"Living in the Mainstream"

IF I’M A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHAT DOES LIVING IN THE MAINSTREAM MEAN TO ME?

This question was addressed at a seminar promoting the rights of people with disabilities in the Mid West Region to access information, education, training and employment opportunities.

"Living in the Mainstream" came about following talks between the Disability Federation of Ireland, Comhairle and the Citizens Information Services in the mid west. According to Toni Gleeson, Mid West Co-ordinator with the D.F.I. "the Government policy of mainstreaming services for people with disabilities is creating a certain amount of confusion amongst disability support organisations, their users and the national services providers as to what agencies are providing services and how people with disabilities can access these services."

"Living in the Mainstream" addressed this information void, identified barriers that people with disabilities experience and looked at ways of accommodating those needs.

The Seminar incorporated presentations by FÁS Employment and Training Services; Mid Western Health Board Guidance & Occupational Training Service; Access Officers from Limerick Institute of Technology, University of Limerick and Tipperary Institute; V.E.C.; Comhairle and the Citizens Information Service and significantly, the experience of people with disabilities who have used the services.

When people are aware of mainstream information, training, education and employment services and resources including the specialised supports that enable people with disabilities to access them then we can begin the process of looking at the reality of mainstreaming and the implications of this Government policy for all involved.

A number of workshops looked at the barriers identified in accessing these services and look at ways of addressing these barriers.

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