Links
BENEFITS & ENTITLEMENTS
Department of Social & Family Affairs – www.welfare.ie
This website explains the different payments available for people with disabilities.
Disabled Persons Grant – Cork County – www.corkcoco.ie
Funding is accessible to persons resident in Cork County for modification to their homes from Cork Co. Council.
Revenue Commissioners – www.revenue.ie
This weblink to the Revenue Commissioners website provides tax information and support service for people with a disability.
EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT
Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE) – www.iase.ie
IASE promotes and develops supported employment for people with disabilities at a national level.
National Council for Special Education (NCSE) – www.ncse.ie
The National Council for Special Education was set up to improve the delivery of education services to children with disabilities. A Summary of Submissions (May 2006) on the Preparation of an Implementation Report for the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004 is available here.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION / DATA PROTECTION
Access-Able Travel Source – www.access-able.com
This is an international database available on the Internet, which provides disabled tourists a high range of information on accessible attractions, lodging, transportation, and equipment rental in several countries and regions in the world. It also provides information likely to increase the fun dimension of a foreign holiday.
Office of Data Protection Commissioner – www.dataprotection.ie
Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy. Those who keep data about you have to comply with data protection principles. This site gives information on individuals’ rights and on organisations’ responsibilities.
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
Office for Social Inclusion – www.socialinclusion.ie
The Office for Social Inclusion is the Irish Government Office with overall responsibility for developing, co-ordinating and driving Ireland’s National action plan against Poverty and Social Exclusion.
Reach Services – www.reachservices.ie
Reach Services is a new government portal for public services in Ireland. This website provides you with quick, secure access to public sector information and online, interactive services.
HEALTH SERVICES EXECUTIVE
Health Services Executive – www.hse.ie
On the 1st January 2005 the Health Service Executive (HSE) was established to take over the management of the Irish Health Services. The Health Service Executive is responsible for providing Health and Personal Social Services for the Republic of Ireland.
HSE – Southern Region – www.shb.ie
All services previously delivered by the Southern Health Board are now delivered by the HSE Southern Area. Services are provided in counties Cork and Kerry.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
EASPD – www.easpd.eu
The European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) promotes the equalisation of opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high quality service systems in Europe. EASPD represents more tan 6000 service provider organisations in 22 European countries.
European Association of Inclusion International – www.inclusion-international.org
European Association of Inclusion International in addition to listing the aims and aspirations of this association this site provides a link to the ILSMH EA Information Line – a very useful service for persons interested in developments at a European level. However some information is restricted to members.
Inclusion International – www.inclusion-international.org/en
Inclusion International (II) is a global federation of family-based organisations advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families worldwide. Likely to be of interest to persons interested in advocacy initiatives at the international level and finding out what umbrella organisations exist throughout the world. Inclusion International also intend to develop this site into a resource from which we will be able to download position papers, fact sheets and pamphlets.
World Health Organisation – Regional Office for Europe – www.euro.who.int
This is the homepage of the World Health Organisation’s Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities area.
IRISH DISABILITY ORGANISATIONS
Downs Syndrome Ireland – www.downsyndrome.ie
Down Syndrome Ireland’s goal is to help people with Down syndrome make their own futures as bright and independent as possible by providing them with education, support and friendship every step of the way through its 23-branch network nationwide.
Enable Ireland – www.enableireland.ie
Enable Ireland’s mission is to enable those who use its services to achieve maximum independence, choice and inclusion in their communities.
Irish Wheelchair Association – www.iwa.ie
The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is the national organisation of people with limited mobility. With over 20,000 members and service users, the role of IWA is to advocate for change, locally and nationally, by representing the issues and concerns of adults and children with limited mobility; to research, develop and pilot new concepts of service delivery and to deliver services in partnership with state agencies.
Special Olympics Ireland – www.specialolympics.ie
Special Olympics Ireland aims to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sport for children and adults with a learning disability.
LEGISLATION/ACTS
Childrens Act 2001 – www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/2001/a2401.pdf
Disability Act 2005 – www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/2005/a1405.pdf
Freedom of Information Act 1997 – www.oireachtas.ie
Health Act 2004 – www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/2004/a4204.pdf
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
A Vision for Change – www.dohc.ie/publications/pdf/vision_for_change.pdf?direct=1
Final Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy (January 2006). Chapter 14 – pages 124 to 134 – refer to Mental Health Services for People with Intellectual Disability.
Mental Health Commission – www.mhcirl.ie
The Mental Health Commission is an independent statutory body established under the Mental Health Act, 2001.
Review of Access to Mental Health Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities – www.nda.ie
National Disability Authority, 2003.
RESEARCH
National Institute for Intellectual Disability – Trinity College – www.tcd.ie/niid/pdf/worklife_info_bro.pdf
The National Institute for Intellectual Disability is based at Trinity College and seeks to promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disability and their families. Formally established in 1998 and previously know as The National Institute for the Study of Learning Difficulties (NISLD), the NIID works to ensure that the basic human rights of people with intellectual disability are upheld. The institute offers a certificate in contemporary living, which is Ireland’s first full-time university course for people with learning disabilities.
UCD Centre for Disability Studies – www.ucd.ie/include
The Centre aims to promote the inclusion and independence of people with disabilities through excellent research, teaching and service to the wider community.
USEFUL SITES
Access-Able Travel Source – www.access-able.com
This is an international database available on the Internet, which provides disabled tourists a high range of information on accessible attractions, lodging, transportation, and equipment rental in several countries and regions in the world. It also provides information likely to increase the fun dimension of a foreign holiday.
Health Research Board (HRD) (Ireland) – www.hrb.ie
Established in 1986 to promote, assist, commission and conduct medical, epidemiological and health services research the HRB has recently begun construction of a site that will contain an mental handicap/intellectual disability section and that already has a Research Grants section.