ILMI eBulletin August 16th 2019
Welcome to the 45th ILMI eBulletin.
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Should you require a plain text version please get in touch with info@ilmi.ie
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ILMI Dates for Your Diary
- September 10th, 11am to 1pm, Westside Resource Centre, Galway Activism Exploratory Meeting
Please call the office on 01 8730455 for more information or email info@ilmi.ie |
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ILMI Team News
Photo: graphic of modes of transport
ILMI Transport Group Update
On Wednesday 24th of July ILMI hosted a discussion around transport to develop our position for transport as a collective. ILMI have prepared a draft position paper identifying the issues and looking at what we need to do next in working together to have a truly accessible transport system. As we know transport plays a crucial role in the lives of disabled people and its importance is essential to true independence. The Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport’s (DTTAS) Sectoral Plan, under the Disability Act 2005, is called “Transport Access for All” based on the principle of universal access to public transport. Of course across the whole government the National disability inclusion strategy (NDIS) and the comprehensive employment strategy (CES) both involve transport too.
The NDIS 2017 – 2021 aims at improving the lives of disabled people. Within the strategy there is 8 themes and 114 actions of which transport is part of. The CES for disabled people sets out a 10 year approach to ensuring that Disabled people, who are able to, and want to work are supported and enabled to do so and transport is central for many disabled people to do this.
As a true disabled persons organisation (DPO) ILMI believes that there should be direct consultation and engagement with disabled people in the design, planning and procuring of new fleets of vehicles or likewise in our transport structure. Therefore, ILMI has undertaken a number of actions including writing to Bus Éireann and the NTA about a number of issues including on board and next stop announcements and when procuring new fleets to include maximum accessibility rather than minimum requirements. ILMI has requested a meeting with Bus Éireann’s accessibility officer and is meeting with the National Transport Authority (NTA) newly appointed accessibility manager in mid-August.
The DTTAS consultative committee is called the Accessibility Consultative Committee (ACC) and ILMI has written to the Department of Transport, tourism and sport to have representation at the consultative committee on transport too.
Please note:
Dublin bus are trying out 3 new hybrid buses on the 25 routes (A and B). Onboard these buses they are moving the accessible spot to behind the staircase - Any members willing to engage with them on this and give their feedback they are encouraged to contact Dublin bus accessibility officer or indeed contact our policy officer on jamescawley@ilmi.ie
Further updates to follow in the next eBulletin.
Photo of calculator and budget folder
Personalised Budgets: Update on Demonstration Models
Shelly Gaynor, ILMI chair and Damien Walshe, CEO attended a briefing from the HSE about the proposed demonstration models (pilot programmes) based on recommendations of the Taskforce on Personalised Budgets on Thursday 7th August.
Aishling Hunt, who is heading up the demonstration models project for the HSE gave an outline of when the process will start. As per the Taskforce Report the demonstration models will pilot three approaches to personalised budgets: a person managed fund (which is often referred to as a direct payment), a co-managed fund and a broker managed fund. These demonstration models will work with 180 disabled people over the next two years.
All three models will be tested at three levels of Governance (low, medium and high) to assess what the best way leaders can manage their personalised budgets whilst meeting HSE Governance requirements. ILMI members and staff highlighted the need for the HSE to use the pilot to ensure that bureaucratic burden placed on leaders applying for a person-managed fund (direct payment) be kept to a minimum in order that paperwork, governance and reporting doesn’t become overwhelming. The HSE stressed that the ultimate goal of the demonstration models over the next two years is choice and control for disabled people.
From the middle of August, the HSE will call on individuals who are already in receipt of some form of disability support service which is funded by the HSE will be asked to express an interest in participating in the demonstration model. This expression of interest will end on October 16th. It is anticipated that 90 people will be selected to take part in this first phase. A second call for expressions of interest will go out on April 2020 for a further 90 people.
The HSE Personalised Budgets Demonstration Projects Office is finalising a website, flyer, application form and fact sheet which ILMI will circulate once they are available. The HSE will also use the demonstration models to develop a standardised assessment tool for all CHO areas, looking at two models for assessment.
Photo: graphic with word Deinstitutionalisation
ILMI Deinstitutionalisation Group Discussion Update
On Wednesday 31st ILMI members came together via Zoom and in the office for a discussion on how to build a campaign around deinstitutionalisation.
The discussion began by looking at institutionalisation and what it meant to members and developing a shared collective ILMI understanding of the issue and what needs to be done. It was defined being about the absence of choice or control, about life being regimented, about other people having power over you to set an agenda for you.
Institutional life denies people the chance to think about the possibilities of life. Many disabled people have internalised the logic of institutionalisation and become to believe that they could live their own lives and that the only place for them is an institution of sorts (including in their own homes or someone else’s home). Institutionalisation is about disempowering people, it is about removing disabled people’s rights. It is based on a view that disabled people need to be “looked after”, denied the chance to be involved and included and kept away from their community.
It is not only larger congregated settings, but smaller institutions and also the practices that place younger disabled people in nursing homes due to lack of personal assistance hours or accessible housing. It can be in your own home or in someone else’s home. People can be institutionalised in their own homes by not having enough PA hours to live the lives they want, or because of an inaccessible built environment or the lack of accessible transport that traps people in their homes. People can be institutionalised in their own homes by having their PA service provided by organisations working from a medical / charity model. If staff are operating in this mind-set it will mean that they will take away control and choice, assuming that disabled people don’t know what is best for them.
The group began a very useful discussion on what messages an ILMI campaign on deinstitutionalisation needs to have, who to target and how the medical / charity model of disability which creates a worldview that disabled people need to be “cared” or “looked after”, as well as the role of families in this discussion.
It was agreed to bring back a group for discussion on potential ILMI actions in October. If you are interested in being part of this or want to read a note of the discussion, email damienwalshe@ilmi.ie
ONSIDE Update
Photo of Marie Gilligan
Marie Gilligan ONSIDE Community Navigator (Cavan/Leitrim)
Marie joined ILMI in August 2019 as a Community Navigator (Cavan/Leitrim) on the ONSIDE project. The lived experience of the many challenges faced by disabled people motivated Marie’s return to education ten years ago. Having just completed an MA in Leadership and Management for the Community and Public Sector (St Angela’s College NUIG), Marie also has a Hons Degree in Health and Disability Studies (St Angela’s College NUIG), a Certificate in Disability Equality and Advocacy (Sligo IT), and a Certificate in Training and Evaluation. Her research proposal and thesis were on Disability Equality and Sexuality an area rarely touched on.
Professionally as a Community Support Worker, Marie facilitated disabled people to access activities of their choice within the community by working with them to address barriers they may face in a positive manner. She also has many years’ experience facilitating workshops on Disability Equality through her work and studies.
Marie looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead, and in particular working for and with disabled people to bring about real change in addressing isolation.
Photo: (From Left to Right: Noirin Clancy Inclusion Ireland, Marie Gilligan ILMI ONSIDE Cavan/Leitrim Community Navigator (Email = mariegilligan@ilmi.ie), Barry Lynch Inclusion Irl., Peter Kearns ILMI ONSIDE Coordinator).
ILMI’s new cross border project ONSIDE Team met up with their Sligo colleagues in Inclusion Ireland at Model Arts Centre to discuss how adults with ‘Intellectual-Disabilities’ can use ONSIDE Project ‘Free’ laptops and Tablets on our upcoming 8-week training programmes in the north west to increase their local mainstream participation. They also discussed the possibility of starting the long road towards a Sligo social model led Disabled Peoples Organisation (DPO).
For more information on the ONSIDE Project please click here.
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Media
Limerick TD critical of HSE's planned cuts to "break even"
“At a meeting held on May 27, officials stated that there were further ‘saving actions’ required with respect to ‘disabilities, older persons and acute hospitals in order to break even’. In the FOI decision letter we were denied monthly reports that outlined what those saving measures are." Full article here
Demand for 'outrageous' disability allowance cuts in Mayo to be reversed
"Sinn Féin has obtained details of planned cuts through a Freedom of Information request.
This revealed the HSE is planning cuts in the areas of Disabilities, Older Persons and acute hospitals, in order to just break even." Full article here
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Share Your Independent Living News
If you wish to get your campaign, key policy article, or any other piece directly relating to the philosophy of Independent Living featured in our next newsletter then please email it to info@ilmi.ie
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