CHILDREN S SERVICES. Enable Ireland ANNUAL REPORT 2006

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1 22 Willie Callaghan, Enable Ireland Kildare with Adam Smith and Ben Fitzgerald at the Enable Ireland Kildare Family Fun Day, September 2006 CHILDREN S SERVICES Fifteen Enable Ireland service locations across Ireland provided a range of services to 2,963 children and adolescents with a diverse range of disabilities. Early intervention is key to making a positive and lasting difference to the child with a disability, their siblings and family. Services provided in partnership with statutory agencies included assessment, therapy, family support and education from centre-based locations and through our outreach services, at home, in school and in the local community. 60% of service users were in the age range 7 18 years. Services were provided using a person-centred approach and in line with evidence-based best practice.

2 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Enable Ireland 23 Mark Henderson learns how to operate a video for the filming of the Enable Ireland You re a Star production at Enable Ireland Galway as part of Summer 2006 activities Work in 2006 commenced furthering implementation of Part II of the Disability Act, which deals with the Assessment of Need process. This process independently assesses the needs of individuals with disabilities or special educational needs for health and/or educational services. Enable Ireland took part in the consultation process to contribute to the preparation of statutory regulations. Enable Ireland also welcomed the launch of the Code of Practice on Accessible Public Services which was published during the year. In line with our mission to enable maximum independence, choice and inclusion in local communities, support services to families included pre-school and school support, respite provision from in-home support to holiday breaks, and summer activities. Enable Ireland's valuable expertise in assistive technology, seating and postural management and various other therapeutic interventions further strengthened the delivery of high quality services in various locations. In Dublin, the Eastern Regional Postural Management (ERPM) service managed the seating requirements of 182 children and adolescents aged 0 18 years. In some areas demand for service provision exceeded local capacity and, as a result, waiting lists continue to be a challenge for many services. Plans were advanced for the expansion of the Early Services in Meath in partnership with the HSE and additional funding was secured in Suitable accommodation is being actively sought in the Navan area. It is hoped that the newly expanded service will commence in late Spring In June 2006, Enable Ireland Early Services in Cavan moved to interim new premises with increased space. In Kildare, planning permission was obtained from Naas Town Council to proceed with plans for a purpose built facility. Planning permission was received for a Hydrotherapy Pool at the Galway Centre in 2006 which will enhance the services to children there. In Mayo, Enable Ireland worked as

3 24 Enable Ireland Early Intervention Services ,181 Infants and Children (0 6 years) 16% 19% North East 10% Mid West 13% 36% South East Southern Western 6% Dublin Mid Leinster Enable Ireland Children s Services ,782 Children and Adolescents (7 18 years) 29% 38% Mid West South East Southern 12% 19% 2% Western Dublin Mid Leinster

4 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Enable Ireland 25 Back: Tom Tierney, Gavin Williams and Matt Moyston from the Connacht Rugby Team. Front: Ruaidhrí Travis, Shane Mullarkey and Eric O Flaherty at the Enable Ireland Galway Summer Barbeque, August 2006 part of an interagency working group, Mayo Organisation for a Sustainable and Integrated Community (MOSAIC). The project aims to develop a modern, innovative and vibrant community resource centre. The project received Enhancing Disability Services funding, which has enabled the appointment of a project manager. A site location in Castlebar has been designated by the HSE to accommodate cross-sectoral organisations in the region. Recommendations from a Duty of Care Research Report in 2005 culminated in the appointment of a Director of Duty of Care in Duty of Care operates under the principles of good practice for the protection of children and young Enable Ireland Eastern Regional Postural Management (ERPM) Service Infants, Children and Adolescents (0 18 years) 27% 73% 0 6 years 7 18 years

5 26 Back: Thomas Fleming, Helen Mulryan, Vincent Doyle, and Mary Mulryan, Enable Ireland Mayo. Front: Cormac Price, Ciarán McDonald, Mayo Football team, Nathan Devine, Sean Murphy and Mary Mallee at the Enable Ireland Mayo launch of Action Week on Disability in Aras Attracta, Swinford, September 2006 Jack McGuinness takes part in horse riding at Puirin Stables in Connemara, as part of the Enable Ireland Galway Summer Camp 2006 activity programme adults. This reinforces the organisation s intention to adhere to best practice and relevant legislation and statutory standards. In addition, a significant training investment has been made by the organisation in child protection training for staff on designated teams. This will continue as mandatory training in the future. Staff throughout Children s Services took part in training initiatives both internally and externally which helped all teams to deliver services within a team-based ethos and a person-centred planning approach. Staff also carried out training for a variety of groups ranging from parents to resource teachers and other health professionals. Support initiatives for families included information evenings, parent to parent support groups, parent user groups, speech and language training, the development of new information leaflets and summer camps and fun days in many locations throughout Home and community based programmes were provided throughout Children Service s nationwide. To further enhance family support systems in Kerry, a children s team led the development of interagency partnership in providing Sib-Shops. These sibling support groups are well established in Cork and using the skill and experience of the Cork Sib-Shop Co-ordinator, the well evaluated model was rolled out in the Kerry region in April with a 100% satisfaction evaluation.

6 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Enable Ireland 27 Tom Tierney, Gavin Williams and Matt Moyston from the Connacht Rugby Team, with Dylan Cassidy at the Enable Ireland Galway Summer Barbeque, August 2006 Alan Cannon, Alan O Brien and Emily Barr make Egyptian cartouches during a trip to the National Museum, Kildare Street, organised by Enable Ireland Tallaght during the spring 2006 mid-term break The development of Community Groups for children with DCD (Developmental Co-ordination Disorder) was very successful in Galway. The occupational therapists involved in the DCD programme developed a variety of activities, including horse-riding and a gym programme. The children, through these programmes, achieved their therapy goals in community settings, while also developing a leisure interest. Enable Ireland supported education in the community through provision of supports to children and young adults who attended 778 mainstream schools and and pre-schools. Promoting inclusion was the theme of the very successful booklet Me Too published by Cavan and Monaghan Early Services. The booklet offers practical exercises and guidance on physical exercise, pre-writing and communication as well as looking at behaviour, self esteem and language and etiquette used to promote inclusion. The booklet has been distributed to local schools. In 2006, Enable Ireland continued to work in partnership with the three special schools located adjacent to Enable Ireland services in Cork, Sandymount and Wicklow. Cross sectoral working of staff in our schools, clinics and family supported services further enhanced the person centred approach to working with children and their families, based on a social model of disability. The holistic focus on all aspects of a child s life and the accommodation of individual needs will continue in all our working partnerships on in the future.

7 28 ADULT SERVICES Adult services in Enable Ireland were provided from ten locations to 323 people with significant disabilities throughout Ireland in Enable Ireland services facilitate people to make choices, have greater independence and access to advocacy, employment, training, personal assistants, residential, respite and social and leisure pursuits. Person-centredness is a core value underpinning services offered in partnership with statutory agencies, in line with Enable Ireland strategic goals. The introduction of a key-worker system in many locations in 2006 assisted in meeting these goals. The key worker is a single point of contact for adults assisting in the co-ordination of services which provide them with the support, resources and information required to meet their individual needs. Stephen O Donoghue s wheelchair gets a makeover courtesy of Kate McDonnell, Limerick School of Art & Design, at the culmination of a joint project, a fashion show held in Enable Ireland Limerick Adult Services, February 2006

8 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Enable Ireland 29 Enable Ireland Adult Services Adults (18+ years) 5% 23% 23% North East Mid West Southern 27% 22% Western Dublin Mid Leinster Services nationwide successfully promoted and supported integration into their local communities through a variety of initiatives. An In-Home service offered to adults in Cork provided advice and access to a range of social opportunities. Adult service users joined forces with other community groups to bring the first ever Community Spirit Day to Cork at the Cork Institute of Technology in October. In Clare, a Disability Awareness Programme was designed and developed by staff and service users. This was targeted at transition year students in two schools. In February 2006, a wheelchair makeover project was completed with the Fashion Department of Limerick College of Art and Design. In September, The Need to Drive Change for Health and Safety, was the theme of a Transport Exhibition Day held by Enable Ireland Limerick Adult Services and a very successful Sports Initiative Day was held in conjunction with the GAA at Limerick Institute of Technology. The Dun Laoghaire service hosted an innovative Employment Seminar in August in conjunction with Dublin South East Employment Initiative, the Local Employment Service, FÁS and the Southside Partnership.

9 30 During 2006, there was a focus in Adult Services nationwide on developing independent living skills. Service users in Dublin received training in PA management, voter awareness and in the use of accessible public transport, assistive technology and powered mobility. New modules of Independent Travel, In the House and On my Doorstep were developed as part of an Independent Living programme in Kerry. Other training included a relationships and sexuality training programme in Dublin Adult Services. Throughout the country, FETAC models were completed in such diverse areas as Art & Design, Computer Literacy and Personal Care & Hygiene. Training courses were established, with Dublin Adult Services setting up a literacy project for AAC users in conjunction with the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) and the Enable Ireland Assistive Technology Department. Kerry Supported Employment Consortium and Tralee Jobs Club piloted a jobs club initiative. A new outreach service was established in Killarney for one day per week focusing on work-related skills. Enable Ireland Cork Adult Services were successful in securing funding for the development of an advocacy service in partnership with Cheshire Homes, the Citizens Information Service, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Citizen s Information Board. Proposals presented to the Board for approval in 2006 included the National Access Audit report and the National Adult Protection policy. The National Access Audit was completed in March A national Person Centred Planning (PCP) Development Report was drawn up in consultation with relevant stakeholders in The national PCP group presented a paper titled Using PCP to Move On as part of a Moving On conference. A PCP training module was also completed for the national staff induction programme. The National Service User Council embarked on an extensive programme of disability awareness training around the country in co-operation with the Disability Federation of Ireland. Staff in Cork, Clare and Head Office took part in training and personal assistance/service user training was offered in Dublin and Meath. The National Adult Managers Forum established a group to work on and develop an application to FETAC to have all centre based training

10 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Enable Ireland 31 Nicky Brennan, GAA President and Eddie Ryan at the Enable Ireland Limerick Adult Services and Limerick Institute of Technology Sports Day Initiation, September 2006 programmes quality assured. The application process was completed and submitted in December A national accreditation committee has now been established to further develop this work. Developments in capital projects continued to move forward throughout the country. In Cork, work commenced on the new facility for Adult Services in Little Island and the construction of the Ladysbridge respite centre. Renovations commenced at Adult Services at Quinns Cross in Limerick, funded by JP McManus and Enable Ireland and Services were temporarily accommodated in Eastway Business Park during Part of the development at Quinns Cross included the fitting out of an apartment which will be used for Independent Living Training. Increased funding for this was received from the HSE and the Department of Justice. Other projects included the purchase of accessible transport vehicles in many centres and the refurbishment of the swimming pool in Cork. These projects increased opportunities for adults to access social, education and training opportunities. Expansion of respite services was a key development in Mid West services were successful in tendering for a new and expanded service which included the development of residential respite services in Clare incorporating a new respite house in Ennis. Programmes included respite weeks and sleepover clubs. An Independent Living Programme was implemented as part of the service. The interim respite service offered at Lavanagh House in Cork was formally evaluated in 2006 and access to adult services increased with increased staff numbers. Meath Adult Services received increased funding towards respite services from the HSE North East. Other support services for families included the establishment of a Parent/Carers forum in Cork as a platform for mutual support and to share information. The Personal Assistant Service in Galway received increased funding in At a strategic level the National Directorate co-ordinated the Living Options Research Report and a National Access Audit and assessor training. Both initiatives will be developed further in 2007.

11 32 Erin Beneteau, Enable Ireland, Dr Mike Murphy, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, DIT, Linda Burkhart, Presenter, and Theresa Compagno, Shirley Deakin and Siobhan Long, (Enable Ireland) at the Assistive Technology Seminar in the Berkeley Court Hotel, October 2006 HIGH TECH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY In 2006, the National High Tech (AT) Training Service moved to improved accommodation at its Dublin 12 location, which facilitated increased capacity to deliver training in line with strategic goals. Training attendance figures increased by almost 100%, bringing the total number of participants on AT courses to 904. An AT Assessor was recruited for a 6 month period, which greatly enhanced the delivery of training and assessment supports locally. In keeping with the priority of delivering training locally where possible, our second AT seminar, targeting members of the two Regional AT Groups (Eastern and Western) took place in Enable Ireland, Limerick in December. Demand for the AT Graduate Course continued to grow with numbers increasing from 25 in 2005 to 117 in 2006.

12 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Enable Ireland 33 A diverse range of AT training workshops were delivered in 21 different locations nationwide throughout As well as delivering training in local Enable Ireland centres, work was carried out with national and local agencies including National Educational Psychologists (NEPS), University of Ulster, Trinity College Dublin, National Adult Literacy Agency, Irish Association of Supported Employment and Dublin Institute of Technology to deliver customised training to meet their needs. This resulted in our target audiences extending beyond education and employment, to include families and carers and a wide range of other disability service providers in mainstream settings. The extension of the AT service s reach into mainstream education was also facilitated by the hosting of the first national AT seminar, run over two days in October, featuring internationally-renowned expert in the field of AT in Early Services, Linda J. Burkhart from the U.S.A. Partnership activities continued to be a major driving force in facilitating service development. AbilityNet partnered Enable Ireland in a number of training activities, as well as offering useful peer mentoring/shadowing opportunities for new staff. Significant additional funding was also secured from Microsoft Ireland to support our training activities. Success in securing funding under two Government initiatives (the ASC Fund (Access, Skills and Content) through the Department of the Taoiseach and the EDS fund (Enhancing Disability Services) through the Department of Justice), for the establishment of two distinct National AT Loan banks was a significant breakthrough in The ASC, part of the Government s e-inclusion Fund, was established to assist voluntary, not-for-profit organisations and service providers to support the participation of late adopters of technology in an inclusive Information Society. The EDS Funding represents the first opportunity for Enable Ireland to partner with other service providers (National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoghaire, Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, National Council for the Blind in Ireland and ACTON) since our joint work with Cheshire Ireland to produce an AT CD ROM in These diverse funding sources will all contribute to the growth of the National AT Training service, with a particular emphasis on the roll out of our AT Loan Bank and the recruitment of additional staff to support service development.

13 34 A new website to facilitate the use of Assistive Technologies for people with disabilities, was launched in September 2006 as part of an international collaboration whose Irish partners were Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Enable Ireland and Athlone Institute of Technology The launch of the Gateway Project, in September 2006 marked the culmination of a successful partnership between Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Athlone IT, AbilityNet, 3 EU partners from Slovenia, Slovakia and Belgium and Enable Ireland. The website is designed to facilitate and encourage the use of Assistive Technologies for people with disabilities entering third level education and the workplace, guidance counsellors and employers. The project provides a one stop shop for three distinct target audiences, delivering information on technologies, funding, legislation and services saw the greatest increase in funding and support for the National High Tech Assistive Technology Training Service since its inception in October These results represent a significant shift in the way in which Assistive Technology is perceived. Many thanks to all our partners who assisted the AT service to deliver high quality training programmes to all stakeholders.

14 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Enable Ireland 35 POSTURAL MANAGEMENT The Postural Management service based in Sandymount continued to develop and deliver high quality assessment, technical support, training and information to over 200 Enable Ireland service users in Dublin, Kerry, Kildare and Wicklow in Development work in the area of postural management service provision gained increased recognition in 2006 with a presentation at the International Seating Symposium in Vancouver, Canada in March. With the aim of encouraging networking and sharing of information, the service was instrumental in initiating the Irish Engineering Seating and Mobility Interest Group in October, and has become an active member of the new Irish Posture and Mobility Network, a multidisciplinary network set up in November. In response to a request made by the Irish Paediatric Physiotherapy Special Interest Group, the service is now actively contributing to its work on the design of Postural Management Assessment tools. As part of a comprehensive 24-hour postural management training programme, a new module on night positioning was developed and delivered in April 2006 to over 20 therapists. Additional training events in the area of seating assessment and equipment solutions were provided to over 100 participants, including service providers, service users, product designers and product sales representatives. Undergraduate and postgraduate university courses now include information and training in the area of posture management and mobility in their educational prospectus. Training was provided to postgraduate students taking the Graduate Certificate in Learning Disability Studies in UCD, and the All-Ireland MSc in Bioengineering. Partnerships continued to inform developments in service delivery. Working with Enable Ireland local service providers in the region, Standards of Practice in the provision of a Postural Management Service were actively being developed and a comprehensive seating and night positioning assessment

15 36 tool was designed and implemented across the services. Work continued with Occupational Therapy managers in the East Coast Area Health Board, on the Wheelchair and Seating Service Partnership (WaSSP) project. This project is gathering information on service user satisfaction following the service s first two years of operation. In collaboration with the University of Heidelberg, the Postural Management service commenced work on the design and implementation of clinical trials for the design of a novel and smart seating system for children with cerebral palsy. Other on-going projects involve collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Trinity College, Dublin and also with University College Dublin and Dublin Institute of Technology, on aspects of wheelchair crash testing and occupant safety, and wheelchair seating system design. Publications Walsh JC, Simms CK, FitzPatrick DP, Tiernan J (2006) Towards Development of Models of Scoliosis for Crash Safety Analysis of Wheelchair Occupants, Bioengineering In Ireland Conference January 27 28, Galway, Ireland. O Sullivan A (2006) The Development of Night Positioning within a 24 Hour Postural Management Framework 22nd International Seating Symposium March 2 4, Vancouver, Canada. Walsh J, Simms C, Fitzpatrick D, Tiernan J (2006) Development Of Models Of Scoliosis For Crash Safety Analysis Of Wheelchair Occupants 15th Conference of the European Society of Biomechanics July 29 August 4, Munich, Germany.