education and training facilities, and for personal care and
support at meal times when she is there. This has enabled
her to develop her artistic talents and to obtain FETAC
Level 3 courses in Ceramics, Food & Nutrition, Computer
Literacy and Preparation for Work.”
As well as supporting services users, Lisa works closely
with the PAs who deliver the service. “When a new PA
starts, we carry out induction training which includes
manual handling, hoist, health & safety, care practice &
provision and adult & child protection. I also go out to the
service user’s house to carry out on-the-job training with
the PA. This is useful as it gives me an opportunity to do
risk assessments, check all the equipment is working, and,
if necessary, make referrals within the community team.”
Lisa adds: “The economic climate has meant that the
recruitment aspect of my job has reduced considerably. I
haven’t recruited a new PA since last August, as our staff
turnover is so low. More of my time is going into training
existing PAs to cover annual leave, or in organising PA
support days and reviews.”
Lisa says it can be hard for PAs and service users to
maintain professional boundaries. “Often PAs become very
involved and take on too much. You can’t criticise this but
sometimes you have to pull people back for the sake of
everyone involved. I understand how this happens because
I’ve been there myself. I love being in frontline service
delivery but it’s particularly hard when you come across
people in really tough situations. Part of me wants to say,
‘Now you come home with me for dinner...’, but I have to
remind myself what my role is. I say to myself, ‘This is what
I do, and I do it well’. It’s important to let things go when
you go home at night.”
Lisa is one of 30 ALS Service Co-ordinators working
nationwide.
If you are interested in finding out more about IWA’s
Assisted Living Service please contact your local IWA
office.
The Association has recently started to provide the
opportunity for individuals to purchase hours directly.
Please contact Amanda on 061 313 691 or email
amanda.callan@iwa.ie for information in relation to this.
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access
Virtual
RELATIONSHIPS
Internet dating is fast becoming the standard way to meet new people,
but it can be hard to suss out the rules of the virtual dating game...
CARTOONS BY JOHNNY CONNAUGHTON
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travel
2
TERMINAL
The opening of Dublin
Airport’s Terminal 2 has been
well-publicised in national
media, but what does it mean for
passengers with disabilities?
Kiara Lynch finds out
SET DOWN AREA
A dedicated disabled set down area has been allocated in
the Departures’ lane outside Terminal 2.
BATHROOM FACILITIES
ublin Airport’s Terminal 2 was officially opened
on Friday 19th November, 2010. Terminal 2 is
the new home for Aer Lingus, American Airlines,
Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Etihad
Airways and US Airways.
D
SHORT TERM PARKING
Dublin Airport has 40 disabled parking spaces
positioned at the front of Level 1 and Level 2 of the
Terminal 2 Short Term Car Park (max height 2.2m).
To view maps or get directions to all airport car
parks online, go to www.dublinairport.com/gns/to-fromthe-airport/car-parking/car-park-map.To access
disabled parking spaces in the Terminal 2 Short Term Car
Park at the special parking charge for disabled drivers
(€9.50 per day, prevailing rates apply), it is imperative that
you pre-book your car park space before travelling. Read
how to pre-book parking in all airport car parks online at
www.dublinairport.com/gns/to-from-the-airport/carparking/reduced-mobility
LONG TERM PARKING
There is a designated area of disabled parking spaces
with no height restrictions located within the Long Term
Red Car Park. Persons with reduced mobility who have
a valid disabled parking permit can avail of the online
pre-booking facility for the car park. This car park is
serviced by a 24/7 wheelchair accessible shuttle bus,
which operates from the car park’s bus shelter
to and from the main passenger terminals. If assistance is
required from the car park, OCS (One Complete
Solution) can be contacted via the Reduced Mobility Help
Point which is located within the bus shelter.
Disabled toilets are located in all public areas.
There is a range of facilities including: a shower facility
located in the check-in area; two toilets with changing
benches, one in the check-in area and one in the baggage
hall; and three toilets where your own portable hoist can be
used, located in the check-in area, international departure
lounge and the baggage hall. There are also three privacy
rooms which can be used if somebody needs to administer
dialysis, etc. These are located in the check-in area,
boarding gate area and US Pre-Clearance area. There is also
a guide dog relief area located airside within the International
Departure Lounge.
OCS ASSISTANCE
OCS has a designated point of arrival on the
departures floor within the check-in building
(adjacent to the designated disabled set down area).
If a person requires assistance, it is imperative that the
request be made when booking flights/making
reservations with the airline, tour operator or travel
agent. On arrival at Dublin Airport, passengers can
use one of the help points located throughout the
airport to gain assistance, or they can go to the OCS
reception desk on the Departures floor. Alternatively, they
can proceed directly to their check-in desk, where they
should inform airline staff that they have requested
assistance, and wait for a representative of OCS to arrive to
provide assistance.
If you have any feedback or queries in relation to the service
provided, please feel free to contact Helen O’Connor, DAA
PRM Access Officer on 01 814 4692 or email:
helen.o’connor@daa.ie.
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Niall in action on the sled
The husky
EXPRESS
Sledding with huskies is an exhilarating and surprisingly accessible
sport, as Niall McDonnell discovered when he travelled to Norway
with traditional musician Sharon Shannon as part of a new RTE
series, Two for the Road. Joanna Marsden reports
iall McDonnell is always up for a challenge and
has never been camera-shy. In 2007, thousands
of viewers watched as he climbed the Dublin
Mountains to propose to his wife Kathryn as part
of the RTE series Will You Marry Me? One of those viewers
was fellow wheelchair user Edel Reck, who made a mental
note that Niall would make an ideal candidate for a
television series she was planning.
Three years later, Edel approached Niall about
participating in Two For the Road, a series in which people
with different types of disability join with Irish celebrities to
learn sports such as hand-cycling, rally-driving, dogsledding, skiing, tall ships sailing and horse-riding. “I was
delighted to be asked,” says Niall, “And would have said
yes to any of the sports. But I was particularly pleased
when I heard I’d been chosen for dog sledding as I always
had dogs as a child and was a keen hunter before I
acquired my disability.”
Niall was to learn how to dog sled during an intensive
five-day trip to Villmark Lodge on the Norwegian-Swedish
border in December 2010. “When the time came to leave
our house, Saggart was under a foot of snow and I wasn’t
sure I would make it. But my friend Trevor stepped in,
N
28
saving the day by collecting me in his Jeep and driving me
to Dublin Airport. We were laughing because with the
weather the way it was, I could have nearly learnt to dog
sled in Ireland.”
It was night time by the time Niall arrived at Villmark
Lodge. “It was so dark as I travelled from Oslo Airport to
the dog farm that I couldn’t see much. But waking up the
next morning, the scenery was absolutely spectacular. I
looked out the window to see a winter wonderland;
everything in sight was covered with a gentle frosting.”
Niall was relieved to discover that the Norwegian cold
wasn’t as insidious as Irish cold. “I hate the cold but over
there it’s a very dry cold – the snow is so powdery that you
can’t even make a snowball – and it doesn’t get into your
bones the way our damp cold does.” Nonetheless, Niall
and his hosts took great care to ensure he kept warm.
“When you are in a chair, circulation can be an issue, so
they give you a special ski suit with a very high tog rating.
The metal on your chair gets very cold so you also need to
make sure that the cold parts of your chair are not rubbing
up against you, and that you have good gloves to push
with.”
For the duration of the trip, Niall was partnered with
03/03/2011
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travel
Sharon Shannon bonds with a husky
traditional musician Sharon Shannon. “I didn’t know which
celebrity I was going to get but it worked out brilliantly.
Sharon is surprisingly shy, but once the ice was broken we
were flying – she might be a celebrity, but essentially she’s
a nice, normal person. She’s also a dog-lover, with three of
her own at home, and she turned out to be pretty talented
with the huskies.”
Niall thinks the idea of having a celebrity and a person
with a disability work alongside each other as they learn a
new skill makes a lot of sense. “For both Sharon and
myself, there is an element of the unknown when other
people meet us, whether the unknown is there because of
the talent or the disability. Both are outside people’s
ordinary experience. Sharon is known for what she does,
but it’s nice to see her out of that box.
“There are so many angles to the show,” adds Niall. “It’s
not just about the sport, it’s about watching a celebrity
interact with someone with a disability, about showing that
although we are different in some ways, we have the same
ability to enjoy new things and help each other through the
learning process. After all, disability is just part of the mix of
all of us.”
Niall hopes the series will encourage other people with
disabilities to try new things. “There is so much you can do,
and it’s better to be out there trying than sitting indoors
thinking about what you are missing. I remember when I
was in the NRH after my accident, I became so involved in
coping with small things, like getting into my chair or going
to the physio, that I couldn’t imagine having the energy to
learn new skills. Over the years I’ve realised that learning
simple tasks can be complicated, but when you get there –
and you do get there in the end – it’s no different than for
anyone else. Learning to drive is a good example of this.
“Of course, specialised equipment has made a lot of
sports accessible to wheelchair users,” adds Niall. “I used
a specialised dog sled which was designed a couple of
years ago by a friend of Frank, the guy who runs Villmark
Lodge. But apart from sled, the experience was the same
for me as it was for Sharon. I was still using dogs, still
learning how to relate to them. In my experience, with a bit
of thought, a solution can be found for most access issues.
Frank was willing to look at every angle and he also offers a
variety of other accessible winter sports including crosscountry sit-skiing. While the active dog-sledding is only
suitable for adults and older children, a young child with a
disability could be carried in the sled and enjoy it that way.”
The accommodation at Villmark Lodge consists of logcabin style semi-detached lodges in a forest setting. “It’s
not the Ritz Carlton, but there are roll-in showers and the
beds are firm but comfortable, And more importantly, the
food is fantastic and the beer even better!”
Once Niall and Sharon had learnt the basic skills, they
spent two days on trails around the surrounding
countryside in the Fulufjell National Park. “You get to learn
how many dogs are needed for different terrains. The dogs
have great grip and I was surprised to discover that you
only need two to four dogs if you are on the flat. After a
while, I learnt how to assist the dogs myself by gripping the
snow with my hands. Getting stuck in like that also helped
keep me warm because I was more active.”
Looking back on the experience, Niall says, “There were
some funny moments and some scary moments. I enjoyed
the process of building trust with the dogs. I also got the
opportunity to see elk in their natural habitat. It was a bit
like a winter safari. The whole trip was a fantastic
opportunity to be as deep in the countryside as I have ever
been, surrounded by snow, trees and frozen lakes – and
far from paved roads. It bought back a closeness to nature
that I hadn’t felt in years. I’d love to do it all again with
Kathryn. It’s a highly active holiday and if you enjoy
photography it couldn’t get any better; you can literally
point the camera in any direction and be guaranteed the
most beautiful picture.”
Two for the Road was produced by Yellow Asylum Films
after they were approached by Wexford-based wheelchair
user and Associate Producer Edel Reck. Yellow Asylum
Films developed the idea and was commissioned by RTE,
in association with the BAI (Broadcasting Authority of
Ireland), to make the series. The series will be broadcast on
RTE later in the year - keep an eye on RTE schedules for
further details.
For further information on Villmark Lodge, visit
www.villmark.info
Niall enjoys the freedom
of open countryside
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03/03/2011
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Page 1
Saturday 21st May, 2011 at 10.00am
in, The Ballroom, The Heritage Golf
& Spa Resort, Killenard, Co. Laois
Notice of 9th Annual General
Meeting of I.W.A. Limited and
Annual Conference 2011
A HOME OF MY OWN
From Dublin Airport - Follow signs
southbound for the M50. Go through
West-Link Toll Bridge and take exit 9
heading southbound on the M7/N7
signpost for Cork. Continue on the M7/N7
and take exit for Monasterevin. Pass
through Monasterevin village and travel
for 3 KM and take right turn at Bolands
Pub. Killenard village is located just 3 Km
from this junction.
Monasterevin
The Heritage Golf
& Spa Resort,
Killenard, Co Laois
Killenard
Kilmullen
N7
N7
Ballycarroll
N7
Killinure
Ballybrittas
M7
Closeland
Jamestown
From Dublin City - Follow signs
southbound for the M7/N7 signpost for
Cork. Continue on the M7/N7 and take
exit for Monasterevin. Pass through
Monasterevin village and travel for 3 Km
and take right turn at Bolands Pub.
Killenard village is located 3 Km from this
junction.
N7
M7
M7
Please note the AGM & Conference is taking place in
The Heritage in Killenard and NOT The Heritage in Portlaoise.
From Limerick & Cork - Follow signs M7 north bound to Dublin. Leave the M7 at Junction 15 that is sign posted Killenard. When
you turn off take the left and follow the signs for Killenard and Ballybrittas. You will approach a roundabout ahead and take a
right on this and head for Ballybrittas village which is only 2 miles up the road take left turn for Killenard. This road is sign posted
all the way for The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort and will take you 5 minutes max to Killenard.
From Galway - Follow signs for Athlone N6. Bypass Athlone to Moate. In Moate turn right onto the N80 to Tullamore. From there
travel to Portarlington and onto Killenard.
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR ATTENDING THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AGM
AGENDA
SATURDAY 21st May 2011
SUNDAY 22nd May 2011
9.00am
10.30am Mass
St John’s Church
Killenard.
Registration for AGM and Annual
Conference
Tea/coffee available before AGM
10.00am ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Followed by Motions and Open Forum
12.00pm Official Opening of Annual Conference
“A HOME OF MY OWN”
1.00pm Light lunch – tea/coffee, sandwiches
2.00pm Continuation of Conference
3.00pm Tea/coffee break
3.30pm Continuation of Conference
4.30pm Open Forum
5.20pm Conference adjourns for evening
7.30pm Gala Dinner
IWA members are invited to submit :
Motions for the Conference. Please use the
Call for Motions (next page) and return to
the Company Secretary by 5pm on
Wednesday 20th April 2011.
11.30am Summer Fête
All the Fun of the Fair,
Including Barbeque, Music,
Games, Competitions, Food
Fair and lots more
3.30pm
Close of Event
Nominations for election of directors to the Board of I.W.A.
Limited. Please send in nominations for the Board using the
Nomination Form (next page) and return to the Company
Secretary, I.W.A. Limited, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3
by 5 p.m. on Friday 6th May 2011. The election will take place
at the AGM on Saturday 21st May, 2011.
03/03/2011
16:06
Page 2
Nominations for Election to the
Board of Directors of I.W.A. Limited
As per the Articles of Association of I.W.A. Limited (Art. 47),
one third of the Board of Directors shall retire from office
each year.
Election to be held at the Annual General
Meeting at 10.00am on Saturday 21st
May, 2011 in The Ballroom, The Heritage
Golf & Spa Resort, Killenard, Co. Laois
Nominations for election to the Board must be received by
the Company Secretary, I.W.A. Limited, Blackheath Drive,
Clontarf, Dublin 3, not less than 14 days before the Annual General Meeting, which will take place on 21st May,
2011 at 10.00am in the Ballroom, The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, Killenard, Co. Laois.
Please note: Nominees for election must be registered members of I.W.A. Limited and must be proposed by a
registered member and seconded by one other registered member. If elected, the nominee will be required to
give notice in writing of his/her willingness to serve on the Board of I.W.A. Limited.
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF NOMINATIONS IS
5PM ON FRIDAY 6TH MAY 2011
Nominee
Name: ........................................................................................................................................................
Address:.....................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
Proposer
Name: ........................................................................................................................................................
Address:.....................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
Seconder
Name: ........................................................................................................................................................
Address:.....................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
Date
03/03/2011
16:06
Page 3
IWA Annual Conference 2011
CALL FOR MOTION(S)
Members are invited to submit motion/s for debate at the Annual Conference. Please note the following:
A motion may be submitted on the form below and further motions may be continued on
separate pages.
Each motion must carry the name and address of ONE proposer and the names and addresses of
THREE seconders who must all be registered members of I.W.A Limited.
When completed, motion forms should be sent back to the Company Secretary, I.W.A. Limited,
Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3 by 5pm on Wednesday 20th April 2011.
The Board may prioritise, integrate or re-structure motions of a similar nature before presenting
them to the Conference.
Members must be present to speak to their motions.
Motions will be posted on the IWA website www.iwa.ie on Monday 16th May 2011.
When complete, please detach this page and return to Company Secretary, I.W.A. Limited,
Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3 by 5pm on Wednesday 20th April 2011.
We, the undersigned, submit the following Motion/s for
inclusion on the agenda of the IWA Annual Conference.
Proposer
Name: ....................................................................................................................................................
Address:.................................................................................................................................................
Seconders
Name: ....................................
Name: ....................................
Name: ....................................
Address: ................................
Address: ................................
Address: ................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
MOTIONS
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
03/03/2011
16:06
Page 4
IWA Annual Conference & AGM
of I.W.A. Limited 2011
Hotel Accommodation in Co. Laois
When booking hotel accommodation for the Annual Conference, please remember:
You must book rooms directly with the hotel of your choice quoting hotel booking
reference below.
Please note there is a limited number of accessible rooms available in each hotel.
To guarantee availability, rooms must be booked by 20th April, 2011.
You must settle the hotel cost directly with the hotel.
5 high dependency rooms are available in the Heritage, Killenard. These rooms will be allocated
on a first-come,first served basis. Contact Josephine Kenny, Service Co-ordinator, Tullamore on
057 935 0122. Hoists and shower chairs are also available on request from Josephine.
There will be a complimentary shuttle bus service between local hotels and The Heritage Resort
(except for those marked **). We recommend that persons staying in the accommodation marked **
provide their own transport.
Hotels
Tel
Quote Booking Ref.
The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, Killenard, Co. Laois
057 864 5500
IWA Conference
Maldron Hotel, Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise **
087 869 5900
Irish Wheelchair Association
Killeshin Hotel, Dublin Road, Portlaoise **
057 863 1200
086 237 6578 - Pat Flanagan
Liz Costello Hillcrest B&B, Killenard, Co. Laois
057 864 7026
Barry Carroll Lodge, Killenard, Co. Laois
087 907 6585
Self Catering Accessible Apartments, Killenard
If you need advice on your hotel booking and reservation of tickets for the Gala
Dinner please contact Lisa O’Meara at IWA - Tel 01 818 6486
Gala Dinner Booking Form
Please reserve
Name:
(no of tickets)
@ €50.00 each
Saturday 21st May at 8pm in The Ballroom,
The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, Killenard, Co. Laois
Please attach payment: TOTAL:
PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES & MONEY
ORDERS PAYABLE TO IRISH WHEELCHAIR ASSOCIATION
Tel (H):
Tel (M):
Address:
€
03/03/2011
16:08
Page 36
THE SKY REALLY
IS THE LIMIT
June Scannell at 10,000 feet
New Zealand is a country some get
to visit once in a lifetime. But worldly
June Scannell has travelled there
several times. She writes about one
exhilarating holiday experience and
explains why New Zealand is more
than a holiday destination for her
s I sit here shivering in the midst of the most
awful winter weather, I reminisce on this time two
years ago when I enjoyed a most eventful month
in New Zealand. But this was not my first trip to
New Zealand and certainly wasn’t going to be my last. It all
started back in the 1990s when I discovered that I had
been adopted as a child. Being of a curious nature, I set
A
36
out to trace my birth family. I discovered that I was one of
six children, and eventually I got to meet my paternal
siblings. The two who I identified with most, Shane and
Tom, although originally from Limerick, had set up lives in
New Zealand in the 1980s.
When in 2008, Shane – who like me has muscular
dystrophy – announced he was to marry to his girlfriend
Amanda, I decided that it was one wedding I was going to
attend.
Accommodation was never going to be a problem, but
who to take with me was. When none of my family was
available to take a month’s holiday, my good friend Mary
stepped in to the breach. At first I thought she didn’t really
mean it: every minute of every day for a month with me?
She would need indefatigable patience. But she did, and I
could not have asked for a better companion/PA. I am
delighted to say that throughout our trip in New Zealand
there wasn’t a moment of disharmony between us. We
laughed and sang from one end of the day to the other.
Incidentally, Mary sings from the time she gets up in the
morning until her head hits the pillow at night. She doesn’t
understand why other people don’t feel the need to stand
up and sing at every party or gathering they attend. And
she is a very respected singer. Last year, for instance, she
travelled to Vienna as part of a local choir to perform at a
major festival.
In January 2009, after a long flight and stopovers in
Singapore and Auckland, we arrived in Wellington. The
wedding was a great success and the day after we left
Amanda and Shane to enjoy their first week of wedded
bliss and set out on a road trip with my other brother Tom
June (left) an
d friend Mar
y take a ‘leisu
rely’ boat rid
e
03/03/2011
16:09
Page 37
travel
and his wife, Sarah. Our trip
brought us through the Roturua
region, famous for hot springs
and lakes – there is never a
problem with hot water there – as
well as a tourism industry built on
outdoor pursuits. During the trip
we tasted wonderful wines in
beautiful vineyards and eventually
travelled to Lake Taupo, New
Zealand’s largest lake and the
highlight of our trip. While at Lake
Taupo we spotted a billboard
advertising skydiving. Mary,
thinking aloud, wondered what it
would be like to try it. I said,
jokingly, maybe I could have a go
as well. The next thing we knew
Tom was on the phone and had
us booked in to dive at 9.30 the
next morning. He discovered that
my being a wheelchair user presented no problems.
With no time to panic (although I can’t say I had my best
night’s sleep that night) the next morning the four of us
arrived at the airfield where we were each assigned a jump
partner. When we were putting on a particular type of boiler
suit, I notice a warning sign about the risk of dislocating
collarbones. I laughed as I was scheduled to get a new
one shortly afterwards, so if anything happened I was
sorted.
The hardest part of the experience was getting me from
my chair into the plane, as the plane was quite small. As
we ascended, my jump partner secured himself on to my
back for the skydive. The higher we climbed, the more my
heart pounded. Too late for a change of mind and to turn
back; I was to be the first to jump and when the door
opened it was quite literally the most terrifying moment in
my entire life.
I was sure I would lose my breath the minute we hit the
air outside. But it was nothing like I expected. Another
person with a camera attached to his wrist jumped
simultaneously and took photos and video on the way
down. It was mind blowing to look down through fluffy
clouds and see the lake, tiny houses, roads and cars grow
bigger as we raced closer to the ground. It was an
exhilarating experience for someone like me who could
hardly jump off a chair on my best days. We landed
practically on the spot we took off from. It may be an
overused word, but in this case, the experience was literally
fantastic. For a moment I felt completely revitalised and
almost indestructible.
Naturally food was not mentioned before the dive but
once back on earth we celebrated with a large slap up
breakfast. And we all received a video and photos of the
whole experience so we could relive it with our families and
friends.
Continuing on the road, now
in a car full of adrenalin junkies,
we next travelled to Huka Falls,
a thermal river with a waterfall.
We took a trip on a high-speed
boat, which jetted around the
river at incredible speeds. Talk
about an adrenalin rush, I
thought I would never see dry
land again.
After the road trip we returned
to Wellington where we all
enjoyed a couple of relaxing
weeks and Mary took every
opportunity she could to sing.
It’s now two years later and
even though the days are cold,
the memories stay with me and
fill me with warmth. Now that I
have two brothers married in
New Zealand, I keep in constant
contact with them using Skype and I also have a strong
affiliation with that part of the world. I have been lucky to
make a number of trips to New Zealand, one being a
round-the-world trip that took in Hawaii and shopping in
New York, as well as visiting South Africa a number of
times – but that’s a story for another time. I would advise
anyone reading this who would like to travel to faraway
places to do all they can to take that holiday and never to
be afraid to try something new.
June with her
daughters
Elaine and
Regina,
husband Liam
and son Eoin
in Blarney
June at the
wedding with
her paternal
siblings (from
left) Tom,
Shane
and Áine
A FEW TRAVEL TIPS FOR THE LONG
HAUL TRAVELLER
My brother Tom’s mother-in-law gave me these useful
tips. Tragically, she and Tom’s father-in-law were killed
in a car crash in Limerick two years ago. “When you
board the airplane, read for a while or watch a movie.
Eat your meal, then take a sleeping tablet and sleep
for a few hours. You will wake up fresh as a daisy and
ready to take on whatever comes your way.”
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37
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travel
HOLIDAYING AT HOME
With spring in the air, the seaside and countryside suddenly
becomes more inviting. Colette Molloy suggest three
accessible destinations for a summer holiday or short break
BALLYLIFFIN LODGE
& SPA HOTEL
Ballyliffin, Inishowen
Co Donegal
Tel: 074 937 8200
www.ballyliffinlodge.com
The four Star Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa
Hotel, set in the village of Ballyliffin,
has spectacular views of the
Inishowen coastline and Malin Head.
There is designated parking adjacent
to the entrance which has level
access. The beautifully designed
interior combines traditional charm
and luxury. There are three wheelchair
accessible bedrooms located on the
first floor and accessed by lift, making
this hotel ideal for a small group
booking. The spacious bedrooms
each have an en suite wet-room with
ample grab rails and a shower chair.
There are several dining options
provided by the award winning
Executive Chef and offered in a grand
and relaxed setting.
ASHLEE LODGE
Tower, Blarney
Co Cork
Tel: 021 438 5346
www.ashleelodge.com
TRIM CASTLE HOTEL
Trim
Co Meath
Tel: 046 948 3000
www.trimcastlehotel.com
Ashlee Lodge, a contemporary four
star guest house, offers superb
accommodation in a relaxed and
peaceful atmosphere. Set in its own
grounds just 2km from Blarney and a
ten-minute drive from Cork City, the
location is an ideal base for touring
the Beara Peninsula and West Cork or
visiting the nearby famous Blarney
Woollen Mills. The house has level
access and a designated parking
space. There is one wheelchair
accessible bedroom located on the
ground floor with direct ramped
access from the car park. The en suite
wet room with roll-in shower has
adequate grab rails and fixed seat.
Tower Village has many restaurants
and traditional pubs offering great
food and entertainment.
Contemporary elegance is the style
of the beautifully appointed four star
Trim Castle Hotel located in the
heritage town of Trim and
overlooking Trim Castle. The
entrance is level with two designated
parking spaces adjacent and a
further two in the underground car
park. There are four accessible
bedrooms located on the second
and third floors with lift access.
Each bedroom has room for a hoist
and an en suite wet room with a
roll-in shower, grab rails and fixed
seat. The hotel offers several dining
options from casual dining to a
candlelit dinner. The heritage town of
Trim is a 40-minute drive from Dublin
City Centre and offers a wealth of
historic interest.
Need to hire a hoist? In the east, contact JS Dobbs, Baldoyle, Dublin 13. Telephone 01 839 1071
or www.jsdobbs.ie In the north/north-west, try Evolution Healthcare, Co Tyrone.
Tel: 028 8772 7855 www.evolutionhealthcare.co.uk
Somewhere to recommend?
Contact Colette Molloy colette.molloy@iwa.ie or 01 818 6485
40
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03/03/2011
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Page 1
Just a sample of some of the events taking place at Cuisle for 2011. We can design a break to suit you as an
individual or as a group, ensuring that your time spent with us will be the perfect reason for a return visit.
Fishing Breaks - 18th to 22nd July, 8th to 12th August,
5th to 9th September.
It’s time to get the fishing rods out again and enjoy a relaxing fishing break on the
banks of the River Suck. Fishing tackle, bait, expertise and advice will be available
throughout the week from our resident angling advisor. Whether you are a
beginner or an experienced angler, there’s something here for you. Breaks include
2/3 days fishing and transport to and from the bays.
Easter - 21st to 25th April
Celebrate Easter with a relaxing break at Cuisle and the opportunity to partake in the
Easter Ceremonies. Don your Easter bonnet and join in the fun of the Roscommon
Easter Parade.
Roscommon Races - 9th May, 12th & 13th June,
4th & 5th July, 2nd & 15th August
Roscommon Races are where you will see some stars of the future – a favourite
course with trainers for introducing young horses to racing. With a designated
disabled viewing area, it is the perfect day out. Admission to the races and transport
to and from the track is included in your break.
Health & Beauty Week – 16th to 20th May,
30th May to 3rd June
Escape from your everyday life and join us for some well deserved pampering.
Indulge in treatments that are therapeutic and relaxing. Our therapists specialise in
Indian Head & Shoulder Massage, Full Body – personalised to suit your individual
requirements, and Hand & Arm Massage. Treat yourself to a visit to our Leisure Suite,
and relax in our Jacuzzi or sauna – a sure way to ease away the tensions of the day.
At the Beauty Workshop our Make-Up Artist will teach you how to devise a
professional make-up look that will work for you. To finish off your break, visit
Classic Cuts Hair Salon to look and feel good. Nominal charges apply for
Classic Cuts and all treatments.
Call 090 666 2277 for reservations
Cuisle Holiday Centre , Donamon, Co. Roscommon
Tel: 090 666 2277 | Email: cuisle@iwa.ie | www.cuisle.com
03/03/2011
16:11
Page 42
Vertical
GARDENING
Helen Rock reports on a new
space-saving trend for gardening on
vertical spaces like walls and fences
ertical gardening – that is planting up walls and
other structures rather than on the flat – is a
relatively new concept in horticulture, though not
in nature, where a rock face or the sides of a longdisused quarry can be adorned with the most wonderful
collections of wild and naturalised plants. Over the last
dozen or so years, a French botanist, Patrick Blanc, has
made it a sustainable art form and now buildings in Paris,
London, New York and all over the world are clad with
green mantles of beautifully arranged plants that bring joy
and health to many people, both inside and out of the
buildings they so gracefully adorn.
Now vertical gardening has gone mainstream and
manufacturers have come up with all sorts of adaptations
to suit most domestic situations, from planting towers
(www.flower-tower.co.uk) and planting bags for walls and
fences (see Verti-Plant from www.burgonandball.com) to
what looks like a very promising new system from Tree Box
(www.treebox.co.uk). A relatively new company, Tree Box
specialises in green walls, edible walls and vertical
allotments that aim to provide robust and instant urban
greening systems for gardens, yards and balconies, minus
the complications.
According to Bella d’Arcy Reed, their representative at a
recent garden event in London, Tree Box’s modular
planting system is ideal for those who like to garden but
have trouble bending over or getting around and who really
miss their gardening activities. “Conventionally raised beds
are presented as a solution for people’s lack of mobility,”
she said, “but in reality they may often find it difficult to
reach across and tend their plants.
By providing a vertical planting system that is fixed to a
wall at a convenient height, Tree Box believes they have
come up with a solution that will help the less able to
continue enjoying their favourite pastime. There are two
planting kits available and both support substantial
troughs. These hold soil into which a selection of
herbaceous or annual plants, vegetables and herbs, can
be planted and tended easily, they say. The kits come with
a built-in water reservoir or simple irrigation system, which
can be topped up with a watering can when required.
With basic DIY skills, a friend or carer can easily
V
42
Tree box herb bay
assemble an Easiwall or Herb Bay kit and fix it to a balcony,
wall or free-standing support. The Easiwall system is made
from 80 percent recycled polypropylene in the UK and
consists of five specially designed troughs that can support
enough planting substrate to sustain plants for several
years and also have a deep enough root run for crops such
as carrots.
Their second system, the Herb Bay, is a wooden frame
that houses removable troughs into which herbs or other
plants can be grown. It can be placed in the most
convenient spot for the user and should they ever move
home, the garden they love can go with them. Green or
living walls enhance air quality by working as purifiers,
absorbing CO2 and other pollutants. If incorporated into a
building’s ventilation system, they can be used to actively
cool and clean the air.
And, if the living wall is used in conjunction with a
rainwater harvesting system, then rainwater run-off is
reduced and soon-to-be-metered tap water is saved. Then
there’s the added bonus of creating a safe haven for
myriad forms of wildlife – for butterflies, bumblebees and
small birds. In effect, you are making a lovely living wall
that, with the right mixture of plants, will provide you with
an everchanging picture of great natural beauty where
before there was nothing but a bare surface.
A vertical
allotmemnt
by Tree Box
03/03/2011
16:12
Page 43
living
A close-up view of the
Easiwall Wyevale by
Tree Box
The Chiswick
by Tree Box
WHAT’S ON
GARDEN WORK
The extra hour of evening light will be back with us before
the end of March, which is great news for everyone. From
then on, we can anticipate staying out later in our gardens
as the light advances and the nights grow warmer, perfect
for prowling around your garden and taking stock of what’s
good and what could be better. This is the time of year
when bare patches of earth stare you straight in the eye.
These – if you have nothing planted there and still lurking
below ground – are planting opportunities, in this great
planting season.
It’s a great time to plant trees and shrubs, when the
weather is fine and the soil or compost not too wet. Plant
all types of hedges now – except broad-leaved evergreens
which are best left till early April. It’s a good time to plant
clematis and other wall shrubs. The clematis family like to
have their feet shaded and cool, so placing flat stones over
the roots is recommended if no other shade is available.
Water the wall shrubs in very well as the masonry sucks up
more than its fair share of moisture.
SPRING TONIC
When the tops of young stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) are
used as a vegetable (toss until wilted in butter, add sea salt
and a little lemon juice and eat with brown bread, if liked)
they are a good spring tonic. They increase sluggish blood
circulation and are good for clearing the skin of small
eruptions.
Chickens, now the height of garden fashion, like nettles
too. A clump of them growing in a semi-wild, set-aside part
of the garden where their invasive habit won’t matter so
much, will attract ladybirds, which seem to have become
more elusive over the last few years. In their turn, ladybirds
eat greenfly and other sap-sucking aphids that damage
your plants. Incidentally, experiments in growing stinging
nettles between rows of peppermint showed that the mint’s
natural oil content increased to 2.5 percent from less than
1 percent when grown without.
Sat 5th March: Spring Plant Fair at Bellefield House,
Shinrone, Birr, Co Offaly (10-30am-4.30pm). This
promises a cornucopia of wonderful plants for sale,
including bulbs, perennials, fruits, herbs, shrubs and
trees. Bellefield is the home of garden architect and
plant collector Angela Jupe (see www.angelajupe.ie
for details) and this a great time to see her garden
and its evolving plant collections, including one of
snowdrops. If you miss it now, then you could see it
later when the gardens open to the public as part of
the new Lough Derg Garden Trail. For more go to:
www.loughderggardens.com
Sun 6th – Sat 12th March: National Tree Week. See
www.treecouncil.ie for details of events.
Sat 12th & Sun 13th March: Helleborus Days at Mt
Venus Nursery, which is situated in the lovely walled
garden of Tibradden House, Mutton Lane,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 (11am-5pm). Because the
hybrids vary so greatly, the best time to buy these
beautiful plants is when in flower. That’s why every
year in mid March Mt Venus, which has a good stock
of excellent garden-worthy varieties, holds its special
Hellebore days with free guided tours of the plants
given by Oliver Schurmann throughout the days. Well
worth a visit now, and at any time from March to
October.
Sat 9th April: Dublin Alpine Garden Society Show
(from 1pm) at Cabinteely Community School,
Johnstown Road. Fascinating displays and unusual
plants for sale.
Sun 17th April: Plant & Garden Fair at Fota House,
Carrigtwohill, Co Cork (from 10.30am).
www.fotahouse.com
Sun 8th May: Rare & Special Plant Fair at Birr Castle
Demesne, Co Offaly (10am-5pm). Entry £6.50. Good
plants and food for sale in a beautiful and historic
setting.
Sun 15th May: Irish Specialist Nursery Association
sale at Larch Hill, Kilcock, Co Kildare. Details on
www.isna.ie
Tues 24th – Sat 28th May: Chelsea Flower Show,
London. Book online at www.rhs.org.uk or telephone
0044 121 767 4063
spokeout
43
03/03/2011
16:12
Page 45
motoring
Simple mobility
Easy release hand brake
SOLUTIONS
Some simple, low cost adaptations can make
motoring easier for many people with limited
mobility says Niall McDonnell, who works in
IWA’s National Mobility Centre
T
SWIVEL CUSHION
A padded turning cushion may be helpful for use when
exiting car seats or when getting up from chairs and beds.
It is used for rotation while seated and allows swivel
transfer without painful jarring or twisting. Swivel cushions
are available with removable fleece covers, which are
machine washable for easy cleaning.
PANORAMIC MIRRORS
Reduce blind spots and get a wider angle of vision than a
flat rearview mirror with a panoramic mirror that fits onto
the existing rear view mirror. Available with a slide
mechanism that adjusts to suit all types of cars.
HANDYBAR
This stainless steel bar (pictured right) slips into car door
latches to provide secure assistance when getting in and
out of the car. The Handybar acts as a portable grab rail
and has a soft grip, non-slip handle for extra comfort. It fits
the majority of car frames with the U-shaped striker and
may be helpful for individuals who have difficulty getting up
from a seated position. This handle also doubles up as a
seatbelt belt cutter in case of an accident.
EASY RELEASE HANDBRAKE
This car adaptation (pictured above right) allows operation
of most vehicle parking brakes for those with arthritis or
other hand disabilities. This simple but effective mechanism
attaches to the parking brake to bring the operating handle
nearer to the driver and to allow the driver to operate the
parking brake with one easy action requiring minimal
dexterity of the hand.
SEAT BELT EXTENSIONS
There are various seatbelt extensions available to aid
drivers/passengers in reaching the seatbelt receiver.
SUN VISOR EXTENSIONS
A Sun Visor Extension simply clips onto your car sun visor
to allow better vision when facing the sun.
HARNESSES
There are various belts and harnesses available designed to
offer postural support or in the case of learning difficulties
and challenging behaviour a certain degree of restraint.
In addition to the items above, there are a great many
other things that can be done to a vehicle to help keep
somebody mobile, from hand controls, flip down
accelerator peddles and infra red systems to help people
drive, to ramping, hoists and floor lowered vehicles for
those travelling as passengers. Don’t be afraid to contact
IWA’s Mobility Centre in Clane on 045 861 346 or your local
adaptations company for advice. The solution may be close
at hand!
The Handybar
Images courtesy of Motability Ireland
here are a great many people in Ireland who
experience difficulty driving or being a passenger
in a motor vehicle as a result of a low level of
disability. While there are plenty of adaptations
available for amputees and wheelchair users, the smaller
adaptations tend to be overlooked. This is a pity because
the fact is that there are a great many small and cost
effective items available on the market. These items can
make a huge difference to people’s comfort and safety,
whether that means assisting a person in entering a vehicle
or operating some of the controls. Some examples include:
Image courtesy of
Mobility Ireland
spokeout
45
50th Book order form:1 Full Page
03/03/2011
16:58
Page 1
Celebrating 50 years of the
EXTRAORDINARY LIVES ORDER FORM
November 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of the Irish Wheelchair
Association and to celebrate this historic occasion the Association
has produced a commemorative book, Extraordinary Lives.
The book celebrates not only the history of IWA, but the story of a
changing Ireland, where people with disabilities have gone from
living ‘behind closed doors’ to enjoying full and independent lives in
their communities.
Extraordinary Lives will be launched by RTE Presenter Myles
Dungan, during a formal reception in Croke Park. IWA would
like to invite all Spokeout readers to this event which takes
place on Wednesday 23rd of March at 6:00pm. If you would
like to attend this event please contact the Communications
Department on 01 818 6456.
To secure your copy of Extraordinary Lives, please complete this order form and return to Irish
Wheelchair Association, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
The cost of the book is €24.99, but it is available to members at a special price of
€20.99 including postage and packaging.
Name
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
Address
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
Telephone
Email
..........................................................................................
Number of copies required
..........................................................................................
..................
I hereby enclose:
Cash
For the amount of:
Cheque
€
Bank draft
Postal order
...............................................................................
Please complete this order form and return to:
Information Dept, Irish Wheelchair Association, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Please make all cheques and postal orders payable to Irish Wheelchair Association. Cheques , bank drafts or postal orders are the
preferred method of payment as IWA cannot be held responsible for cash payments lost through the post.
03/03/2011
16:13
Page 49
sport
Father of the
PARALYMPICS
Paralympic sports fan Jim Hayes discovers more about the man
behind the foundation of the Paralympic Games, rehabilitation
pioneer Sir Ludwig Guttmann
WA has just celebrated 50 years since its foundation.
From day one, sport has been an inseparable part of
the organisation’s activities. From small beginnings, we
now have IWA athletes travelling to the four corners of
the world, with the Paralympics being the highlight of their
sporting calendar.
But just how did the Paralympics begin? Competitive
sport for athletes with a disability is a relatively new
phenomenon. It is generally agreed that the Paralympic
movement towards competitive sports for individuals with a
disability began in 1948 in Stoke Mandeville, England.
Sir Ludwig Guttmann, a German neurosurgeon, began
work at the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries Unit in 1944,
one year before the end of World War Two. Dealing with
limited resources, inexperienced staff, and a prevailing
attitude that rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord
injuries was impossible, Guttmann looked for ways to
inspire and integrate the ex-soldiers in his care back into
society. As part of his innovative treatment programme, he
made work an everyday part of each patient’s activities. He
wanted his patients to resume normal life as quickly as
possible. Given that most of his patients were young,
formerly active individuals, sport was part of that normal life
too.
Guttmann realised that organised sports could work
wonders in motivating patients to exercise, especially the
young and formerly active war veterans he had in his care.
Sport was of course critical to building their strength; their
future depended on being able to lift themselves into a
wheelchair.
Guttmann made sport mandatory, and it soon formed an
essential part of the programme at Stoke Mandeville. It was
not a question of whether they would like to do sport; no, it
was part of all treatment, like taking medicine, or doing
physiotherapy. And Guttmann would make sure they did it.
Archery competitions led to the first Stoke Mandeville
Games for the Paralysed, held on July 28th, 1948, and
involving 16 competitors. It was no accident that these
games opened on the same day as the Olympics.
Guttmann wanted his games to have a larger forum. He
envisioned international games: Olympics for athletes with
disabilities. The Stoke Mandeville Games were held yearly
after 1948, and became international in 1952 with the
I
Sir Ludwig Guttmann, founder of the Paralympics, speaking at the
Tokyo Paralympic Games in 1964
addition of a Dutch team of competitors. That same year
the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation, or
ISMGF (later the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair
Sports Federation, or ISMWSF) was created, and it
decided the games should be held in the country hosting
the Olympics. In Rome in 1960, immediately after the
Olympics, Guttmann watched as 300 athletes entered the
Olympic Stadium for the first Paralympic Games, a
competition which has since become second in size only
to the Olympics.
Instead of resting on his laurels, Guttmann realised his
work was just beginning. As president of the International
Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ISOD), founder of the
British Sports Association for the Disabled, and worldrenowned expert in his professional field, he worked
tirelessly to improve the day-to-day lives of those with
disabilities. Sir Ludwig Guttmann passed away in 1980,
having seen the influence of his games touch thousands of
people worldwide. His vision continues to inspire all those
who strive for his dream: the full integration of those with
disabilities into mainstream society.
Jim Hayes is involved in IWA’s Dublin Swifts Club. He is
also compiling archive material on the history of IWA Sport.
If anyone has stories, video or photographs that could be
archived for posterity, contact Jim at email:
james.hayes@osi.ie or tel: 087 276 4922.
spokeout
49
03/03/2011
16:14
Page 51
sport
SPORT FOCUS 2011
With a packed calendar of events and mounting competition in the run
up to the London Paralympics, 2011 promises to be another exciting year
for IWA Sport, says Nicky Hamill, Director of Sport
riends, supporters, staff and athletes closed off
2010 in style with a superb night in Bewleys Hotel
celebrating 50 years of IWA Sport. It was a
particular honour to be joined on the night by Dr
Oliver Murphy, one of our founding members, and by
Rosaleen Gallagher, niece of athlete Rosaleen Gallagher,
who has kindly donated two of her aunt’s paralympic
medals to IWA-Sport.
The highlights of the night were the audio visual
presentation recounting our history and the unveiling of the
IWA Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is displayed in
the lobby of the Dr Oliver Murphy Sports Centre, Clontarf,
and readers are encouraged to come in and view it at any
time.
2011 promises to be another busy sporting year with
many sporting events scheduled. IWA sport will continue
to offer many of our existing programmes such as multisport junior clubs, monthly swimming development training
sessions, sports-specific clubs at junior and senior level,
summer camps and our programme of National
Championships. New to our programme this year will be
an Athletics Emerging Talent initiative. This will be a
monthly session available from March which will offer
coaching expertise across a number of athletics
disciplines. If you would like more information regarding
any of the above opportunities, please contact any of our
Sports Development Officers or the main IWA Sport office.
At senior level, we look forward to our athletes and
teams attending the Archery World Championships in Italy,
European Swimming Championships in Berlin, European
Rugby Championships in Switzerland and European Table
Tennis Championships in Croatia. At Junior level, a team
will compete at the World Junior Athletics Championships
in Dubai.
The race for Paralympic qualification to London 2012
F
Pictured enjoying the 50th Anniversary Sports celebrations are left
to right: John Finn, IWA Sport Chairman; Eileen O Mahoney, IWA President; Dr Oliver Murphy, founding member of IWA; Rosaleen Gallagher,
niece of athlete Rosaleen Gallagher; Kathleen Mc Loughlin, IWA CEO
begins in earnest this year so the very best of luck to all of
our athletes who are aiming for Paralympic qualification.
Finally, many thanks and best wishes in advance to all
of our athletes, coaches and staff who will once again fly
the IWA Sport flag at all levels in 2011.
To find out more about IWA Sport, contact:
• Eastern region: Mark Barry mark.barry@iwa.ie
• Western Region: Rena McCarron Rooney
Rena.McCarronRooney@iwa.ie
• Southern region: Paul Ryan Paul.Ryan@iwa.ie
• Midlands: Orla Dempsey Orla.Dempsey@iwa.ie
KEY EVENTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2011
April
June
July
October
October
October/May
July 2nd
World Junior Athletics Championships
Archery World Championships
European Swimming Championships
European Rugby Championships
European Table Tennis Championships
Irish Stairlifts & Bathrooms Basketball league
IWA & CPSI National Athletics Championships
Dubai
Italy
Berlin
Switzerland
Croatia
IWA, Clontarf
Santry
spokeout
51
spokeout_Spring_11-p53:1 Full Page
03/03/2011
16:15
Page 1
Support IWA and you could win...
1ST PRIZE
2ND PRIZE
€2,000
3RD PRIZE
€1,500
€500
EVERY MONTH!
€10,000
Plus... I N
O UR
AUGUST SU
W
A
R
PE R D
!
IWA has a presence in every county in Ireland. Last year
we provided over 2 million hours of services to people
with disabilities nationwide. You can help by entering
our Monthly Draw for as little as €12.50 per month.
€12.50
€50
€25
7 entries in monthly draw
3 entries in monthly draw
€50.00 per month
1 entry in monthly draw
€25.00 per month
Name .............................................................................................
€12.50 per month
Email .................................................................................. Tel .................................................................................
Address ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Name of Bank.................................................................................................... Address of Branch ................................................................................................................................
Name of Account Holder(s)........................................................................................................................
Account Number
Bank Sort Code
Signature ......................................................................................................................
If you are on an IWA payroll and wish to have your
monthly donation deducted from your salary
please tick here
............................................................................................................
Start Date ......................./........................................../ .......................................
IWA can claim up to an extra 41% in tax refunds from the Government if your donation
is over €250 per annum, at no extra cost to you. All you need to do is insert your pps
number here.
Signature ...................................................................................
PPS No:
Please return completed form to:
IWA Fundraising Department
Irish Wheelchair Association, Blackheath Drive,
Clontarf, Dublin 3
03/03/2011
16:16
Page 55
news
ST PATRICK’S
DAY ANGEL
As part of this year’s St Patrick's Day
celebrations IWA will be selling its distinctive
St Patrick's Day Angel Pin in Dublin and Cork
City. The Association is currently seeking volunteers to
help sell the pin in the lead up to March 17th, 2011. If you
are interested in supporting IWA by selling St Patrick's Day
Angel Pins in either Dublin or Cork City, please contact
Jack Doyle, Volunteer Coordinator, on 087 055 6965 or
email: jack.doyle@iwa.ie. For further information about the
St Patrick's Day Angel Pin campaign, log onto
www.iwa.ie/angel
FRIENDS
OF IWA
MONTHLY DRAW
NOVEMBER 2010 WINNERS
1st Prize €2,000: Myra Cummins, Tuam, Co Galway
2nd Prize €1,500: Catherine Earley, Sixmilebridge,
Co Clare
3rd Prize €500: Bill Guest, Nenagh, Co Tipperary
DECEMBER 2010 WINNERS
1st Prize €2,000: John Fitzsimons, Clontarf, Dublin 3
2nd Prize €1,500: Maria Mulhern, Lifford, Co Donegal
3rd Prize €500: Tom Costello, Kilcolgan, Co Galway
JANUARY 2011 WINNERS
1st Prize €2,000: ROC staff, Merlin Park, Galway
2nd Prize €1,500: James Crotty, Killiney, Co. Dublin
3rdPrize €500: Eunice Toland, Clonmany, Co Donegal
Flora Women’s
Mini Marathon
Support IWA this summer by taking part in the Flora
Women’s Mini Marathon. This year’s mini marathon
takes place on Monday June 6th, 2011.
Entry forms are available online at
www.florawomensminimarathon.ie or in the Evening
Herald every Wednesday and Saturday from March
2nd, 2011. Closing date for entries is Wednesday,
April 27th, 2011. All money raised is used locally to
support people with disabilities living in your
community.
SUPER FORD FOCUS
CAR DRAW
IWA is proud to announce
the winner of the Super
Ford Focus Car Draw
which took place on
December 15th, 2010.
Congratulations to Agnes
Waters from Fethard-OnSea, Co Wexford, who
Jack Doyle, IWA Volunteer Co-Ordinator,
collected her brand new
Peadar Lacey, Boland Motors, Waterford,
Ford Focus earlier this
Agnes Waters winner of new Ford Focus
and Sinead Foskin IWA Area Manager
month.
The winning ticket was
sold by Isobel Tubritt from New Ross, who receives €200.
All proceeds from the sale of tickets will go towards
maintaining the essential services IWA provides in the areas
in which tickets are purchased.
Innovative toilet installed in Carmel Fallon Holiday Centre
IWA’s Carmel Fallon Holiday Centre in Clontarf has installed
an innovative Clos-o-Mat toilet in the centre’s atrium
bathroom, to enable members to go to the toilet unaided
when visiting the centre.
Whilst it looks like a traditional WC, the Clos-o-Mat
incorporates integral washing and drying facilities, simply
triggered by pressure on the flush pad when sat on the
toilet, which enable the user to be hygienically clean after
toileting with little or no help from a personal assistant.
The reduction in reliance on a personal assistant enhances
the user’s independence and privacy. IWA’s Clos-o-Mat
features a plinth to raise the unit to enable easy side
transfer from a wheelchair, and a touch sensitive hand/foot
switch for users who are unable to use their hands or body
to press the standard flush pad.
Karen Cronin, Manager of the Carmel Fallon Holiday
Centre, explained,
“The atrium is the hub
of all activity at the
Centre, which caters
for people with
physical and sensory
disabilities between
the ages of 13 and 65.
To us, it was the ideal
Karen Cronin, IWA; Declan Hamilton IWA;
place to install a ClosAndrew Smyth Clos-O-Mat; and Anne Lowry, IWA
o-Mat, as all guests
and staff can use the new toileting facility. It can be used
by everyone, regardless of their level of disability.”
Clos-o-Mat was kindly given to the Camel Fallon Holiday
Centre by manufacturer Total Hygiene. Clos-o-Mat is
available in Ireland through MMS Medical.
spokeout
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03/03/2011
16:17
Page 56
news
GRANT FUNDING
FOR HOUSING ADAPTATIONS
Government announces 2011 capital provision of €79.46 million for housing
adaptation grants for people with disabilities and older people
n February 15th, 2011, Michael Finneran,
Minister for Housing and Local Services,
announced the annual 2011 capital provision of
€79.46 million for grants to improve or extend
the private homes of people with a disability and older
people.
Under the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with
a Disability up to €30,000 is available for improvement
works and extensions to facilitate a person with a disability
within their home. This work will typically include the interior
remodeling of the home and/or the building of a bedroom
and/or bathroom extension.
The Mobility Aids Grant Scheme is available to fast
track smaller jobs such as a bathroom adaptation, a stair
lift installation, provision of ramps at the home entrance,
etc. Grants of up to €6,000 are available to address these
smaller jobs to improve the accessibility of a privately
owned home.
O
MEANS TESTING
Both of these grants are means tested. To be eligible to
receive a full grant, the income of the householder must be
under €30,000. Where the householder’s income exceeds
€30,000, the grants will be paid on a sliding scale up to a
maximum householder income of €65,000. Where the
householder’s income is over €65,000, no grant is payable.
To enquire further regarding grant application and related
procedures, contact the loans and grants department in
your local city or county council.
56
The Department of the Environment website,
www.environ.ie, gives details of how this €79 million of
grant funding is allocated to each city and county council.
Dolores Murphy, IWA Housing Officer, emphases that
the figure of €79.46 million is the combined amount from
the Department of the Environment and the 1/3 portion
which has to be contributed from each local authority in
order to draw down the Exchequer funding. “The
Exchequer portion of the grant funding is in reality
approximately €63 million, a 20 percent reduction on 2010
funding.”
Dolores adds, “IWA is obviously very disappointed with
the 20 percent grant funding reduction. Of equal concern
is the fact that many city and county councils cannot make
up the 1/3 of the grant allocation required and
consequently they will not be able to draw down and use
this Exchequer grant funding allocation. IWA would like to
see Central Government reinstate the 20 percent funding
reduction and operate a more flexible system to ensure
that all grant funding from the Department is fully used for
home adaptation – an absolute necessity for IWA
members and all people with limited mobility.”
This capital funding does not include expenditure by
local authorities on improving and extending their own
social housing stock.
If you have a query relating to housing adaptations,
contact IWA’s Housing Officer Dolores Murphy on
01 818 6425 or get in touch with your local council.
03/03/2011
16:18
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news
KANCHI EXPORTS ABILITY AWARDS
Kanchi and Telefonica have announced a global franchise
collaboration which will see Kanchi’s Ability Awards rolled
out across five new countries over the next five years.
As founder of Kanchi and the Ability Awards, which
began in 2005 with the support of Telefónica O2 Ireland,
Caroline Casey will co-chair an international advisory group
with Luis Abril, Secretary General, Telefónica SA. Through
this, Telefónica and Kanchi will lead a global business
movement for 100 percent inclusion of people with
disabilities by promoting the disability business case on a
global scale while establishing best practice for the
employment and inclusion of people with disabilities within
business.
The first of the five international awards, the Telefónica
Spanish Ability Awards, took place in Madrid in January, in
the presence of HM The Queen of Spain. Although the
other countries have not yet been selected, initial
discussions have identified opportunities within Europe and
Latin America in particular.
The first of its kind in the world, the O2 Ability Awards
was first established in 2005 and since then over 100
organisations have been recognised for embracing
Caroline Casey, Kanchi founder; Cedar Alierta, Chairman
of Telefonica; and Carlos Mas, President of PWC, Spain
diversity in terms of employing people with disabilities or
targeting them as customers. O2 Ireland has supported
the initiative from the very beginning.
ACCESS ALL AREAS
The Access, Care & Mobility Expo 2011 will take place
on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th June, 2011, in City
West Hotel Convention Centre, Saggart, Co Dublin.
Now in its 9th year, the Access, Care & Mobility Expo
has become an important event in the calendar of
events for the disability sector.
The Access, Care & Mobility Expo will showcase
hundreds of products to aid independent living,
including wheelchairs, scooters, adapted vehicles,
pressure relieving beds, walking aids, recliner chairs,
stairlifts, access equipment and daily living aids. The
exhibition gives people the opportunity to meet
manufacturers and suppliers and get first hand advice
and guidance on their products and services.
This year, the Access, Care & Mobility Expo is joining
forces with the Disabled
Drivers Association of
Ireland which is holding
its annual conference in
the same venue. All of
this will take place in an
environment which offers
Last year’s Access,
Care & Mobility Expo
you opportunities to
liaise with other people,
families and carers and with other experts and
professionals who can advise you, whatever your
needs may be.
The Exhibition will run from 10am – 5pm each day
and entry is free-of-charge. For further details visit:
www.accessandmobility.ie
RTE SERIES FOCUSES ON DISABILITY
RTE is currently running a new series on RTE Radio 1 called A Life Less Ordinary. The series profiles a single person with
a disability each week. The programmes are broadcast on Friday nights at 10.02pm, and the podcasts can be found at
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_alifelessordinary.xml if you'd like to catch up with any ones you've missed.
58
03/03/2011
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news
GENIO PROJECT
Genio funding enables nationwide
roll-out of Enhanced Person Centred
Process project
WA has secured funding from the Genio Trust which will
enable the implementation of its Enhanced Person
Centred Process project across all 57 Resource and
Outreach Centres.
The Enhanced Person Centred Process project has
already been piloted in Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo,
Donegal, Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary. The aim of
the pilot was to develop processes that support individual
service users to achieve their personal goals.
One of the service users who benefited from the pilot was
Joe Treacy, who is studying part-time for a FETAC
certificate in computers at IWA’s Tuam Resource and
Outreach Centre. Last year Joe identified the goal of getting
a job at his local swimming pool as a way to achieve greater
freedom and independence. “It’s very important to me to be
independent,” says Joe. I like to be earning and to have my
own money to spend.”
Breege Creaven, a PA with Tuam Resource Centre,
supported Joe as he worked towards his goal. “Breege
helped me to decide how to go about applying for the job
and showing what my skills were. I’d done some work with
the swimming pool before and I wanted to continue in a
new job with more responsibilities. She helped me to work
out how I wanted to approach it.”
During the application period, Joe decided to volunteer to
work in the office in Tuam Resource Centre in order to
develop his communication skills and confidence for his
new job. “I built up my confidence on the phone and taking
messages so I really felt I could do the job.” Joe was
successful in getting a part-time job at the swimming pool,
and is also continuing his studies at Tuam Resource Centre.
I
Joe Treacy
Breege feels that the contact service is a very positive
way of working with members. “You can build a good
relationship with someone and really get to know what they
want out of life. People come to you with things that are
‘outside the box’ that they might never have raised before.”
The Enhanced Person Centred Process provides a
structured way in which staff like Breege can work with
service users to enable them to achieve their goals,
facilitating social gain, well being, independence and
participation in the community. By engaging with members
in this structured way, staff in IWA centres will be able to
respond to individual needs by offering new supports or
services.
Four IWA Contact Facilitators have been appointed – one
for each region – and over the coming year they will be
offering Enhanced Person Centred Process training to staff
at IWA centres around the country. IWA is also currently
implementing an operations manual for Resource and
Outreach Centres with the aim of ensuring a national
standard for services and assisting staff to support services
users.
CUISLE HOLIDAY CENTRE LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Cuisle Holiday Centre, IWA’s national holiday centre, is delighted to launch its new
website. Designed by IWA’s graphic designer, Garreth Greene, the new and
improved version of Cuisle’s popular website is user friendly and includes detailed
information on the facilities available to guests, including the internet kiosk and the
new leisure suite with Jacuzzi and sauna. The site also enables you to make an
enquiry or book your accommodation online. Visit the site at www.cuisle.com to
see the latest updates and special offers. Remember, whether you are visiting as an
individual or group, Cuisle can design a holiday to suit your requirements.
spokeout
59
03/03/2011
16:21
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ACHIEVEMENTS
BABUSHKA BOXES FROM CLANE RESOURCE CENTRE
Members of Clane Resource and Outreach Centre, with the
assistance of centre staff, packed and presented 28 Babushka boxes
to Pashli, an organisation working in Belarus with people affected by
the Chernobyl disaster. In previous years, members donated to a
children’s charity shoe box appeal at Christmas time.
Following a presentation made by IWA staff member Paul Condron
and his wife, who are regular volunteers with Pashli www.pashli.org,
the members decided to support the charity. The boxes containing
gloves, scarves, socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes etc., are given to
older people in homes in Belarus.
SKILL AWARDS
FOR CUISLE STAFF
Seventeen staff from Cuisle successfully
completed the SKILL Programme in
2010 and received their awards at a
ceremony in the Galway Bay Hotel.
SKILL training is funded specifically to
educate, train and develop support staff
in the Irish Health Services. The award
acknowledges this expertise through
national certification with the Further
Education and Training Awards Council.
FUNDRAISING
IWA HORSE CANTERS AWAY AT
CHRISTMAS AUCTION
An exceptionally beautiful traditional rocking
horse, kindly donated by the joinery unit of
Wheatfield Prison, Dublin, to Clontarf Resource
and Outreach Centre, was auctioned by Whytes
Auctioneers & Valuers, Dublin, in their ‘Art for
Christmas’ auction, raising a significant €1,680. A
presentation of the cheque took place in the
centre in January.
Pictured left: Pat O’Sullivan, Industrial Division, Wheatfield
Prison and Sean O’Reilly, Assistant Governor, Wheatfield
Prison, look on as members Yvonne O’Rourke and Ann Ryan
accept the cheque from Ian Whyte, Whyte’s Auctioneers
Below: The rocking horse
60
03/03/2011
16:22
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snapshots
EVENTS
TIPPERARY TOWN BRANCH HOSTS
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Mary Walsh and Lorraine Doherty, Tipperary Town Branch
members, attended the branch party hosted for 150
members in the Ballykisteen Hotel and Golf Resort, Co
Tipperary
CUISLE ART EXHIBITION
Mary Walsh and
Lorraine Doherty
at the Tipperary
Branch IWA
IWA member and artist Anne O’Connell launched her
exhibition titled ‘Capturing Now’ last October in Cuisle.
Anne’s ‘cubic surrealism’ has been likened to Picasso’s,
and is evident in her use of vivid colour, strokes and
subject detail.
A VISIT TO ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
Pictured (l-r):
President Mary
McAleese with
Damien Gordon
and Martin Tarmey,
Kenagh IWA
A group of service users, branch members and staff from
Kenagh Resource and Outreach Centre, Longford, visited
Áras an Uachtaráin at the end of January. A decoupage
picture and St Brigid’s Cross made by the service users
were presented to President McAleese during the visit.
Pictured: Peter Connolly (IWA Galway); Darren Cranston
(ACC); Eoghan Gavigan (ACC); Angela Gavigan (Service
Coordinator, Galway ROC); and Bob Ole (ACC) at Cúl Árd
ACC STAFF VOLUNTEER A DAY WITH IWA
IN GALWAY
Staff from ACC Galway took part in a day’s
volunteering at various IWA locations in Galway.
Work included window cleaning and weeding the
gardens at Coillte Merlin, as well as planting shrubs
and arranging hanging baskets at Cúl Árd. The
volunteers also cleaned the buses at the Galway
Resource and Outreach
Centre and enjoyed
the experience of
giving back to the
community.
Pictured: ACC staff Hilda
Hewson, Nuala Shaw,
and Aoife Waters hard at
work at Coillte Merlin
spokeout
61
03/03/2011
16:22
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snapshots
COOKERY CLASSES IN GALWAY
RESOURCE CENTRE
Members of Galway Resource and
Outreach Centre took part in a five-week
cookery course, organised and run by
volunteer and home economics teacher
Anita Rourke. The basic skills included
cooking a main course and dessert.
Feedback was extremely positive and it is
hoped to run a follow up advanced course.
Pictured back (l-r): Kathleen Mathews, Barbara Kelly,
and Anne Connolly.
Front (l-r): Madeline Maloney, David Farrell, Anita
Rourke (teacher), Kathleen
Cunningham, and Anne Doyle
CORK REBEL WHEELERS
Rebel Wheelers Junior Sports Club meets
weekly on Saturday at the Cope
Foundation, Montenotte, and the club is
very grateful for the use of the foundation’s
facilities. All club activities are organised
and overseen by parents and guardians of
the children attending, and new members
and their families are most welcome. In
July, a very successful four-day summer
camp was hosted. Representatives from
the FAI and coaches from The Paralympic
Council of Ireland attended, sharing their
expertise and giving great support and
encouragement. Contact Jean on 086
317 6229 for more information.
GLENNON’S INSURANCE WINNER
Philip Quinlan from Dublin was the winner of
the most recent Glennon’s Insurance Draw
for a year’s free car insurance. Anne Lowry,
IWA Area Manager (Dublin North), is
pictured as she presents Philip with the
cheque. The next draw, which is open to
IWA members, their spouses/ partners, and
their carers, is for those seeking quotations
through Glennon during the months of April,
May and June. To find out more about IWA
Car and Home Insurance Schemes, contact
Glennon on tel: 1890 812 221or email:
iwa@glennons.ie
62
03/03/2011
16:24
Page 63
crossword
Crossword
To be in with a chance of winning one of two €50
‘One4all’ gift tokens, which can be used in 4,500
outlets nationwide, simply send your completed
crossword along with your name and address to:
Spokeout Crossword, Irish Wheelchair Association,
Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Correct entries
will be entered into a draw on Friday, May 6th, 2011
and two winners drawn.
Crossword No. 11 by Gordius
Across
1. Sever. (3)
3. Is it one’s skill at motoring or
golf teeing-off that is examined here? (7,4)
8. Complained. (6)
9. In twenty-four hours time.
(8)
10. An attack. (5)
11. ‘Ink’ for a printer. (5)
13. Warning device. (5)
15. See 5 down.
16. South American river, or
one of the Wombles. (7)
20. The God of Islam. (5)
21. Vote into office. (5)
23. The words of a song. (5)
24. How I stop Tim being one
who looks on the bright side.
(8)
25. Usually yellow fruit. (6)
26. It’s a shocking way to
injure someone! (11)
27. Possessed. (3)
Down
1. Cop-on not enjoyed
by the aristocracy? (6,5)
2. Broadcast. (8)
3. Resided. (5)
4. Papal state. (7)
5 and 15 across. Housing
developments bequeathed
by phantoms? (5,7)
6. Message or minor chore.
(6)
7. Pull another vehicle. (3)
12, 17 down and 19 down.
ROC in full, one of the 68 run
by IWA. (8,3,8,6)
13. Place of combat. (5)
14. Gaiety, glee. (5)
17. See 12 down.
18. It claps for the
man-made substance. (7)
19. See 12 down.
22. Entice. (5)
23. Depart. (5)
24. Be in debt. (3)
CROSSWORD WINNERS
FOR WINTER 2010
M Whyte, Clondalkin, Co Dublin;
S Ryle, Belgooley, Co Cork
YOUR VIEWS Got something to say? Write to us at Spokeout,
Irish Wheelchair Association, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3
Parking in Drogheda
Francis Martin, who wrote in to our winter issue, is not alone
in having difficulty ascertaining where Disabled Person’s Permit holders can park free-of-charge in Drogheda. It seems
the root of the problem is confusion over which spaces belong to the local authority and which belong to Drogheda
Port Company.
Dear Editor
I read the letter in the winter issue in relation to parking
in Drogheda. I live just outside Drogheda and use a
wheelchair for longer distances. I believe the person who
wrote in parked on the North Quays in Drogheda, part of
which is managed by the Drogheda Port Company. The Port
Company has its own traffic wardens and only allows disabled permit parking in the designated places, of which
there are approximately three on the quays. The parking on
the quays, which is from the pedestrian crossing to
the bridge, is managed by the local council. The only way to
be certain which area you are in is by looking at the parking
signs. I got caught once a few years ago and even after appealing still had to pay €21.
Yours
John Byrne, Co Louth
Dear Editor
Having read the letter about parking in Drogheda, I believe
the place where Francis Martin parked belongs to the
Drogheda Port Company. You can park anywhere in the
town except at the dock area. I had a run in with the
warden myself; he demanded to see my pass and was very
rude. I hope this clears up the matter for anyone
visiting Drogheda.
Yours
Des Darragh, Balbriggan
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE THE VIEWS OF INDIVIDUAL READERS
AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF IWA
spokeout
63
03/03/2011
16:25
Page 64
small ads
small ads
FOR SALE
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 and services are €20.00 (cheques or postal orders payable to IWA Ltd).
Wheelchairs, scooters,
adaptive equipment and
clothing
Enigma Energi power chair
Easy to charge, speed
adjust, battery gauge, joystick,
never used. €1,500.
Tel: 086 387 3759 (Dublin)
Cars and accessories
2000 Nissan Vanette diesel
Wheelchair lift to rear, clamping
system, 4 seats, 49,000 miles,
NCT 2012. €2,600.
Tel: 086 169 2630 (Dublin)
Reck Motomed Viva 2
Perfect working order, very little
used. €2,500 ono. Tel: 087 936
3002 (Dublin)
Ricon lift Can be seen working.
Sell €2,500 ono.
Tel: 087 644 6339 (Kerry)
Passenger swivel seat Suits all
cars, one year old, perfect
condition. Cost €1,250, sell €550.
Tel: 086 081 1732 (Laois)
Nevada Rise & Recline chair
Never used. Cost €950, sell €300.
Tel: 061 316 351 (Limerick)
Mercury Neo 4 mobility scooter
Practically new, only charged five
or six times. €800. Tel: 086 373
4969 (Dublin)
2008 Volkswagen Shuttle
2.5 Ricon lift fitted. €24,000.
Tel: 087 644 6339 (Kerry)
Swivel seat €250.
Tel: 087 644 6339 (Kerry)
Road Knight mobility scooter
€200. Tel: 085 174 0797
(Donegal)
2006 Mazda 5 1.8 petrol
Seven seater, 63,000kms.
€10,800. Tel: 086 314 7280
(Cork)
Mobility P4 AEM power chair
Four years old. €1,750. Tel: 087
676 9875 (Kildare)
Car boot hoist €500 ono. Tel:
086 604 3922 (Cork)
2003 Fiat Multipla Ramp to rear,
disabled passenger travels beside
driver, two further passenger
seats, excellent condition. €6,000.
Tel: 053 938 8643 (Wexford)
Eco 3 electric scooter
Folds easily for transporting in
boot of car, 18 months old,
seldom used. €650.
Tel: 086 604 3922 (Cork)
20” manual wheelchair
Small wheels, four months old,
used twice. €300 ono. Tel: 086
604 3922 (Cork)
18” manual wheelchair
Small wheels, 18 months old.
€100 ono. Tel: 086 604 3922
(Cork)
Portable ramps One pair, 6’ long,
fold in half, never used. €200 ono.
Tel: 086 604 3922 (Cork)
Power chair Hardly used, two 6V
batteries included. Cost €17,000,
sell €800. Tel: 087 670 0828
(Wicklow)
Property for rent
Portugal Fully wheelchair
accessible villa, 20 minutes
drive from Faro Airport, air
conditioning, three bedrooms,
sleeps six, large private
gardens and pool.
Tel: 087 412 3756
Services
Leaving Certificate 2011
and Junior Certificate 2011
Are you studying for maths
or science subjects in these
exams? Online website
www.leavingandjuniorcertan
swers.com can help. Whether you
are attending school or not – ideal
for those unable to attend!
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN IWA
Interested in working with the Irish Wheelchair Association?
If so, make sure to regularly visit our website (www.iwa.ie) for the latest vacancies.
IWA is an equal opportunities employer.
64

Operation Sign-Up - Irish Wheelchair Association

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