FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First ‘Partners’ Graduation in the Republic of Ireland!

A very emotive and touching graduation ceremony took place in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise, Co Laois, on Friday night last.  It was the first ever Graduation Ceremony of the ‘Irish Partners in Policymaking – Developing a Community Voice’ programme and was witnessed by a very large attendance of family, friends, organisations and bodies.  Dr. Colleen Wieck, Executive Director, Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, Minnesota, U.S.A., who developed the original programme, presented certificates to 30 Graduates who have successfully completed this unique, internationally recognised and innovative training programme.

The Graduation Ceremony, organised by the participants, included a presentation on their ‘Vision for 2020’ and a Questions and Answers session, which was chaired by Aine Lawlor, the presenter of RTE’s ‘Morning Ireland’.  The invited panel for the Questions and Answers session included Mr. Brian Lenihan, TD, Minister of State, Mr. Sean Fleming, TD, Mr. Gerry Raleigh, A/Director of Services for P.W.D. in the Midland Health Board and Mr. Frankie Whelehan, Managing Director of Choice Hotels Ireland.  The questions, asked by the graduates and the audience, were very well presented and related mainly to the Health Reform, Inclusive Education, Accessibility, Employment and Legislation. 

The ‘Partners’ new website was then launched by Ian O’Flynn and he outlined the many benefits and advantages that the website will provide, especially as a forum of communication for the Graduates, through the messaging links.  The address is www.ipip.org

Dr Colleen Wieck, in her address, complimented everyone involved in running the programme and said that “the standards for this first course were set extremely high and the enthusiasm that can be felt here tonight is one that I am proud to be associated with”. She then presented certificates to Allisson O’Flynn, Amanda Allen, Ann Byrne, Ann Foran, Ann Marie Reid, Bernadette Kelly, Carl Adams, Catherine McBreen, Catherine Palmer, Eddy Carthy, Eileen Whelton, Geraldine Norman, Madeline Canning, Madeleine Hyland, Margaret McGree, Margaret McNamara, Maria Byrne, Mary Bryson, Mary Rankin,  Mary Shaw, Michael J Clavin, Michael McCormac, Oliver Hickey, Pat Swaine, Paula Skelly, Theresa Kelly, Thomas Kilmurray and Tracy Coyne.

Oliver Hickey, a Graduate from Rhode, Co. Offaly highly recommends the programme.  He says the material covered has certainly opened his eyes to the important role individuals can have in influencing services and policy .  Ann Marie Reid, a parent from Laois says “ It is a totally different experience to other courses and it has been a terrifically fulfilling experience and we have been exposed to many new examples and practices from around the world.

The Ceremony concluded with Theresa Kelly, on behalf of the Graduates, thanking the funders for their support and foresight in making it possible to run this very innovative programme for the first time in Ireland.

The training elements of the course were funded by The Offaly LEADER +Company, Laois LEADER Rural Development Company, Longford Community Resources Ltd and Westmeath Community Development Ltd.

The participants costs, support costs, staffing etc. were funded by APT (Aontacht Phobail Teoranta), MHB (Midland Health Board), Laois Co. Council, Longford Co. Council, Offaly Co. Council, Westmeath Co. Council and PWDI  (People with Disabilities Ireland).   

Theresa had a special word of thanks for Karina Wallis and Freda Kinnarney of APT, who coordinated the course. She also thanked Perpetua McDonagh, Eilish Treacy and Theresa Hennebry of Offaly LEADER+ Co for all their help in the administration of the training.  Bouquets of flowers were then presented to Karina, Freda, Perpetua, Eilish and Theresa and the Graduates expressed a wish that the agencies will avail of the opportunity to benefit from the skills and knowledge they have gained through this course, to advance the goal of community inclusion for all.

The course is a leadership development programme and designed to empower people with a disability and parents of children with a disability to plan towards making a better life for themselves, their families and their communities.  The participants, who come from the four Midland Health Board counties (Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath) have been encouraged to participate more fully in shaping service provision for the future and to work at designing new solutions towards increasing social inclusion and achieving social justice. 

 The programme, which started last October, provides participants with high quality information and access to the most up to date thinking in each area of the course.  At each weekend there were contributions by internationally and nationally recognised experts, as well as contributions from local practitioners, managers and politicians.

Participants have learned about;

• How core beliefs about people inform our thinking about what they need
• The impact of myths about people with a disability and how these translate into modern service delivery
• Playing a key role in planning process – person centred planning
• Inclusive education – getting the right supports
• Flexible family support and family leadership
• Direct payments
• Open & supported employment
• Assistive Technology
• Advocacy, civil rights & legislation
• Being part of the solution in developing services that are highly valued by people with a disability and family members and are more cost effective
• Building a movement and making changes happen both locally and nationally

Date: 1^st May 2004

For further details please contact;

Freda Kinnarney, APT, Kilcruttin Centre, Tullamore Co. Offaly Ph: 0506 41204, Mobile: 086 2210491, Email: fkinnarneyapt@eircom.net or

Karina Wallis,  Mobile: 087 1328510, Email: kwallis@oceanfree.net