DESSA LAC A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO LOCAL AREA CO-ORDINATION
Peter Kearns (Presented by Susan Carton)
DESSA Overview National community development organisation
Who we work with - Local Development Companies - SICAP (Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme) Family Resource Centres - Family Resource & Community Services Resource Centre Programme, TUSLA Children's Services Committees, Childcare Committees, Youth Services, Advocacy Organisations…… DESSA Overview
National community development organisation Where we work Mainstream community venues DESSA Principles
◦ Equality
◦ Participation
◦ Independence and choice DESSA How we work
Community Development
◦ Process of creating opportunities for self development, empowerment and participation in decision making
◦ Gives disabled people the opportunity to enhance their participation, represent their issues and concerns and challenge discriminatory practice DESSA Work underpinned by the Social Model of Disability
Restrictions imposed on disabled people are not a natural or inevitable consequence of their impairment, but are a product of a social environment which fails to take into account of some ways of being. DESSA Goal
To change society so that disabled people can participate on an equal basis with everyone else
Delivery of strategic supports to Community Development Organisations
Community Development Organisations identify actions to include all members of their communities The DESSA LAC Vision
To support disabled people and their families to move beyond being recipients of supports and services to determine their own needs & requirements and goals & become leaders, decision makers and advocates and live meaningful and happy lives in inclusive communities DESSA LAC Project Partners
◦ HSE Disability Services Sligo/Leitrim ◦ North Connaught Youth Services ◦ Down Syndrome Ireland ◦ Down Syndrome Leitrim DESSA LAC Project Partners
◦ Leitrim Local Development Company ◦ NLN Manorhamilton ◦ NLN Carrick-on-Shannon ◦ Breffni Family Resource Centre Leitrim ◦ Leitrim Disability Network 40 community development 52 individuals identified (and organisations trained in acheived some) personal goals disability competencey and inclusion
Achievements
9 parents trained in advocacy Mainstreaming embedded in skills local and community development agencies in 8 individuals mentored Leitrim Examples of Impact
◦ Participants informing access issues with Local-Link rural transport and using it as a resource
◦ Leitrim youth organisations are identifying and training disabled adults as youth leaders Education
◦ Increase in networking and collaboration between disability service providers and local community structures led to an increase in the number of disabled adults participating in mainstream activities. ◦ 4 participants enrolled with St. Angela's NUIG Access Course Examples of Impact
◦ Establishment of a relationship support group by one participant
◦ Mainstreaming of services in Leitrim County - Leitrim LDC, youth clubs and groups, women's groups and Leitrim community networks seeking disabled adults as volunteers and leaders.
◦ Leitrim life skills trainers identifying disabled adults as future and current mainstream course and workshop participants. Examples of Impact
◦ Establishment of HSE Decongregated-settings connection with Leitrim communities.
◦ Participants elected to local Disability Network and Leitrim PPN
◦ Participants giving mainstreaming support to other disabled adults. Examples of Impact ◦ Re imagining Disability seminar in May showcasing work of project. Participants on planning committee. The Model
◦ A community development approach to LAC, involving key agencies across community and disability services, is the most effective and sustainable way of enabling people who experience a disabling society to live ordinary lives. The Model Effective mainstreaming platform
Community for All Networking and training in disability equality and community Disability Network development support & mentoring
Interagency Partnership Empowering Parents Programme
Family Personal Advocacy Plans and Ordinary Choices Group Training Individual Group Key Messages .Effective implementation of Government disability policy cannot happen in isolation. .A process of collaboration between disability services providers and community development organisations that represent mainstream community is essential. .Driven by community development organisations who are an effective role model for mainstreaming, realisation of rights and the animators for social inclusion. Key Messages
.Partnership in every way, including a reallocation of resources. Entails a symbiotic relationship. .Requires a whole organisation commitment.
Thank you for your attention.