Centre For
Independent Living Mayo
Newport
Co. Mayo
Ireland
098-41919
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Mission Statement It is the mission of Mayo Disability Alliance and Mayo Centre for Independent Lifting to work towards the full and equal inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society, and to encourage and ensure the provision of appropriate services and support to enable this to happen, Our work is carried out within the social model of disability and with emphasis on the philosophy of Independent Living.
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All programmes and work carried out by CIL are done within the context and philosophy of Independent Living. This means that people with a disability are involved at all levels designing, delivering and monitoring any service intended for them.
For too long people with disabilities have been subject to the supposed expertise of others. Services have been designed and delivered in a paternalistic and largely charity-led way.
We people with disabilities say it is time for this to change.
A major component in bringing about this change will be the establishment of a Personal Assistant Service. Such a service has been standard in EU Countries and the U.S. since the 70's,
The provision of a Personal Assistance service will enable people to follow the philosophy of Independent Living and to become full and equal participants in society.
What is Independent Living ?
Adolf Ratzka, a lecturer in the European Independent Living movement, "
"The right of all persons regardless of age, type or extent of disability to live in the community, as opposed to living in an institution; have the same range of choice as everyone else in housing, transportation, education and employment; participating in the social, economic and political life of their communities; have a family; live as responsible, respected members of their communities, with all the duties and privileges that this entails, and: unfold their potential."
Personal Assistant Service.
What it is & How we envisage it
Since the beginning of the decade CIL has proven beyond doubt that there is an urgent need for a Personal Assistant service in Ireland. By establishing and running Community Employment Projects to service this need, CIL has also proven it's own ability and commitment. With CE projects in sixteen counties we have gained a great deal of experience in the day to day functioning of PA services. It would be fair to say that CIL is the only organisation in the country with a true understanding of what Personal Assistance is and what a PA service should be.
Personal Assistant is not like a Home Help, Homecare Attendant or a Carer. it may touch on aspects of these but it is a far more comprehensive and broad ranging Concept. For instance, none of the above would be a - driver, note taker in collage or at work, work assistant, interpreter, maintainer/ maker of specialized equipment, cook, personal care provider, social companion, - all at once. Yet there are many PAs' who are all these things and more,
PA will be a fully trained professional who will have a broad range of skills and will be capable of learning new ones as required. Their functions will be carried out at the discretion of the client and will be entirely specific to that individual,
Independent Living is the prime motivating factor surrounding personal assistance. A PA service will empower people with significant physical disabi(ities to become full members of society and take control of and responsibility for their lives.
A key factor in organising such a service is the fundamental principle that it is run by the disabled themselves. Only in this way can it be ensured that the care values are retained. A service run by people who are themselves users of the service will stay as it should be, It will not drift from it's primary function as there are changes in personnel or political policies.
The disabled are the true experts on disability. CIL as an organisation which is run by the disabled and is using it's first hand expertise to give primary training as PAs' to all it's CE participants. Also CIL in consultation with educational bodies is currently upgrading this training and designing a three year specialist training course for PAs'.
It is envisaged that a PA service will ultimately be made a permanent and fully recognised legal right. CIL have put various proposals forward to enable the service to be put in place. The need for the service is proven and we hope that it will become a reality in the very near future.