INCLUSION IRELAND National Association for People with an Intellectual Disability.

INCLUSION IRELAND

National Association for People with an Intellectual Disability

Formerly NAMHI (National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland)

Founded in 1961

National voluntary organisation

Co-ordinating body for over 160 organisations

Individual and group membership

Dublin based but represent people across the country

Working to promote the rights of

people with an intellectual disability

in Ireland to ensure their full and

equal participation in society

What does Inclusion Ireland do?

Provides a central forum for its members to identify priorities

Campaigns for changes in services and legislation Promotes Advocacy for people with an intellectual disability, particularly self-advocacy

Provides an information and advice service

Publishes information leaflets/booklets

Publishes a quarterly newsletter

What does Inclusion Ireland do? (continued)

Organises seminars and conferences on intellectual disability

Gives information & training talks to a range of groups

Represents the intellectual disability sector in Ireland at an international level by its membership of Inclusion International & Inclusion Europe

Promotes research into intellectual disability

Disability Act 2005, Part 3:28.—

(3) The head of a public body shall ensure, as far as

practicable, that information published by the body,

which contains information relevant to persons with

intellectual disabilities, is in clear language

that is easily understood by those persons.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:

Article 4 - General obligations

1. States Parties undertake to ensure and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability. To this end, States Parties undertake:

h) To provide accessible information to persons with disabilities about mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, including new technologies, as well as other forms of assistance, support services and facilities

Article 21 - Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice, as defined in article 2 of the present Convention, including by:

a) Providing information intended for the general public to persons with disabilities in accessible formats and technologies appropriate to different kinds of disabilities in a timely manner and without additional cost;

b) Accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication, and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official interactions;

c) Urging private entities that provide services to the general public, including through the Internet, to provide information and services in accessible and usable formats for persons with disabilities;

d) Encouraging the mass media, including providers of information through the Internet, to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities;

e) Recognizing and promoting the use of sign languages.

Inclusion Ireland Strategic Plan 2007 – 2012:

‘Making Inclusion A Reality’

Strategic Priority 1

Champion legislative reform to enshrine the rights of people with disabilities


Provide an Independent Advocacy Service


Campaign for services based on a holistic assessment of need at various life stages


Promote independent and healthy lives


Promote awareness and a positive image of people with an intellectual disability


Promote the image identity and expertise of Inclusion Ireland as the representative voice of people with intellectual disability and their families


Promote the availability, accessibility

and dissemination of information that is

current and relevant

OBJECTIVE 1Monitor all publications from HSE, Government Departments and public bodies containing information relevant to people with an intellectual disability and their families.

Actions

•Document and feed into sources of public information (HSE,

Government Departments and public bodies);

•Identify and highlight all Government, legislation, policy

and strategy documents that are relevant to people with an

intellectual disability;

•Promote easy to read publications with HSE, Government

Departments and public bodies;

OBJECTIVE 2Provide an information service to members and the public

Actions

• Provide and collate information in response to telephone,

written and e-mail queries;

• Develop website and provide content that is up to date

relevant, accessible and interactive;

• Develop an appropriate Information & Communications

Technology System that will help to co-ordinate Inclusion

Ireland’s information service;

OBJECTIVE 3Produce relevant publications on intellectual disability

Actions

• Produce booklets and leaflets on intellectual disability specific

issues;

• Update all existing publications;

• Produce information in easy to read format that is relevant

to people with an intellectual disability;

Newsletter – published quarterly

Publications:Leaflets and Books

Inclusion Ireland Self-Advocacy

Conference

- Ballinasloe, June 2008

Most effective ways of reaching the needs of people with disabilities:

• Ensure people know we are here: going to seminars, conferences, local

meetings:

• Ensure information is available in an appropriate format;

• Provide and make available information at a grassroots level – through

our members;

How to identify these needs:

• An umbrella organisation dealing with members on a daily basis;

• National organisation, but travel around the country to meet members

and hear issues;

• Maintain good relationship with Government bodies, media etc. to

ensure up to date on policy/legislative changes;

Innovations in targeting and communicating with vulnerable groups:

• One of the first Irish organisations to start developing Easy to Read

material:

• My Voice My Choice published in 2005;

• Other publications include ‘Making Decisions About Money’, and ‘Making a

Will’, published in 2008;

• Provide transfer into easy to read for other organisations, including

local authorities;

• Involved in national and European working groups to develop easy

to read standards:

• For example the ‘Pathways Project – European Standards for easy

to read and understand Information’: • The Pathways to Adult Education Project;• Funded by European Council;• Facilitated by Inclusion Europe; • Aim: make life long learning programmes more accessible for adults with

intellectual disabilities by developing instruments and materials for staff and

trainers;• European standards for easy-to-read adult education material;• The following countries are participating: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France,

Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Portugal, United Kingdom;

Examples of collaboration with other stakeholders:

• Disability services and parents groups are members of Inclusion

Ireland:• All Inclusion Ireland information disseminated to members;• Inclusion Ireland staff available to members for talks on many issues;

• Ongoing work with Government Agencies, particularly Citizens

Information Board (CIB): • Advocacy and Accessible Information;• Accessible Information work includes transferring factsheets on housing etc.

into easy to read;

Why information provision is important in the context of prevention of discrimination:

• Important to know what rights available;

• Important that information accessible;

• Example of Inclusion Ireland providing information:• European Commission provided funding for several projects under ‘Burning

Issues’ scheme;• Money Workshops for people with an intellectual disability;

Queries received into Inclusion Ireland Office (excluding cases):

The total number of queries received in 2008 was 1,665

COMMON QUERIES:

The following is a list of the most common areas of information requests to Inclusion Ireland:

Advocacy

Allowances/Legislation

Capacity & Consent issues

Education

Health Charges

Housing/Transport

Inclusion Ireland publications/booklets

Information on Inclusion Ireland (including Membership)

Information Talks/Stands/Training

Media

Relationships and Sexuality

Socialising

Services

Standards

Training/Employment

Voting

Thank you!

Contact details:

INCLUSION IRELAND

Unit C2 the Steelworks,

Foley St.,

Dublin 1

00 353 (0)1 855 9891

[email protected]

www.inclusionireland.ie

INCLUSION IRELAND National Association for People with an Intellectual Disability.

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Transcript of INCLUSION IRELAND National Association for People with an Intellectual Disability.