Current Programmes

Personal Assistance Service At the moment we have over 40 Personal Assistants working throughout County Tipperary and 4 management/administrative staff. Successive governments have promised mainstream core funding for an Independent Living Fund but as yet no time scale for the introduction has been put in place. Personal Assistant Training This training covers areas such as First Aid, Health & Safety, Lifting & Handling, Health & Hygiene, Disabled Access and Communications. The personal assistants also undergo ‘own time training’ which may involve computers, driving lessons, etc.

The Gang taking part in the womans mini marathon

Leader Training

This is specifically designed for people with physical disabilities who wish to live a more independent life. The training covers areas such as Assertiveness, Communications, Political Awareness, Independent Living, Time Management and Health & Safety.

Access Consultancy

This Consultancy service assesses building designers’ drawings for particular buildings regarding disabled access.  A specification for improvement is developed to ensure adequate access for people of all disabilities. This service also designs and manages access-related projects for various bodies.

Tipperary Accessible Transport

A wheelchair accessible mini-bus, which provides a door-door, transport service for people with physical disabilities operates throughout County Tipperary. Funding for this service has been sourced from a number of local and national initiatives including the National Lottery.

Partnership with Independent Living Community Services

This will further enhance the management skills within T.C.I.L., which will in itself develop a sound base for the expansion of T.C.I.L. in to the next millennium.

Future Programmes

Further Expansion of the Personal Assistant Service

We would like to see the further expansion of the P.A service throughout County Tipperary and the initiation of an Independent Living Fund which we see as an immediate necessity for full inclusion of people with disabilities in today’s society.

Development of a Computer Training Facility in Thurles and Clonmel  

This facility will provide accessible computer training to people with physical disabilities through the County in areas such as; word processing, spreadsheets, database management, accounts, payroll and the Internet. This facility will employ the latest in assistive technology available such as voice recognition software, adapted keyboards and specialist software.

Development of an Information and Advice service  

This service will be developed using the wealth of experience, in all aspect relating to disability, which the staff members of T.C.I.L. currently possess. It will operate from T.C.I.L.’s existing facility in Thurles and Clonmel and will specifically be serving the needs of disabled people throughout the County.

Advanced Leader Training Programme

Graduates from the primary level training which T.C.I.L. currently operate can go on and further develop their skills base and graduates from this Programme will be especially suited for employment in the disability field, such as spearheading new programmes relating to disability.

Community Resource Centre

Establishment of a community resource centre in Thurles and Clonmel to accommodate voluntary and community groups serving the needs of the community and marginalised groups. This will bring together groups and services to provide a more cohesive and centralised service to all members of the community.
As an organisation of people with disabilities, whose aim is the empowerment and independence of all people with a disability, the Tipperary Centre for Independent Living, (T.C.I.L.), has a philosophy of supported choice, change, adjustment and growth. We would like to see this philosophy adopted by all members of society in order to ensure the equal participation of all, in the communities of which they are a part.

Rural isolation is a very real problem for people with disabilities and can compound the effect of a disability in a totally unacceptable way.

The philosophy of TCIL is based on the recognition of disability as a social rather than a medical issue. With this in mind it is our contention that the medical and physical needs of people with disabilities should be met without question, quibble or quarrel so that their mental, emotional and developmental needs can be met without hindrance. This is a philosophy of choice, change, adjustment and growth, in which T.C.I.L. is the catalyst. We would like to see this philosophy adopted by all members of society able-bodied and disabled alike, if this society is to develop organically and healthily with a holistic respect for all humankind.

We have identified several areas that need to be addressed:

The absence of any comprehensive register of people with disability  

We rely on word of mouth and coincidental contact to reach others within Tipperary who has a significant disability.

Some people with disability do not have the opportunity to access Personal Assistants to empower them to integrate or take active part in their local communities.

Local Communities likewise are unaware of the presence of people with disability within their community and the issues that impact on their lives.

They do not know how to ensure the active participation of people with disabilities in the community life of the area.    

This problem has begun to be addressed in some of the larger urban areas but is as yet not being addressed in rural communities due mainly to the lack of transport, information and the capacity of both parties to be actively involved.  

Counselling nurses and public health nurses have onerous workloads that do not enable them to maintain regular meaningful contact with all people with disability.  Conversely many people with disabilities may not have medical need of nursing attention but may be suffering emotionally and mentally from the consequence of being unable to form links with other participants in Community life.

The active involvement of people with disabilities in their own communities, directing their own involvement and accessing their own needs independently. This will happen in communities that are aware of the issues that effect people with disabilities but embrace them wholeheartedly and openly

The following are some of the most important items, which we feel, will make a significant impact into the lives of people who are the most marginalised and disadvantaged members of our society  

Disability Awareness

This will require the employment of a Disability Equality Awareness and development worker.  This person will report to and work directly with the project manager.  This worker will have a responsibility to develop (with others of the C.I.L.) a Disability Equality Awareness Programme.  Delivery of this programme to;

Health Care Personnel

Community groups

Frontline staff – Statutory Bodies

Business Personnel  

And any others who might wish to avail of this Programme

Outreach and Consultancy:  

This will involve personal contact in small rural communities to ascertain the presence of people with disability hitherto unidentified within the community.  This will be followed by contact where possible with these people to:

Encourage their addition to the Register of Disability

Listen to their felt needs and record these as part of a needs analysis.

Encourage their contact with others in like circumstances.

Identify community groups and key personnel within the group.

Ascertain the willingness of the group to embrace the cause and needs of people with disabilities within the community 

Capacity building 

Identify development needs of the people with disabilities. and the community group to ensure the active participation of the people with disabilities in Community Life.

Develop an education/training Programme to address these needs.

Deliver the Programme-- individually or to small groups.

Support the ensuing participation until the confidence of both the people with disabilities and their community are raised to an acceptable level for both.

Benefits:  

The active addressing of a problem that has been identified by people with disabilities, Health Board Staff, Local Communities and Centres for independent living nation-wide.

People with disabilities will have the independence to access their own communities to meet their individual needs.

Health Board Staff and Counselling Nurses will be free to deal with medical needs, which are at present possibly being accorded less than adequate time.

Identify development needs of the people with disabilities. and the community group to ensure the active participation of the people with disabilities in Community Life.

Develop an education/training Programme to address these needs.

Deliver the Programme-- individually or to small groups.

Support the ensuing participation until the confidence of both the people with disabilities and their community are raised to an acceptable level for both.

HOME | INFO | PROJECTS | ACCESS | AWARDS | AWARNESS | IRISH CIL'S