croke park reviews spectator access

Transcription

Spokeout_Summer_09_cover:Layout 1
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spokeout
Lifestyle magazine for people with limited mobility published by the Irish Wheelchair Association
€4.00
Summer 2009
Match Day
CROKE PARK REVIEWS SPECTATOR ACCESS
Farming with a disability
Dublin artist exhibits in Monaco
How to pass the driving test
19910_OCS:1 Full Page
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Reaching new heights of passenger satisfaction
OCS offers dedicated services to the aviation industry and is associated with the
very highest levels of service for Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM), airport
terminal services and aviation security.
OCS is the name behind some of the leading airports and airlines and our 40 years
of experience means we are perfectly placed to stay one step ahead in an ever
changing industry. We offer dedicated services at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports
to ensure all passengers with reduced mobility receive a professional, courteous
and safe passage through the airport both onto the aircraft and upon arrival.
Call us on 01 814 5900 to speak to one of our specialists to see how you
can start a successful journey together with OCS
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8A:6C>C<86CCDC=N<>:C:
www.ocsireland.com
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Contents
COVER FEATURE
LIVING
4 Stadium access
Pilot scheme to improve spectator
experience at Croke Park
28 The pollen season
Reducing the nuisance of
pollen-related allergies
FEATURES
7 On the farm
Wheelchair user James Clarke on
farming with a disability
10 Landscapes of the mind
Watercolourist Mary Collins on
how she discovered her passion
for painting
CAREERS
& EDUCATION
13 College ambitions
Law-student Sinead O’Donnell
gives advice on how to approach
third-level education
16 Keeping things in focus
Rory O’Connell on why he decided
to pursue his love of photography
ACCESS
19 Taking action:
Regional bus services
Advocating for better public
transport in Co Clare
30 Disability entitlements and you
Who is entitled to Disability
Allowance and how to apply
33 Clever clothing aids
A selection of items to aid comfort
and ease when dressing
24
36 Learning to drive
Tips from an instructor on learning
to drive and passing the test
SPORT
39 Getting physical
Reformed couch potato Finola
Kelly on how exercise has
changed her life
42 Into the blue
Gary Allen takes his love of water
a step further when he tries
SCUBA diving
NEWS
45 News mix
Disability-related news mix
49 IWA Annual Conference 2009
A report on the recent IWA Annual
Conference and AGM in Kilkenny,
plus a message from CEO
Kathleen Mc Loughlin
53 Mini Marathon success
Over 200 women take part in the
Flora Women’s Mini Marathon for
IWA
54 Regional snapshots
What’s going on around the country
20 Getting out
A comic take on the perils of
socialising
58 IWA car and home insurance
schemes
An update on the IWA insurance
schemes launched by Glennon
earlier this year
TRAVEL
23 Holidaying at home
Accessible accommodation in Ireland
24 City of bridges
Gary Allen explores Venice
27 A warm welcome at Cuisle
Find out more about IWA’s
national holiday centre and win a
four-night stay
7
REGULARS
59 Small ads
Sell unwanted items or pick up a
bargain
4
59 Crossword
Crossword No 4 by Gordius
60 Your views
Letters to the editor
spokeout
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introduction
elcome to the summer
2009 issue of Spokeout.
In keeping with the
season, our cover story
focuses on an issue that many sports
fans feel passionately about – wheelchair access
at Croke Park. The stadium is currently piloting
new access arrangements designed to improve
the spectator experience for wheelchair users
and we report the initial feedback from fans.
Our farming feature focuses on Limerick farmer
and wheelchair user James Clarke, whose
practical approach and clever adaptations to
farming equipment enable him to successfully
manage a 150-acre farm.
We also interview landscape painter Mary
Collins, who recently held an exhibition in the
Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco, and
aspiring photographer Rory O’Connell.
W
Hope you enjoy the issue.
Spokeout on CD and tape
Spokeout is now available on both tape and CD. If you would
like to receive Spokeout in either of these formats, please
contact Colette Molloy on 01 818 6485 or [email protected]
Editor
Joanna Marsden
Cover picture
Sportsfile
Editorial Assistance
Kiara Lynch, Colette Molloy
Distribution
Shanahan Direct
Editorial Design Manager
Layla Hogan
Joint Managing Directors, Dyflin
Karen Hesse, Philip McGaley
Design this issue
Suzanne Murray
Editorial enquiries to:
The Editor, Spokeout, Irish
Wheelchair Association,
Blackheath Drive, Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Tel: (00 353) 1 818 6455
Email: [email protected]
Advertising and Marketing
Design Manager
Diarmuid O’Connor
Advertising Production
Co-ordinator
Amina Ferradj
Advertising Production
Ciaran McBride
Advertising Executive
Dara Gallagher, Joseph Burke
Printing
Graham & Heslip Ltd
Cartoons
Johnny Connaughton
recycle
When you have finished with
this magazine please recycle it.
2
Advertising enquiries to:
Dyflin Publications Ltd
Cunningham House
130 Francis Street, Dublin 8
Tel: (00 353) 1 4167930
Spokeout is published by Dyflin
Publications on behalf of I.W.A.
Limited. The copyright rests with
IWA and no material may be
reproduced without the
permission of IWA. The views
expressed in the publication
do not necessarily represent
the views of IWA.
Spokeout is distributed
quarterly by post to 19,500 IWA
members and to Government
bodies and other disability
interest groups.
ISSN NO: 1393-8517
MEET SOME OF
S…
OUR CONTRIBUTOR
Kiara Lynch
Editorial Assistant Kiara Lynch has been
enjoying the sun but, as a recent college
graduate, she knows it can only mean one
thing – exam time! With many people
contemplating the move to higher
education, Kiara gets some tips from graduate student
Sinead O’Donnell.
Colette Molloy
Colette Molloy works in IWA’s information
office and does a lot of behind the scenes
work on Spokeout, including researching
accessible holiday accommodation. Colette
is looking forward to the GAA Football All
Ireland Senior Championship and is hoping Dublin will bring
Sam home. She relaxes by gardening, doing crafts and
crosswords, and taking her beloved dogs for walks.
Finola Kelly
Finola Kelly is interested in disability issues
locally and nationally. She is a member of
Dublin City Council Disability Focus Group
and a committee member of the Dublin
North MS Society Group. While
recuperating from surgery, Finola is living in one of the IWA
apartments in Clontarf and has been using the IWA gym
on a daily basis. She tells us what a positive difference
regular exercise has made to her life.
Emmett Daly
Emmett Daly is from Kilcormac, Co Offaly.
Emmett is the secretary of the Offaly School
of Special Education, a role which he
thoroughly enjoys. He has recently started
playing power soccer, and hopes to
progress further in the sport. In this issue, Emmett reports
on the recent IWA Annual Conference.
Gerry McInerney
Gerry McInerney enjoys surfing the web
and says it has opened up his world by
giving him access to access information he
might otherwise have never come across.
Gerry enjoys regular holidays in Europe and
believes the accessibility of the public transport system in
Ireland compares poorly to those of other European
countries. Gerry is currently lobbying for improvements to
the bus service in the Shannon area.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Please send your name, the name of your organisation (if applicable),
address and telephone number, with a cheque or postal order for €15.00
(payable to IWA) to: Spokeout subscriptions, Irish Wheelchair
Association, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
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24/06/2009
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Stadium
access
Croke Park is currently piloting new access arrangements designed to
improve the spectator experience for wheelchair users
hen officially opened in March 2005, the redeveloped Croke Park Stadium was earmarked as a singular piece of architectural
and engineering achievement that could
come to symbolise Ireland’s ‘Boom Years’. With capacity of
75,000 people (seated), it was the third largest stadium in
Europe at that time, and since then it has certainly become
one of the world’s busiest stadia in terms of footfall. As an
inner city stadium, it should also be considered one of the
world’s most conveniently located stadia. But many IWA
members remain skeptical about its accessibility credentials
and would like to see the stadium’s authorities improve the
facilities to make events in the stadium accessible and
more enjoyable for wheelchairs users.
W
THE ISSUE
The accessibility problems at Croke Park were highlighted
in the spring 2007 issue of Spokeout, when IWA member
Liam Lynch wrote a piece that detailed his concerns about
how the powers that be at Croke Park had addressed, or
not addressed, the issue of accessibility in the new design.
In addition to having to negotiate an awkward journey
from external area cordon to stadium, Liam contended that
once inside, the viewing space allocated to wheelchair
4
users offered very poor views of events on the pitch. He
wrote that views of ‘high ball’ were obstructed by the
sloping level above, and more importantly, if fans in front
jumped up at a moment of excitement, there was no view
at all of the pitch. “You couldn’t see when the ball went
high or when the crowd stood up. I felt the view was between 20-40 percent, and this was unacceptable.”
Croke Park says that facilities for people with disabilities
comprise an area at Level Four, stretching from the Cusack
Stand through the Davin Stand and to the Hogan Stand,
which has been fitted with 119 spaces for wheelchair users
and a matching number of attendant seats. In the intervening
years, Croke Park has added LCD screens, additional toilet
and changing room facilities, as well as bar and snack units to
the area. There is also a team of designated stewards, specifically trained to cater for the needs of patrons with disabilities.
IN SEARCH OF A SOLUTION
Prior to the publication of Liam Lynch’s article, a number of
IWA members had already registered their concerns with the
IWA Sports Team, Nicky Hamill (Director of Sport) and Mark
Barry, and IWA had opened discussions with Croke Park.
Croke Park management, for its part, showed a willingness
to engage and seek out a solution to the problem.
PHOTO BY SPORTSFILE
Jim Hayes with his son
Jonathan in front of the
GAA Museum at Croke Park
25/6/09
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cover feature
After a consultation period of about 18 months, Croke Park
and its architectural team proposed a solution that would see
the introduction of an elevated platform on a pilot basis for the
2009 season. As part of the pilot scheme wheelchair users
using the platform would receive complimentary tickets and in
return would complete a questionnaire on their experiences.
Two of the people who have been assisting with the programme are Jim Hayes and his sports-mad son, Jonathan,
who had attended a number of matches in Croke Park prior
to the pilot programme. Their first experience of the pilot
programme was the semi final of rugby’s Heineken European
Cup between Leinster and Munster. And they believe that
the new platform is a welcome initiative, but it still presents a
few problems. Jim explains: “Looking at the positive aspects,
now when people jump up to cheer the action, this no longer
impedes the view. This is great news. However, it is still not
possible to follow all the action, because when the ball goes
too high, the problem of visual obstruction arises again
because of the overhangs from above. This was particularly
frustrating for conversion kicks during the rugby match.”
He suggests, maybe the platform should be higher saying,
“in order to gain greater visibility you need extra height, but
you are going to lose it somewhere else. It is obvious a lot
of care and attention has gone into the viewing area.
Unfortunately, I am not a civil engineer, so have no fixes in
my head. If the platform is chosen as the way forward, I think
it would be a good Idea to have a number of them located
at different points in the stadium.”
Jim adds that he would also like to see some action on
getting access to the external cordoned area. “Trying to get
access onto Clonliffe Road or areas beyond the barriers for
parking is difficult. It always seems to be a hit and miss affair. It can depend on the garda on duty on the day at the
barrier and also a lot of perseverance. There are no set criteria on accessibility set down by An Garda Siochana or
the sports organisation involved.”
Liam Lynch also attended the Heineken Cup match and
was similarly impressed and concerned. He says: “The elevated viewing area does solve the problem of view obstruction by other fans jumping up. However, the view is still
obstructed by the tier above protruding into your eye line. I
couldn’t see the ball when it got to a certain height, conversions and penalties especially. When I go to a game as a
spectator I want to watch the action with my own eyes; if I
wanted to watch a match on TV, I’d stay at home.” Liam
goes on to suggest: “The disabled viewing area needs to be
moved a level higher, or moved out from its current position.
Croke Park could also look at how other world-class stadia
provide facilities for people with disabilities.”
closely with IWA to ensure that the views of as many disabled patrons as possible are taken into account before
long term solutions can be put in place.” He adds: “We are
constantly upgrading facilities to try and exceed customer
expectations. We hope this pilot scheme will overcome the
major concerns of patrons and that IWA and other organisations will work with us to make continued improvements to
facilities in the future.” He also points out that parking for
disabled patrons is available in Clonliffe College car park.
Tony says that the GAA offers tickets to patrons with disabilities at a special half price rate, and that the soccer and rugby
organisations also offer very attractive ticket incentives for
matches in the stadium. “I would like to think that this would
encourage more people to attend stadium events and contribute ideas on how we can continually upgrade the facilities
to enhance their match experiences in the years to come.”
CROKE PARK PILOT SCHEME
IN CONCLUSION
Tony McGuinness, Stadium Safety Officer at Croke Park,
says he is delighted to have the pilot scheme in operation.
“Croke Park would like to be at the forefront of stadium accessibility in this country. We are committed to finding lasting solutions for any difficulties that exist and are working
Everyone agrees that the pilot scheme is a positive move,
but there are still important points that need to be ironed out.
These issues will not get addressed properly unless members
highlight areas for improvement. So, it will require a concerted
effort from everyone before a solution can be found.
Croke Park official Francis Murphy (back),
has been specially trained to cater for
patrons with disabilities
TICKET ALLOCATION FOR PILOT SCHEME
As part of the Croke Park Accessibility Pilot Scheme,
the stadium is providing IWA with six complimentary
tickets for wheelchair users and six additional assistants tickets for every GAA, soccer and rugby match
in the 2009 season. Parking will be allowed for IWA
buses within the Croke Park grounds (provided entry
is early). For those travelling independently, it has been
agreed that Clonliffe College will allow free parking for
permit-holders. At the end of each match, an appraisal questionnaire is to be filled out by all recipients
of the complimentary tickets and returned to IWA.
If you would like to attend an upcoming match
and assist with this pilot scheme, contact IWA
Sports on 01 818 6400. Remember, tickets are limited to six plus assistant per match and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
spokeout
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LEARNING IS CLOSER
THAN YOU THINK
learn more on www.fas.ie
25/6/09
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Page 7
feature
James’ quad bike gives
him the freedom to get
around the farm
On the
FARM
Limerick farmer James Clarke tells Hugh Scanlon how the support
of friends and neighbours, and a few practical adjustments such
as a modified tractor and quad bike, enabled him to continue
running his 150-acre farm after acquiring a disability
ome famous man once said that if he knew
where he was going to die he’d never go there.
Accidents are a bit like that. By definition, they
happen unexpectedly. This was the case for
James Clarke who was cutting down a tree on his farm, just
outside Adare, Co Limerick, when disaster struck. James
saw the tree begin to pivot and had time to drop the chainsaw and start to run. But, unfortunately, not enough time.
The ambulance was already there by the time he regained
consciousness, and he was transferred first to hospital in
Limerick, and then, the following day, by helicopter to
Dublin. There he was told that his spine had been severed
between vertebrae T11 and T12 and that he would be
paralysed from the waist down, for the rest of his life. The
accident took place on 6th December, 1991, when James
was 40 years of age. A regular badminton and hockey
player, he had played his first ever game of golf the day
before the accident.
James and his wife, Meriel, had three very young kids at
the time – Thomas, aged six, Rosemarie, aged 4, and
Roger, aged only 18 months. They had a 150-acre mixed
enterprise farm, in three separate blocks, involving 40 milk-
S
ing cows, 60 sheep, 50 calf to two year old beef cattle and
a small amount of tillage. So, how does someone, in these
circumstances, come to terms with being told that he will
never walk again?
James believes that you never know how you are going
to react to something like this until it actually happens. In his
case, he seems to have accepted the reality from the outset
and never remembers feeling despair or anger with God. A
member of the Church of Ireland, James gratefully received
prayers, support, and even Padro Pio relics, from all sides
of the local community. The practical help he and his family
got from neighbours and friends was brilliant. One neighbour simply took the Clarke’s sheep flock to his own farm,
fed them, looked after them and lambed them, and then
delivered them back, later on in the year, when all of the
hard work had been done. Another neighbour ploughed,
sowed and managed 12 acres of barley for them. If Meriel
needed anything done, she just had to pick up the phone.
The story of James Clarke’s adjustment to his changed
circumstances is one of extraordinary determination. The
very first evening he was allowed home from the National
Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire, he put his wheel-
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feature
chair down into the pit of the milking parlour and was able
James uses a hoist
to reach up to milk the cows. “This gave my confidence a
to transfer into his
adapted tractor
huge boost” he says. However, he remembers the initial period after he returned home as being very difficult. He had
to be brought around the farm sitting in his wheelchair in a
transport box on the back of a tractor to see the stock. He
couldn’t even sleep in his own house because the stairs
had to be straightened out to facilitate a stair lift, which involved knocking internal walls.
It was the ordinary, day-to-day, things that he felt he really missed out on – never being able to play football with
the kids or to lift up baby Roger or put him to bed. On the
other hand, because they now had a man employed full
time, they were able to take their first ever family holiday
and James feels that this was hugely important in ‘normalising’ things for the kids.
Despite all these challenges, James never considered
selling the farm. It took him a year to get back to full
strength and during that time, with the help of local machinery dealer, James Doherty, the first tractor was successfully
that VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) is applied to ATVs,
modified to allow him to drive it.
The actual modifications are straightforward but effective. which has seen the tax increase from €50 to over €800. He
believes that the change was intended to apply to those
A small electric motor, run off the tractor battery, powers a
who use ATVs for recreational purposes and feels that it
winch mounted on a swivel arm in the cab. James puts a
penalises those, like him, who are dependant on it purely
canvas sling under him, while sitting in his wheelchair, and
clips four steel eyes at the corners of this sling onto a hook as a work machine.
The other two pieces of ‘modern’ technology that he
at the end of the winch rope. Using hand-operated confinds absolutely invaluable are his mobile phone and the introls, the winch then lifts him up to cab height and he
ternet. Meriel used to be concerned if James went off to an
guides himself into the tractor seat using the grab bars atout-farm on the ATV and was away longer than expected.
tached to the door and frame of the cab. The clutch and
But now she can just ring his
brake have been modified to
mobile to check that everything
hand controls but, otherwise,
everything else is standard.
“One neighbour simply took the is okay. Equally, if there is a
with a sick animal,
These modifications to the
Clarke’s sheep flock to his own farm,problem
James merely has to ring
two tractors have allowed
fed them, looked after them and Thomas, who has been workJames to remain very active in
the day-to-day running of the
lambed them, and then delivered ing full time on the farm for the
past three years.
farm. One tractor has a loader
fitted so James uses this to do them back, later on in the year, when At the beginning, one of the
the silage feeding and all other all of the hard work had been done” most difficult adjustments for
James was the fact that, if they
loader work. He also does all
intended going anywhere, he
the drawing and spreading of
had to ring ahead to check it was wheelchair accessible. In
slurry to the out-farms. However, the real love of his life is
general, he feels that things have improved significantly in
his ATV (more commonly known as a quad bike), which he
Ireland and that we now compare reasonably well with
describes as being “like a set of legs”. This gives him the
freedom to go everywhere around the farm but, particularly, other countries. Recently, he was on holidays in that most
cosmopolitan of cities, Nice, and discovered that it wasn’t a
to herd the drystock in the out-farms. He simply parks his
very wheelchair friendly place. Car parking was a nightmare
wheelchair alongside the ATV and pulls himself up onto it
and I’d need another article to tell you about the job they
using a neat bar frame fitted behind the seat. This was the
had getting out of a carpark! James believes that wheelonly modification required as all the controls come handchair accessible toilets are now the area needing most
operated as standard.
work in this country.
James’ upper body strength is now much greater than it
James has no intention of slowing down as can be seen
was prior to his accident and he needs this to be able to
pull himself up onto the ATV. It is also crucial to maintaining from the fact that, three years ago, he and Meriel renovated
an old stone cottage on the farm which they now rent for
his balance while driving it, since he has no power in his
self-catering holidays.
legs. He is quite angry about a recent change in the way
8
19875 - Advance Electrical editorial NEW:Layout 1
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Page 9
promotion
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spokeout
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25/6/09
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Page 10
LANDSCAPES OF THE MIND
Irish artist Mary Collins was recently honoured with an exhibition
at the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco. She tells Joanna
Marsden how her love of art has changed her life
ary Collins is best known for her watercolour
landscapes which have featured in many exhibitions over the past decade, including a ‘onewoman’ show this spring in Monaco’s famous
Princess Grace Irish Library (PGIL).
Mary says that she was first drawn to paint landscapes
because of the ease with which she could access the subject
matter. Although, as a wheelchair user, it was difficult for her
to travel to outside locations for painting, “a postcard or
photograph would suffice as a model from which to work.”
As this way of painting developed, Mary began to feel the
rewards of the subject matter. “Over time I have become
very attached to landscapes and see painting as a way to
access parts of the world which aren’t so accessible.”
It could be said that both art and a love of landscapes
are in Mary’s blood. Her mother, an art teacher from New
York, and her father, who is from Chicago, came to Ireland
on their honeymoon and “fell in love with the country”.
When Mary was a child, the family moved between Ireland
and New York, before finally settling in south county Dublin
when she was six.
Mary, who was born with cerebral palsy and also suffered injuries as a result of two accidents, a car crash and
a fall, didn’t consider taking up painting until she was in her
twenties, “I didn’t think that I would be able to paint, but
when IWA’s Dolores Murphy approached the local VEC
about setting up an art group in the Dun Laoghaire area, I
decided to give it a try.”
“The first painting I ever did was a flower,” recalls Mary,
“and I didn’t like it. But my art teacher Allen Simpson had
great patience and he said ‘If you keep trying, I know you’ll
get there in the end’.”
Mary’s mother also encouraged her to persevere, and
Mary began to get feel more comfortable with the medium
of watercolour. “The thing I love about watercolour is that it
is so gentle. If you make a mistake it can ruin a picture, or,
it can actually make it. This happened with my ‘Blue Wave’
picture – the water started running and I was about to in-
M
10
tervene when Allen Simpson shouted, ‘Stop, don’t touch!”
The result was beautiful and Mary describes the incident as
“a landmark moment” in her painting, so much so that she
chose to name her website www.bluewavearts.ie after the
painting.
Mary is keen to emphasise how critical the Dun
Laoghaire art group has been, and continues to be, in her
development as an artist. “Art is not a solitary experience
for me. Going to the art group every Saturday is an important part of my life. Members support each other and many
of my friends in the group travelled to Monaco with me for
the opening of the exhibition.”
“My love of art and of the art group itself has changed
my life in many ways. It brought me out of myself and gave
me a sense that I could help others in the local community
in the struggle for access. I have since become involved
with many forms of community activism, including joining
the Board of the Southside Partnership, Disability Interest
Group, Accessible Community Transport Southside Ltd,
Greater Dublin Independent Living, Disability Consultative
Group and the Dun Laoghaire Volunteer Project.”
Mary says that community activism is one of the ways in
which she distracts herself from the chronic pain she lives
with. “In 1999, when I was studying for the finals of my BA
in Modern History at Trinity, I reached a point where I felt I
couldn’t go on because of the pain. I went to my GP and
he advised against dropping out, saying, ‘If you give up
college, you’ll have nothing to focus on except the pain.’”
Since then, Mary says she has tried to live by his advice,
going on to complete an M. Litt. Research Masters Degree
on ‘Irish Cultural Institutions and their impact on Contemporary Ireland’.
Over the past few years, Mary has also spent a lot of
time developing her website. The site showcases her paintings and poetry, together with reflections on her life and
approach to art. The site was created as a result of the
EQUAL project, a project designed to promote equality
through e-work, and it also serves a practical purpose as
‘BLUE WAVE’ BY MARY COLLINS
25/6/09
15:44
Page 11
feature
Monaco’s Prince Albert attends
the opening of Mary’s Exhibition
an online shop through which she sells her paintings. “A
website is a great way to promote art. I really think the
Government should look at funding more initiatives designed to support people with disabilities in setting up
small, web-based businesses, as it is a more realistic way
for many people to work.”
Visitors to the site will immediately notice that it’s not just
about painting. It also provides a forum for Mary’s other big
love – poetry. “My love of poetry started when I was 15,
long before I was painting. It’s a completely different way of
expressing oneself. With ordinary prose, you just lay things
bare, but with poetry you have a choice – you can be completely open or you can find an alternative way of expressing things.” Many of Mary’s poems tackle emotional
themes such as how dependency can impact upon relationships with loved ones, while others are written to mark
special occasions.
Mary accepts commissions for both poetry and painting.
“Friends and family commission paintings from me on a
wide variety of subject matter, and I enjoy the process of
understanding someone’s vision and combining it with my
own.”
Mary’s website helped attract the attention of the
Princess Grace Irish Library. “My brother Mark lived in
Monaco for a while and decided to send Judith Gantley,
Curator of the PGIL, a link to my site. Once he knew she
was interested, he came over and told me about the idea.
That was in April 2008, so there was almost a year in the
planning. During that period, I corresponded with Judith
and Geraldine Lance, the secretary from the PGIL, using
Skype and a webcam.”
The trip to the St Patrick’s Day opening of Mary’s exhibition titled ‘Images of Ireland’ was the first time Mary had
left Ireland since her two accidents, twelve and thirteen
years ago respectively. “I arrived in Monaco a few days
early and it just felt fantastic to be travelling.”
There were two official openings – one for the public and
one for family and friends. Before the first event kicked off,
one of Mary’s 27 watercolours had already sold. “It was
very moving to see my art on display in such a setting and
Mary and her parents
at her M.Litt graduation
to realise that all these people had come to see my work. I
hope the exhibition will encourage other artists with a disability by showing that there are opportunities to exhibit
abroad and that you can become a recognised artist.”
Since the exhibition, a further eight paintings have sold to
buyers from around the world. Just this week Mary got an
email from an American buyer attaching a photograph of
one of her paintings hanging in an oak-panelled room in his
Vermont home. He also sent a photograph of a beautiful
Vermont sunset, perhaps hoping that it would inspire Mary
to get her paintbrush out. Now back home in Dun
Laoghaire, Mary says it makes her really happy to think of
her painting hanging in such an amazing place.
Mary would like to thank everyone who supported her exhibition and trip to Monaco, including Judith Gantley, Geraldine Lance, the trustees of the Princess Grace Irish Library,
the Association Monegasque des Handicapes Moteurs,
and Olivier Bragard. She would also like to thank all those
who have supported her artistic career over the years, including Alan Simpson, Dolores Murphy, Mary Ryan, Dr
William Vaughan, Willie Morton, Gray Cahill, Trish Lehmann,
Marie Carroll, Helena O’Neill, Alison Gray, Sandra King, and
everyone at Southside Partnership and Dun Loaghaire VEC.
Thanks also to her family, friends and long-standing PAs.
BOTH SIDES SUFFER by Mary Collins
When their lives centre around me,
That’s not good.
Why?
Because both sides suffer.
But,
That goes for everyone who’s dependent.
With this thought in mind Lord,
Help me be free.
Please grant me more mobility.
spokeout
11
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25/6/09
15:48
Page 13
careers & education
COLLEGE AMBITIONS
Galwegian Sinead O’ Donnell has successfully completed a law
degree at NUI Galway and is now hoping to begin a PhD in
Disability Law. She talks to Kiara Lynch about her approach to
college life
inead O’Donnell grew up facing the daily challenges of living with a disability. She felt strongly
that the State’s ‘one size fits all’ approach towards
disability services was simply not good enough.
“Given that different disabilities require different services,
it’s difficult to establish what’s available or what a person is
legally entitled to”. By the time Sinead was doing her Leaving
Certificate, she had developed an interest in law, believing
that the legal system would be the ideal instrument to use
to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
S
Sinead in her home
in Galway City
Sinead had decided well before CAO form-filling time
came around that she wanted to do a three-year arts degree in Legal Science, Sociology and Political Studies at
National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). “NUIG is a
great university with an excellent social and academic reputation. On the practical side, I’m from Galway, and this
meant a lot of my friends and family, who are a great support, would be around. It also meant that I had the option
of living in my adapted family home and commuting to
NUIG on a daily basis”.
“I was lucky I knew what course I wanted to study and
where, and I didn’t have to find accommodation immediately. Not everyone is so lucky! I’d recommend deciding
what field you want to study well before it’s time to fill out the
CAO forms. Then go through college prospectuses looking
for courses in that field, and make an appointment with the
college disability officer to visit the campus, making sure to
ask them about possible accessible accommodation.”
Sinead emphasises the importance of making the right
choice: “The campus has to suit your needs; you are making
a big change in your life and must feel comfortable with it.”
“The campus has to suit your
needs; you are making a big
change in your life and must feel
comfortable with it”
“I made an appointment with the NUIG disability officer
during my Leaving Cert year to look around the campus.
The university was founded in 1845, so naturally I was a little apprehensive about the access. The disability officer
showed me around, and it was clear access wasn’t going
to be an issue. I felt at home there straight away.”
When Sinead started college in 2002, the disability officer
helped her put supports in place to enable her to keep up
with her course mates, such as a personal assistant to assist her taking notes in lectures, and a laptop to type up
assignments. Sinead’s exams were also set up to physically suit her needs.
Sinead’s next priority was accomodation. “I wanted to
live independently as I felt that was the next step in my life,
spokeout
13
25/6/09
15:48
Page 14
careers & education
Sinead outside her
home In Galway City
so shortly after starting college I put my name down on a
waiting list for short-term independent living units run by
the Irish Wheelchair Association.” Sinead lived and commuted from home for a year and a half before moving into
an IWA unit in Galway City.
Since beginning her studies at NUIG, Sinead has
achieved a great deal academically. In 2005 she completed
her arts degree in Legal Science, Sociology and Political
Studies, before transferring into the final year of Bachelor of
Laws, which she successfully completed in 2006. Sinead
then went on to achieve a Masters in Public Advocacy and
Activism in 2007.
Sinead is passionate about human rights, including the
right to independent living. She uses her own living situation as an example: “I believe my current independent living
arrangements are of great significance and benefit to my
ability to live my life in the manner I choose.” Sinead is now
living in IWA long-term independent living apartments in
Galway City, and is currently waiting to hear from the ‘Irish
Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences’
where she has applied for a Masters in Disability Law. The
main focus of her research will be human rights and independent living issues, and Sinead is hopeful that it will lead
to a PhD.
“To anyone considering college, the best advice I can
give you is to have self-belief. It is hard at times and giving
up would be so easy, but you have to believe in yourself,
and believe you can do it. Do your best and take pleasure
in the experience of college life; you are the one who
worked hard to get yourself there! The road may be long
but remember that the journey can be enjoyable”.
14
SINEAD’S TIPS ON
HOW TO SETTLE INTO COLLEGE LIFE
1. Get to know your fellow classmates/students.
The easiest way to do this is to join societies. It can
be daunting, but just remember all first years are in
the same boat when it comes to meeting new
people and making new friends.
2. It’s always hard starting something new, but try
not to let things get on top of you and always speak
to someone who can help as soon as possible. If
you feel you’re falling behind in a subject, speak to
your lecturer. If you feel you need more support
speak to your disability officer – it may be much
easier to solve the problem than you think.
3. Get to know your lecturers and the academic
support staff; they are a great source of support
when it comes to catching up on notes/assignments
if you have been absent.
4. Don’t try to live up to other people’s hopes. Instead
compete at the level you are capable of. Getting into
college is only half the battle, getting out is the other!
5. Experience everything college life has to offer –
make new friends, try new things, make mistakes,
learn from them, and most of all, enjoy it!
24/06/2009
14:25
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17:36
Page 16
Rory’s black and white shot of the Brehan Chair
near the little village of Finvarra in Co Clare
RORY’S STORY
It took Rory a number of years to reach a point where he
could pursue his interest in photography on a full-time basis.
In the mid ‘80s, as a teenager, he suffered serious injuries
when he was struck by a car in a road traffic accident. “My
injuries included multiple breaks in my legs, a broken collar
bone and a very serious head injury. Twelve months after
the accident, when the doctors thought I had recovered
enough, I returned to school for a while. But I was never able
to fit back in. As a result of the head injury, my ability to
concentrate and remember things was greatly impeded.”
EARLY CAREER
Keeping things
IN FOCUS
Rory O’Connell explains
to Robbie Cousins how
photography became a
passion that helped him
reshape his life
he first time I developed a black and white photograph in a darkroom, the sensation was magical.
And I still get that same sensation every time I
enter the darkroom. I am also equally passionate
about working in digital photography, a medium that extended the creative possibilities of photography to unimaginable levels a few years back.” So says Rory O’Connell
about his one true passion in life: photography. Film or digital, he is comfortable with either medium and he is intent
on developing his skill to the highest level that he can.
T
16
In the end, Rory transferred to Roslyn Park College in
Sandymount, where he was able to overcome many of the
challenges he faced because of his injuries and complete his
education. In the late ‘80s through FÁS, he gained a work
placement on a scheme to redevelop Dublin Zoo. “I spent
over two years at Dublin Zoo where I began to train in technical drawing, as well as picking up many administrative skills.”
His next move was to join Irish engineering giant Mercury Engineering where he trained as a draughtsman and worked for
a number of years. However, unable to advance his career in
this field, Rory began working with warehousing firm JD Langdon, where he spent six happy years. “Langdons was great
for me and I really enjoyed my time there. It was also in this
period that I developed my interest in photography. One day
the manager said redundancies lay down the line for everyone. I was harbouring ambitions about photography and,
having gone as far as I could with it as a hobby, I was grateful when Langdons offered me a generous redundancy package that would enable me to pursue a photographic career.”
A CHANGE OF DIRECTION
Rory had completed a number of part-time photography
courses and was devoting pretty much all of his spare time
to photography. After finishing up at Langdons, he first set
off on a six-day coastal bus tour of Ireland. “I took my camera and used I don’t know how many rolls of film. The trip
was one I had wanted to do for many years and the resulting photos convinced me that I had what it took to pursue
a full-time career in photography.”
Rory enrolled on a two-year photography course in Griffith College. However, he had not counted on there being
so much handwriting involved and because of his limited
dexterity, he had to change his plans at the end of the first
year. He says: “I found the handwriting very difficult and
after completing the first year of the course, I switched
courses and colleges and I went back to Roslyn Park College where I was able to take a specialist course in digital
photography for two years, achieving a FETAC Level Five
qualification.” Rory was able to work at his own pace and
through perseverance completed the course on schedule
in 2008. He says Roslyn Park is a great facility that provides that little bit of extra support which makes all the difference.
25/6/09
17:36
Page 17
careers & education
Rory’s black and white image captures the
atmosphere of historic Colimore Harbour in Dalkey
LOOKING AT OPTIONS
By 2008 Rory was working on a number of personal photographic projects as well as working part-time as a photographer doing portraits, weddings and some advertising
work. He even went as far as setting up his own company.
He says: “I was very tempted to get stuck in and become a
full-time professional photographer at that point. I had
some success and even set up a company and website
(www.roryoconnell.ie). But just because you know a thing
or two about photography does not necessarily mean that
you are going to be a successful professional. So, after
looking at the market and seeing what would be involved in
growing a business, I decided that my interests would be
better served at this point in time by returning to college
and developing my skills further.”
FURTHER EDUCATION
Rory is currently completing the first year of a
two-year diploma course in photography.
He explains: “I am now studying for a
Higher National Diploma in Photography
which I hope to finish next year. If successful, I will have FETAC Level Five and a UK
BTEC (Business and Technology) Award.
The combination of these two awards will
effectively be a FETAC Level 6 qualification, which I would be delighted to
achieve.”
He continues: “After that, a degree
would be my next ambition. And if I get
that far, I would like to go on to teach
the subject. All going well, I will be able
to mix teaching with working part-time
as a professional as well as pursuing
projects of personal interest to me.”
THE SNAPPER
Rory says that in recent years his photography has also
awoken an interest in history for him. He explains: “When I
was in school history was one subject that gave me goose
bumps. I could not get my head around it. But after photographing national monuments in the Dun Laoghaire area
for a study project, I developed a keen interest in Irish history. I have since become a voracious reader of historical
books and also love to get stuck in researching old public
records.”
Last year Rory also managed to achieve a long held ambition when, with IWA assistance, he got driving lessons in
an adapted car and passed his driving test. “Up to that
point I was aware of IWA but I did not know about the
scope of its services. It was a great help in my learning to
drive and getting my driving test.”
Outside of photography, another of Rory’s interests is
keeping fit. He says: “While I don’t use a wheelchair, I am
not the steadiest on my feet. I was
much heavier a few years back and
this created a lot of problems as I
have arthritis in my knees. So, I took
up walking in an effort to lose weight
and found that, in addition to improving my physical health, losing weight
boosted by mental health too. Today, I
try to get in a few miles each day,
which is not always possible because
of my college commitments. However,
in addition to taking my dog with me, I
also challenge myself to use the camera
in my mobile phone should I spot something worth snapping. So, in everything I
do, I am really never too far from a camRory O’Conne
era or the next shot.”
ll
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25/6/09
16:10
Page 19
access
TAKING ACTION:
REGIONAL BUS SERVICES
Gerry McInerney is a power wheelchair user and has a health
condition for which he needs to attend regular outpatient
appointments. Gerry has been having problems travelling to
these appointments due to a lack of accessible public transport
in his local area of Shannon, Co Clare
THE ISSUE
THE OUTCOME
There are two Bus Éireann bus stops within 600 yards of
my front door in Shannon Town. Both routes are serviced
by coaches, but neither of them have wheelchair accessible coaches. I have a serious health condition and need to
attend regular hospital appointments at Midwestern Regional Hospital, Limerick, and Midwestern Regional Hospital, Ennis, which are both serviced by these inaccessible
bus routes.
I am a power wheelchair user and can’t transfer to a
standard car. This means I can’t use the standard hackney
taxis in my local area, and have to order a wheelchair accessible taxi from either Limerick City or Ennis Town. With
round trips to appointments, plus the taxi charge to come
out the 12 miles to Shannon to pick me up, I am paying
approximately €70 per round trip.
I have missed several hospital appointments lately as I
cannot afford to keep paying for the transport. However,
for obvious health reasons, I simply cannot afford to keep
missing appointments.
I wasn’t satisfied with that reply for two main reasons. He
didn’t say where the wheelchair accessible coaches were
on trial, or if he could look into getting a trial accessible
coach put on the routes I had complained about. I have
continued to follow up on the issue with the Services Manager to no avail.
On the Bus Éireann website (www.buseireann.ie), it
states: “Bus Éireann has commenced the purchase of
Inter-City Coaches with wheelchair lifts as part of its replacement programme. It’s envisaged that the entire
scheduled service coach fleet in Ireland will have been replaced by wheelchair accessible coaches by 2015.”
My next move will be to contact Bus Éireann headquarters to ask if a trial wheelchair accessible coach can be put
on either of the routes I’ve complained about.
THE ACTION
I am angry at being made to feel like a second class citizen
because of my disability. Public transport is after all a public
service, and just because I have a disability doesn’t mean
I’m not entitled to use public amenities. I decided to write
to the Area Manager in the Limerick Bus Éireann depot,
outlining my problem and asking when wheelchair accessible coaches would be put on these particular routes.
The Area Manager referred my letter to the Services
Manager, who wrote to me in October 2008 saying:
“Coaches with full wheelchair accessibility are on trial at the
moment”. He also explained there was a problem with drivers on the trial coaches securing their money while assisting wheelchair users onto the coach and clamping the
chair in place.
spokeout
19
25/6/09
16:12
Page 20
GETTING OUT
Socialising should be fun, but when
you get ignored by restaurant staff,
are obliged to drink incredibly slowly
because you can’t use the pub
toilet, or have to strain your neck
sitting at the front of the cinema,
it doesn’t feel like it!
CARTOONS BY JOHNNY CONNAUGHTON
20
25/6/09
16:12
Page 21
access
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24/06/2009
14:23
Page 1
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Invacare Ireland Ltd based in Seatown
Business Campus, Swords was first opened
for business in Dec 2003. The company are
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the world. It provides mobility & homecare
products to its clients throughout Ireland via
our distributor network.
Please feel free to give us a call to discuss
your possible requirements and we will be
glad to try and help.
Please call us for more information on (01) 8107084
or email [email protected] or visit our website www.invacare.ie
Invacare Ireland Ltd, Unit 5 Seatown Business Campus, Seatown Road,
Swords, Co. Dublin
Phone us today on (01) 810 7084
Also available, the leo & Lynx Scooters which are smaller and more compact, but still offer the same level
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25/6/09
16:20
Page 23
travel
Holidaying at home
Whether you are looking for a hotel, B&B or
self-catering cottage, Colette Molloy provides
ideas for an accessible get-away
AULBER HOUSE
Deerpark
Golden Road
Cashel
Co Tipperary
T: 062 637 13
www.aulberhouse.com
Aulber House, a purpose-built
guesthouse, located on the
outskirts of the historical town of
Cashel, with views of the Rock
of Cashel and Hore Abbey, is an
ideal base for touring the south
of the country.
The house has ramped
access with private car parking
close by and there is adequate
circulation space throughout the
guest reception rooms. At
ground level there is one
wheelchair accessible bedroom
en suite with a roll-in shower,
grab rails and shower chair.
There are a further 11 guest
bedrooms, and all bedrooms are
fitted to a very high standard
including digital television,
internet access and safes.
The beautiful gardens are
accessible and guests are
welcome to relax and enjoy the
wonderful views.
JURY’S INN GALWAY
Quay Street
Galway
T: 091 566 444
www.jurysinns.com
Jury’s Inn, overlooking Galway
Bay, is perfectly located in the
heart of Galway City with a host
of bars and restaurants on its
doorstep.
The entrance to the hotel is
ramped and wheelchair car
parking facilities are in an adjoining multi-storey car park (reduced daily rate for hotel guests).
There are two spacious wheelchair accessible bedrooms at
ground level. The en suites
include a roll-in shower, grab
rails and a fixed shower seat.
The hotel grounds are accessible
and there is a garden bar for
guests’ enjoyment. There is a
wheelchair accessible taxi service on request.
When holidaying, it can be handy
to carry the ‘universal key’ which
provides access to many accessible
toilets. The key is available for €25.00,
including p&p, from J Williams & Sons,
Dublin 2. Tel: 01 475 6307
Email: www.jwilliamsltd.ie
BEECH LODGE
Ballindrum
Athy
Co Kildare
T: 059 862 6294
www.ballindrumfarm.
com
Beech Lodge, a four-star
well-appointed and spacious
self-catering stone cottage, is
located in a rural area of
south Kildare, one hour from
Dublin.
The cottage, set within the
grounds of Ballindrum Farm,
has two bedrooms, a double
en suite and a twin with a
wheelchair accessible
bathroom including roll-in
shower, grab rails, fixed seat
and shower chair.
The living accommodation
is well equipped with all
modern conveniences and
there is ample parking
adjacent to the cottage.
Between April and
September guests can
arrange to have breakfast at
the award-winning farmhouse
by prior arrangement with the
proprietors.
Need to hire a hoist? In the east, contact JS Dobbs, Baldoyle, Dublin 13. Tel: 01 839 1071 Email: www.jsdobbs.ie In
the north/north-west, try Evolution Healthcare, Co Tyrone. Tel: 028 8772 7855 Email: www.evolutionhealthcare.co.uk
Somewhere to recommend? Contact [email protected] or 01 818 6485
spokeout
23
25/6/09
17:41
Page 24
Gary at the
Rialto Bridge
City of
bridges
Venice is built on a network of islands, with higgledy-piggledy
streets and over 400 stepped pedestrian bridges. This makes it an
intimidating destination for wheelchair users, but don’t be put off,
says Gary Allen, it is still possible to enjoy this unique and
atmospheric city
o be honest, Venice wasn’t somewhere I’d given
much thought to. I knew it was in Italy, that it was
built around a series of canals and that they used
boats to get around it. Beyond that, I was pretty
ignorant. I suppose, on some level, I knew it would be
quite tricky to negotiate in a wheelchair, so I put it out of
my head as a holiday destination. That’s was until my wife
came back from a weekend there at the beginning of last
T
24
year. She fell completely in love with the place and insisted
that we had to go.
So, earlier this year, we boarded an Aer Lingus flight to
Marco Polo Airport, Venice. On arriving, we made our way
down to the waterbus terminal which is about 0.5km from
the Airport terminal. Our flight had been delayed and, by
the time we got to our hotel, it was past midnight. We had
a little hiccup on the way when the airport waterbus termi-
25/6/09
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travel
nated one stop before we expected it to, meaning we had
to ask some helpful Italian gentlemen to lift me over a
small bridge so that we could catch the last vaporetto to
our hotel.
Undoubtedly the most famous Venetian landmark is St
Mark’s Square, or Piazza San Marco to give it its Italian title.
We stayed just off this square in a hotel called ‘The Monaco
and Grand’. I couldn’t fault the hotel; both the bedroom
and bathroom were extremely spacious. It’s so important to
spend time ‘deal hunting’ on the internet before you travel
because you really can get some fabulous bargains.
Our first port of call the morning after arriving was the
tourist office. We visited the one just off St Mark’s Square
but there are also branches at the airport and the railway
station. At any of these, you can pick up a key which operates the platform lifts that go up and down the sides of
some bridges. These accessible bridges are scattered
around the city. With the key, you also get a pack of seven
leaflets detailing accessible walks throughout the city and,
while we thought the key would be the crucial piece of kit
to have, the leaflets proved even more valuable.
Just outside our hotel was the San Marco vaporetto
stop. The vaporetti waterbuses are the favoured method
of transport throughout the city, paddling up and down the
Grand Canal from very early morning to about midnight.
They are generally easy to negotiate in a wheelchair, but
sometimes when the tide is low there can be a small slope
down to board. Each journey costs €1.10, and an assistant travels free.
As it was a weekend, one of our first trips was to the Rialto Market. This market runs every day but on Saturdays
it comes alive with stalls selling every conceivable edible
item. It seemed endless and because it was the week after
Venice’s annual carnival, there weren’t that many tourists
around. We spent a lovely few hours wandering around
and had lunch in one of the back street restaurants. In
fact, we found that the more off the beaten track you go,
the more chance you have of finding nice food at a reasonable price.
I was quite nervous on arriving in Venice but the ease of
the trip to the market put my mind at rest and I think it was
then that I began to fall in love with Venice. It’s impossible
to overstate how impressive St Mark’s Square is. It is the
site of St Mark’s Basilica and The Doge’s Palace. The
Doges were rulers of Venice until the end of 18th century.
We visited the palace on our second day and were looked
after very well by the staff, who were able to bring us by lift
to most areas of the building. If you’re a history buff, the
palace is unmissible, and even if you aren’t, I’d recommend a visit.
Bear in mind that one of the joys of Venice is simply
wandering around its maze of streets. It has an atmosphere unlike anywhere I’ve ever been. It really is one of the
wonders of the world and, while I may not have been able
to access every bit of it, I can’t recommend a trip to Venice
highly enough.
The Grand Canal
Gary in St Mark’s Square
USEFUL INFORMATION
ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
www.europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/accessible_venice.htm
www.turismovenezia.it/eng/
ACCOMMODATION AND RESTAURANTS
www.hotelmonaco.it
www.venicehotel.com
www.italyheaven.co.uk/veneto/venice/restaurants.html
GENERAL INFORMATION
www.tours-italy.com/venice/history_of_venice.htm
25
19919 - Dublin Bus:Full page A4
24/06/2009
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Travel Assistance Scheme
Opening doors for everyone
Our Travel Assistance Scheme is available to anyone who
would like to use Dublin’s public transport system but needs a
little help getting started. It offers practical advice on planning
your journey and can provide a trained member of staff to
DFFRPSDQ\\RXWKHĺUVWIHZWLPHV\RXWUDYHO
7RĺQGRXWPRUHSOHDVHFDOORXU$FFHVVLELOLW\2IĺFHURQ
(01) 7033204 or e-mail [email protected]
25/6/09
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travel
A warm welcome at Cuisle
Maureen Breslin is a regular visitor to Cuisle Holiday Centre. She says
that with its scenic setting, outstanding accessibility and welcoming
staff, it is one of the few resorts to live up to her high standards!
hen Cuisle Holiday Centre first opened its
enjoy the social aspect of the holidays, and love meeting old
doors in the 1990s, having previously experiand new friends, from all backgrounds. I am also a keen
enced Irish holidays, Maureen Breslin – founder smoker, and after initial concern about smoking at Cuisle
of IWA Meath branch – was skeptical about its
after ‘the ban’, I was delighted when they erected a covered
offerings. However, a visit with a group of friends quickly
smoking space, outside of course.”
dispelled any apprehensions she had, and in the years that
When at Cuisle, Maureen could spend hours just wanderfollowed she has stayed in Cuisle as much as three times a ing through the centre’s grounds, and has reveled in the cenyear. “The moment I went through the doors, I realised that
tre’s consistently high calibre entertainment evenings, her
there was something special about the place. The welfavourites being concerts, pub quizzes and movie nights. She
come and service we received from the staff, I can honestly says the centre also offers day trips to places such as Knock,
say that I have never seen the like of before or since.”
football matches, bowling, cinema and other regional events
Maureen is quite the taskmaster, and
of interest, and it even has a hairdresslittle gets by her. She says: “As a cam“At Cuisle, no stone is ing service on site.
paigner, I have always been outspoken
Maureen is looking forward to experileft unturned in the
on accessibility issues. I cannot accept
encing the new hydrotherapy suite.” I
effort to anticipate
being put to one side and being told
can’t wait until my next trip to try out
guests’ needs and
‘we are doing the best we can for you’.
the Jacuzzi and sauna”.
But at Cuisle the attitude is completely
Finally, Maureen says she believes the
make them
different. It is treated like a business and
secret of Cuisle’s success is that guests
comfortable”
people who take breaks there are
with disabilities never have to worry that
treated as customers or guests: a simsomething might not be in place. “Unple concept that others claiming to be
like places that are listed as accessible,
aware and active on accessibility have
but you always have to ask for help,
failed to appreciate. At Cuisle, no stone
Cuisle and their staff are up to speed
is left unturned in the effort to anticipate
and have gone beyond the call of duty
guests’ needs and make them comfortin terms of ensuring that all their guests
able.”
will need for nothing.” Now there’s a
Guests enjoying the
Maureen says her favourite pastime is
novel thought for those looking to make
grounds at Cuisle
talking. “I have to admit I thoroughly
services and buildings more accessible.
W
WIN A 4-NIGHT STAY FOR YOU & A FRIEND IN
CUISLE HOLIDAY CENTRE
You and a friend can enjoy a 4-night break in Cuisle
Holiday Centre, Donamon, Co Roscommon consisting
of four nights accommodation, delicious full breakfast
each morning and lunch and dinner on four evenings.
Personal assistance can also be included if required.
To enter, simply answer the question and post the entry
form to Cuisle Holiday Centre, Donamon, Co Roscommon.
Closing Date Friday 14th August 2009. Winner will be notified
by post and announced in the autumn issue of Spokeout.
ENTRY FORM
Full name:
Address:
Mobile number:
Email:
What new suite is Maureen looking forward to trying out
when she visits Cuisle later this summer?
I do not wish to be contacted about Cuisle Holiday Centre
spokeout
27
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THE
POLLEN
SEASON
The summer season can
trigger pollen-related allergies,
but there are practical steps
you can take to identify
problem plants and reduce
irritation, says Helen Rock
hile most of us welcome the onset of spring
and the lush growth of summer with a song
in our hearts, this most joyful of times in the
garden can become a total misery for the increasing number of people who react badly to one or more
plant pollens.
Not all sufferers are affected by the same plants, but all
have reason to dread some part of the pollen season. It is
a long season, opening in March when the first soft catkins
appear on the hazel trees, and not closing until the silverygreen Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), passes its pollen peak
in and around the middle of August.
In between those dates lies a plethora of other plants
that non-sufferers can take in their stride, but for our growing band of allergy sufferers these plants can be a series of
living nightmares resulting in asthma, dermatitis, rhinitis,
conjunctivitis and something called Oral Allergy Syndrome
(which is when your tongue swells up horribly).
These problems are apparently exacerbated by the way
many of us live now, our natural immunity systems diminished by dwelling and working in over-insulated and centrally heated buildings, in constant and close contact with
chemicals and synthetic materials.
W
28
So if you find that you suffer at certain times, then it’s
worth being checked out by your doctor, who can do tests
to discover which plants are causing you problems. Armed
with this knowledge, you can then set about either eliminating them from your planting palette or, better still, learning to
manage your allergies so that you can still enjoy the pleasures of an interesting garden – and the wider landscape –
without having to limit your plant range too drastically.
For example, the various times of the year when a person
has allergic symptoms are a good clue to what plants are
causing them. Tree pollens are at their highest levels from
March to May, for example. Grass pollens start on the air in
May, are highest in June and July, then start decreasing in
August. As for weed pollens, they peak in July and August.
Avoiding all of these pollens completely is impossible,
even if you concreted over every piece of bare earth in
sight, which would be depressing to boot. There are specific medications available, and some people have claimed
great success with Immunotherapy, a method which aims
to make the patient tolerant of specific allergens.
To help make the garden as friendly a place as possible
for the allergy sufferers amongst us, there are certain things
we can do, such as using all or some of the low-allergen
plants I’ve listed below. Lawn grass is one of the worst culprits, so if you have a green sward don’t ever allow it to
flower. And when the same green sward needs mowing, always get a non-sufferer to do the job. And, if the experts
are to be believed, lying on grass, especially in parks and
other wide open spaces, is a definite no-no.
Each day of the season, the pollen count has two peak
periods, 7-11am and 4-8pm, so people prone to allergies
should batten down the hatches during those times, if at all
possible. That means your hands-on gardening time will be
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living
restricted to the dawn (actually a very pleasant time in the
summer garden), to the dusk and also in the heat of the
noonday sun, when not even the pollens venture out.
If eyes are affected, wear shades, even when the sun’s not
shining and even at the risk of looking pretentious. After gardening or just being out in the air, you can avoid further exposure to the irritants by changing from your outdoor clothes
and washing your hair, which will be harbouring some.
Animals too carry pollen on their coats, so pets should
be brushed daily at peak periods, but absolutely not by the
sufferer. And last but not least, if your suffering has become
intolerable, you will have to dry your washing indoors,
rather than on a clothesline or on the scented rosemary
bush out in the fresh air.
Below are two lists. The first gives the peak pollen periods for certain plants, most of them native (there will still be
some pollen on the air a little before and after these dates).
The second list is a selection of good, low allergen plants
that sufferers should know about, so that they can enjoy
their gardens in any season.
GARDEN WORK
A reminder of the pleasurable tasks required to keep
your garden in order over the summer months.
JULY: Work in the garden in July consists largely of
PEAK POLLEN PERIODS
Hazel: First week in March
Yew: First two weeks in March
Elm: First three weeks in March
Alder and Willow: Second and third week in March
Ash and Birch: Second and third week in April
Poplar: Last week in March
Oak: Last week in April and first week in May
Pine: First and second week in May
Flowering Lawn Grass: Last week in May until first week in July
Oil Seed Rape: First two weeks in May
Plane Trees: Last week in April and first week in May
Lime Trees: Last half of June and first days of July
Dock: Mid-June into July
Nettle: Last half of June and most of July
Plantain: First two weeks in June
Mugwort: Second half of July and first half of August
LOW ALLERGEN PLANTS
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis), Broom (Genista lydia),
Bugle or Viper’s Bugloss (Ajuga reptans), Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana), Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata), Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), Coral Bells (Heuchera
sanguinea), Cotoneaster, Cranesbills or Hardy Geranium,
Day Lily (Hemerocallis), Varieties of Dead Nettle (Lamium),
Fibrous-rooted Begonia, Geum (G. chiloense), Hebe, Lady’s
Mantle (Alchemilla mollis), Lobelia (L. erinusobelia erinus),
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena), Masterwort (Astrantia
major), Penstemon hybrids, Periwinkle (Vinca major), Hosta,
Poppies, Ornamental Cherry (Prunus x cistena), Sage
(Salvia officinalis), Scabious, Sea Holly (Eryngium x tripartitum), Siberian Iris (Iris siberica), Snapdragon (Antirrhinum
majus), Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo), Meadow Rue (Thalictrum aquilegifolium), Willow-Leaved Pear (Pyrus salicifolia)
gentle tasks such as watering plants in containers,
deadheading roses and cutting them for the house,
harvesting salads, herbs, beans and peas, sowing another row of scallions and cut and come again leaves,
and going about the place with a secateurs or loppers, judicious snipping, cutting and pruning anything
that has grown too big or is obscuring a potentially
good view.
AUGUST: Growth slows down to a more companionable pace this month and gardening work is less
demanding. It is a good time for contemplation, which
encourages the flow of new ideas. If you feel in need
of inspiration for your garden – and which of us does
not from time to time – then take the time to visit
other gardens open to the public, and bring a notebook, pencil (they write in the rain where ink doesn’t)
and, if possible, a camera. August is also a good time
to propagate many herbs from cuttings, while they are
hopping with hormones. Try lavender, rosemary, sage,
bay, salvia, hyssop and rue.
SEPTEMBER: This month brings sweet relief from
irritating pollens while work speeds up a little in the
garden. Deadheading continues apace to keep things
flowering, fruit has to be picked as gales are common
now, new growth on climbers should be tied-in to its
supports. But perhaps most urgent of all now is getting your spring bulbs organised for planting as soon
as possible. Daffodils or narcissi are first to go in, along
with Hyacinths for indoor forcing. And the last trim of
the year should be given to evergreen hedges of yew,
box, beech, hornbean, privet and laurel.
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DISABILITY ENTITLEMENTS
AND YOU
In the first of a series of articles on entitlements for people
with disabilities, David Egan takes an indepth look at Disability
Allowance including who is entitled to the payment, means
testing and how to apply
our first step before applying for any benefit is to
find out which payment you may be entitled to.
The advice from the Citizens Information Board is,
if in doubt, apply. “If you think you may be entitled
to any benefit, you should apply unless you are absolutely
sure that you do not qualify.”
Disabiliy Allowance (DA) is a long-term means-tested
payment made to people with disabilities including people
in residential care. To qualify you must live peramanently in
Ireland, be between the ages of 16 and 66 and have a
specific disability (physical, intellectual or mental health)
which results in your being ‘substantially restricted’ in doing
work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of your
age, experience and qualifications.
You may be required to attend a medical assessment to
confirm your disability if this cannot be decided from your
application form alone. The decision to approve your application is made by the Deciding Officer based on the report
of the Medical Assessor who is a registered doctor.
Do not be discouraged from applying by bureaucratic
form-filling. The system is generally designed to be userfriendly and there are help-lines available. People who feel
they may not be able to adequately represent themselves
are entitled to be assisted or accompanied by a disability
advocate.
DA is a means-tested payment. A test of means is a way
of checking if you have enough money to support yourself
and what amount of payment, if any, you may qualify for.
Means tests are complex. It is difficult for an individual to
assess their own means accurately. This is why it is important to apply – you may qualify. Even if you do not qualify
for the full personal rate of DA you may get a reduced rate
and be entitled to certain secondary benefits.
The full personal rate of Disability Allowance is currently
paid at €204.30 per week for qualifying individuals. If you
are married or living with a partner and you both qualify for
DA, you are each entitled to a weekly personal rate of DA.
If your spouse or partner is in receipt of another social welfare payment, you may still get the full personal rate of DA if
they have no other means. You can receive your payment
Y
30
by direct credit transfer into a current account or through
your local post office.
If you are awarded Disability Allowance, you get a Free
Travel Pass automatically. This allows you to travel free on
public transport and your spouse or partner to travel free in
your company. If you are unable to travel alone, you may
be entitled to a Companion Free Travel Pass.
DA may also entitle you to receive the Household Benefits Package which is made up from three allowances:
electricity or gas allowance, telephone allowance and free
television licence. These allowances provide contributions
towards your electricity or gas and are applied directly to
your bills, where applicable.
You are entitled to earn up to €120 per week from what
is termed “rehabilitative or therapeutic” work without affecting your Disability Allowance. This may include participation
on a FÁS training Course or Community Employment
Scheme.
Equally, if you are thinking of returning to second or third
level education and are receiving a reduced rate of DA, you
can apply for a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). Provided you are over 18 years of age, the BTEA entitles you
to the full personal rate of DA and an annual Cost of Education Allowance of €500.
CITIZEN INFORMATION CENTRES
Citizen Information Services are provided at 268 locations throughout the country providing free, confidential and impartial information on all aspects of rights
and entitlements. When necessary, staff can help you
access your entitlements and with appeals.
The Citizen Information Phone Service operates
Monday to Friday 9am-9pm LoCall 1890 777 121
The Citizen Information website is
www.citizensinformationboard.ie
25/6/09
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living
WHERE CAN I GET
FURTHER INFORMATION?
DISABILITY ALLOWANCE
The first step in applying for DA is to complete and
return Application Form DA 1 which is available from
your local Social Welfare Services Office or
LoCall Leaflet Request Line 1890 20 23 25.
Alternately you can download an application form
from www.welfare.ie Documents SW 29 gives a full
explanation of Disability Allowance.
FREE TRAVEL PASS AND COMPANION PASS
Contact Free Travel Section, Department of Social
and Family Affairs, College Rd, Sligo
LoCall 1890 500 000 or see www.welfare.ie
HOUSEHOLD BENEFITS PACKAGE
Contact Household Benefits Section, Department of
Social and Family Affairs, College Rd., Sligo
LoCall 1890 500 000 or see www.welfare.ie
BACK TO WORK ALLOWANCE
To apply for BTWA, phone LoCall 1890 202 325 and
request form BTW1 and information leaflet SW 93 or
contact Department of Social and Family Affairs, Carrick-on-Shannon 071 967 2698
LoCall 1890 66 22 44 or see www.welfare.ie
BACK TO EDUCATION ALLOWANCE
To apply for BTEA, phone LoCall 1890 202 325
and request form BTE1 or contact the Department of
Social and Family Affairs,
Carrick-on-Shannon 071 967 2698
REHABILITATIVE WORK
Contact the Department of Social and Family Affairs
APPEALS OFFICE
If you think you have been wrongly refused Disability
Allowance or you disagree with the decision of the
Deciding Officer you can appeal this decision, within
21 days, to the Appeals Office. The Social Welfare
Appeals Office is an independent agency and not
part of the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
You can contact the Appeals Office at LoCall 1890
747 434 or see www.socialwelfareappeals.ie
GOING IT ALONE
Liam Conlon, who has a severe form of ataxic cerebral palsy, qualified for Disability Allowance over
twenty years ago when the payment was referred to
as the Disabled Persons’ Maintenance Allowance.
Liam is currently living in a residential setting at The
Phoenix Lodge in Limerick City but intends moving
into private accommodation in the coming months.
Liam’s main source of income is the full rate of Disability Allowance which he describes as “a small
amount of money on which to survive.”
However, he remains determined to return to community living and believes by managing his resources
efficiently he will be in a position to support himself.
“Each person has their own unique set of requirements which must be met by combining a number of
resources,” says Liam.
In Liam’s case, in addition to Disability Allowance,
he also qualifies for Mobility Allowance. When he
moves into his own accommodation, he will qualify
for the Living Alone Allowance and the Household
Benefits Package. People living on their own who
qualify for Disability Alowance are also entitled to the
Living Alone Allowance. By combining these allowances with personal assistant hours provided by
the IWA Assisted Living Service, he is confident he
can live independently.
This feature is supported by:
spokeout
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24/06/2009
14:48
Page 1
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25/6/09
16:35
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living
CLEVER CLOTHING AIDS
Sometimes you need a helping hand. Bending over to put your
socks on is easier said than done, and struggling to reach that
jumper on a high shelf is frustrating. Kiara Lynch picks out some
helpful clothing aids
SHOEHORN AND DRESSING AID
This long-handled device combines a dressing stick and shoehorn. The stick has an s-shaped hook at one end, and a longhandled shoehorn at the other. The hook end can be used to
help put on articles of clothing or to reach clothes hangers on
high closet rails. The plastic handle is covered in foam for
a comfortable built-up grip. Available at approx €29.84
from a range of suppliers, including: Murray’s Medical Equipment, Dublin (01 855 5733) and
Orthocare Ltd, Wicklow (01 276
2770).
TALKING COLOR DETECTOR
This lightweight talking colour detector can check
anything from the colour of clothes to the ripeness
of fruit! The user holds the detector against the
surface and an automated voice tells you the
exact colour of the surface. The device is supplied
with a clip-on cover to protect the sensors while
being carried in a pocket. Available at €50 from
the National Council for the Blind, Dublin.
Tel: 1850 334353.
HANDI-REACHER
Using this reacher enables the user to reach and pick
up items without having to bend or stretch. The
reacher has a metal shaft, trigger handle, magnet,
dressing hook and clasping jaws. To close the jaws
and lift an object, the user squeezes the handle, and
the item is held securely in place while being lifted.
The head of the reacher has a magnet for picking up
small metal items and a dressing hook to aid
dressing. Available at €19.70 from
Murray’s Medical Equipment,
Dublin. Tel: 01 855
5733
KINGS BUTTON HOOK
This dressing aid is like another strong steady hand! It allows the user to fasten their buttons using one hand. It
has a looped wire, which is mounted on a large contoured handle. The looped wire hook is fed through the
buttonhole, hooked over the button and pulled back
through the hole to fasten the button. Available at
€11.96 from Murray’s Medical Equipment, Dublin. Tel: 01
855 5733.
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living
JOY G8 SLIPPERS
Joy G8 slippers, from the Cosyfeet range, are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Seamless around the toe, the slippers are
easy fitting, as well as having velcro straps for front fastening.
They are made of breathable microfibre that can be
wiped clean with a damp cloth. Available on
order at approx €40 from the same range
of suppliers who supply Extra
Roomy Softhold® Socks.
DECORATIVE SPOKE GUARDS
I know, these have absolutely no function as
clothing aids, but I just couldn’t resist including
these cute spoke guards, which would
brighten up the dullest wheelchair. The guards
are suitable for use on 22” or 24” rear wheels,
and are designed to provide a protective cover
to the spokes of the wheels. They are from
the Action 3 Junior and Kuschall range of
wheelchair accessories. However, they are all
fitted using cable ties so they can go on any
chair with the same wheel size. Available at
prices ranging at approx €110 from Invacare
Ireland Limited, Dublin. For an extra charge,
designs can be customised to include your
county colours, etc. Contact Ray Ryan on
01 8107 084 or [email protected]
FLEXIBLE SOCK AND STOCKING AID
For people who have difficulty bending at the
waist when putting on their socks, this lightweight sock applicator may be helpful. The
inside of the sock trough is lined in nylon,
which allows the foot to slide easily through
the trough. The terry cloth outer covering
holds the sock in place until it is pulled up
onto the foot. The slits in the flexible sock
trough allow for contour bending around the
user’s heel. Available at approx €23 from a
range of suppliers, including: Ability Matters,
Waterford (051 3370 16); H & H Products,
Wexford (053 942 0914); Healthcare 21,
Dublin (01 885 5551); Murray’s Medical
Equipment, Dublin (01 855 5733); OPM Ltd,
Dublin (01 463 0090); Orthocare Ltd, Wicklow (01 276 2770); and Orthorest BackCare
Ltd, Dublin (01 401 1555).
EXTRA ROOMY SOFTHOLD® SOCKS
These socks from the Cosyfeet range are designed for comfort for people with limited
mobility. They do not restrict circulation, and offer a smooth seam at the toe and defined
heels for comfort. Available at approx €14 from a range of suppliers, including: H & H
Products, Wexford (053 942 0914); Murray’s Medical Equipment, Dublin (01 855 5733);
Aalba Foot Clinic, Roscommon (071 962 3033); Brendan Flanagan Pharmacy, Dublin (01
882 4360);Gannon’s Pharmacy, Laois (057 862 1310); Homecare Medical Supplies Ltd,
Mayo/Galway (094 963 3800 / 091 567812); JP Moran Drapers, Cork (063 81327); Medical Express Ltd, Limerick/Kerry (061 416671 / 064 33006);Monica MacDonald, Wicklow
(0404 67274); Nursing Needs Ltd, Waterford (051 874 622); Protecwear, Kildare (086
068 3626); The Foot Clinic, Kilkenny/Monaghan (056 779 5716 / 047 81749); The Mall
Pharmacy, Sligo (071 914 4262); and Well Shod, Kildare (045 532 792 / 045 532 694).
The Cosyfeet range can also be purchased online from UK website www.cosyfeet.com
These are just ideas! Spokeout does not recommend any specific products or suppliers. We advise readers
to shop around and, if appropriate, check with an OT to ensure a product is suitable for an individual’s needs.
For more information on aids and appliances of any kind, visit www.assistireland.ie
34
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24/06/2009
12:33
Page 1
Glasson, Athlone, Westmeath. Phone: 087 8400403, 086 247 8629, 0906 439786
25/6/09
16:37
Page 36
Driving Instructor Barry Reid
in his adapted IWA vehicle
LEARNING TO DRIVE
With over 10 years experience teaching people with disabilities
to drive, much respected IWA instructor Barry Reid gives Robbie
Cousins some tips on how candidates should approach the
learning process and driving test
arry Reid has helped many overcome physical
and psychological challenges to get their full
driving licence. He says: “Learning to drive and
passing the driving test are both very much about
using common sense. It is amazing how what might be
perceived as insurmountable obstacles can be overcome
when logic and common sense are applied to the problem.”
Barry is part of an elite team of specialist instructors in
Ireland who work with IWA and have achieved Queen Elizabeth Foundation (QEF) accreditation level, as well as having Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) status, an Irish State
qualification. The UK-based QEF is a world authority dedicated to increasing the independence and life skills of
people with disabilities. Barry says: “I took their instruction
course in the UK a few years back, and last year QEF
instructors came to Ireland to run a course for other IWA
instructors. As instructors, we are all dedicated to the work
we do, and realise that for people with a disability, driving
can be the difference between dependence and independence. And the good news is that most people with disabilities can learn to drive. All it takes is patience on behalf of
the student and understanding on behalf of the instructor
to move lessons at a pace suited to the student.”
Barry explains that a client can need as little as five hours
or over 50 hours of lessons before they are ready for the
test. “Every case is unique, and every learning experience
is also unique. In some cases a person who may have
driven previously to sustaining an injury that left them with
a disability may just need a few hours to become familiar
with the controls. In another instance a person’s lack of
experience or the severity of their disability could mean it
B
36
will take more hours to master control of the car and learn
to drive. The important thing is that people understand
that, no matter how long it takes, there are very few people
who, given time, cannot learn to drive.”
He adds: “I can never tell someone how long it will take
to learn, but I can tell them that taking longer does not
necessarily mean they are a worse driver, it just means that
they may face more challenges than others.” Barry points
out that in some instances, for example where there is a
learning disability, “continued repetitive actions will ultimately become instinctive, so while the process might be
frustrating for the client, it can ultimately deliver results.”
CAN ANYONE LEARN TO DRIVE?
From his experience, Barry believes that if a person gets
through their initial assessment before lessons, it is very
rare for them not to be able to learn to drive. “It is very rare
to find a candidate who we believe we cannot teach. However, if we do, we will identify the problem, suggest solutions, and ask them to return for another assessment at a
later date if their situation improves.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Before being allowed to take driving lessons, an applicant
is assessed on two criteria to ensure their potential ability
to drive. First, a learner’s permit (formerly provisional licence) is a standard requirement for anyone wanting to
take driving lessons. To obtain this, the applicant undergoes an eyesight test as well as taking a theory test. The
theory test comprises 40 questions of which 35 must be
answered correctly.
25/6/09
16:37
Page 37
motoring
For applicants with a disability, the next stage is an assessment. There are two types of assessment, depending
on the nature of the disability. The first type is an ‘in-car’
assessment, which is with a driving instructor only. This is
for applicants who have a spinal injury or are amputees.
The other type of assessment is with an Occupational
Therapist (OT) and driving instructor and this is for applicants who have suffered a head injury such as stroke or
brain trauma. This assessment enables the OT to make
recommendations that will assist the applicant in learning
to drive. The second part of this assessment involves the
driving instructor and OT taking the applicant for a drive to
assess their coordination skills. If the applicant is successful, lessons can begin. “By the end of the assessment, we
should be able to identify the key challenges facing the
client and from there we can devise a programme of lessons,” says Barry.
DRIVING LESSONS
Barry says the first two things a driver must learn are road
position and being able to maintain road speed. “If a client
can stay between the lines and hold a good constant speed
from an early stage, then many of the skills of driving will follow quickly. Keeping the car straight and on the road can
be most difficult. Furthermore, people using hand controls
are generally only using one hand to steer the car, and this
requires a huge amount of effort – power steering or not.”
He continues: “It is generally the left hand that is used for
steering with a steering ball. If you work a steering ball and
do nothing but steer with that ball for 30 minutes, your left
arm will be falling off with pain within that half hour. When a
person uses two hands on the wheel both hands are balancing muscle usage.”
One tip Barry gives all his students is this. “In the week
prior to their first lesson, I ask clients to hold a bag of sugar
in an outstretched hand for as long as they can each
evening. Say, as they are watching TV for instance. It can
be incredibly painful as they are working muscles that they
may not have worked before. But if they apply themselves
to this, by the time they take their first lesson the increase
in strength in their arm will be of huge benefit to them.”
Once lessons start, Barry advises: “When a difficult challenge arises, don’t be disheartened, work with the instructor to overcome it. There are few obstacles we have not
tackled before. We build confidence through encouragement, all we ask is that students trust our instincts and
allow us to help them, no matter how long it takes.”
TAKING THE TEST
The instructor will advise the client when they believe they
have reached a level of competence to take the test. The
instructor can also act on behalf of the candidiate to organise the test, advising the tester on the types of adaptations
the client uses. Barry is delighted to point out that waiting
times have been cut considerably, and clients could take
the test within three to five weeks in certain parts of the
country. A test supervisor, who is specifically skilled to test
drivers with disabilities, conducts the test.
Barry explains: “On the day of the test, every effort is
made to ensure that the client is comfortable. If, for instance, it is unduly inconvenient for the client to go into the
test centre, the tester will ask the initial test questions in car.
This test generally comprises five questions, usually, but not
always, on road signs, markings, stop distances, and tyre
thread depth. Sometimes a candidate can be asked to
open the bonnet, but again this will not happen if the candidate has a disability that inhibits their ability to do this.”
ON THE ROAD
On the road, the test is identical to standard driving tests,
with a few obvious considerations (eg an arm amputee will
not be asked to perform hand signals).
The driving test takes about 40 minutes, and upon completion the tester will remain in the car to explain the result.
Barry says: “We are confident that anyone we put forward
for testing is ready to be tested. Likewise, candidates
should understand that while testers can make allowances
for disabilities, the test is exactly the same as a standard
test and the candidate will be judged on their driving skills.
The trick is to be confident and enjoy showing what you
have learnt in the previous months. Passing the driving test
is an important moment in most people’s lives and my colleagues and I are proud to be able to give so many people
the opportunity to achieve that.”
BARRY’S TOP FIVE DRIVING TIPS
1. Take driving lessons from an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), which is a State required qualification.
2. Trust the instincts of the instructor. They are dedicated professionals and have helped people overcome numerous driving obstacles. So always be
open and clear on any difficulties you have.
3. Be confident in your own ability, and don’t get frustrated if difficult challenges arise. It may take some
students longer to pick up skills, but they will come.
4. On test day, allow yourself plenty of time to reach
the test centre, and always allow for traffic delays.
5. Be confident. The big trick to passing the test is
confidence. Enjoy showing the tester what you have
learnt in your driving lessons.
For more information on learning to drive, contact
IWA’s National Mobility Centre in Clane, Co Kildare,
on tel: 045 893094 or email: [email protected]
spokeout
37
24/06/2009
TML
14:33
Page 1
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25/6/09
16:39
Page 39
sport
GETTING
PHYSICAL
Finola Kelly tells us why she is proud
to consider herself a born-again
exercise fanatic
Finola arrives at the IWA gym in
Clontarf for her daily work out
spent most of 2007 in hospital where I discovered
Immediately after my operation, I was in a bad way. I was
among other things exercise. This was a totally new extotally immobile and needed assistance with everything inperience for me as, apart from walking and cycling which cluding eating. Once I got my head around what was hapI did in abundance when I was young to save on bus
pening to me and realised I was unable to do the most basic
fares, I hadn’t really been interested in physical activity of any personal tasks, I lay in a state of panic. I visualised a life of inkind. I was particularly adverse to the competition that sport
activity and helplessness, thoughts of which terrified me.
involved, with its emphasis on winning. Of course, nowadays Thankfully, salvation appeared two days after my operation,
we are taught that it is not winning that counts but participaalthough I did not realise at the time that it was salvation…
tion. But I could not see that either; all that effort for effort’s
There appeared at my bedside two ‘physios’. When they
sake. I was fundamentally a couch potato and as I grew
introduced themselves and their exercise plans for me, I
older, the bike was left behind to be replaced by the bus,
looked at them with disbelief. I protested, weakly, as it hapand eventually a car. When I
pened, such was my physical
was diagnosed with MS in my
condition at the time. Undelate thirties, it seemed to pro“My basic chronic disease is still terred, they kept up a lively
vide an excuse for my inactive
chatter, gently prodding my
there, but my strength and
lifestyle. Then in 2007, while I
immobile limbs and telling me
was in the process of recoverthey would bring me to the
flexibility as a result of exercise
ing from an operation to rethe next day. Somehow I
has made me into a new person gym
move a brain tumour, I
protested, more strongly now.
with stamina and strength“
experienced something of a
“Gym?” I whispered, as loudly
revelation with regard to my atas I was able. “But I won’t be
titude to exercise. I became
able to do anything in the
like a born-again Christian, except my religion was exercise.
gym,” I croaked. “You’ll be surprised. See you at 10
Devoted to it, inspired by it, and committed to taking every
o’clock.” And they disappeared.
opportunity I got to pass on the good news that exercise is
That was that. The next morning, still in my bed, I was
what the body requires to keep it strong, supple and
wheeled down to the gym and was told to do various movestraight.
ments while still in the bed. All in all it took about six minutes
I
spokeout
39
25/6/09
16:39
Page 40
sport
then I was wheeled back to the ward. My conversion to exercise was not instantaneous but my mind was beginning
to open up, perhaps simply because I was so desperate to
get mobile, who knows. There was a lot at stake: either I
did exercise to get me mobile or... I refused to think of the
alternative.
Over eighteen months later, I am a regular gym user; in
fact I would go so far as to say I am an enthusiastic, dedicated gym user and ‘exercise freak’. My conversion was
slow but life-changing, and now if I don’t get my daily
adrenaline rush, I feel out of sorts, sluggish and drowsy. I
can say quite honestly that today, as a result of regular visits to the gym and fall-back exercises in the home (when I
cannot get to the gym), I am a changed person.
Let’s face it, we all know that the modern life style is not
conducive to fitness. In the past, walking was often the
only way to get to places. My husband recalls his grandmother walking, in a single day, from Drumcondra to
Castleknock and back to see her sister. But that was then.
Finola using the
rowing machine
Photographs of her show a lean, statuesque lady, and she
unsurprisingly lived to a ripe old age. Nowadays, the average human physique has changed quite a bit. Just take a
look at a crowd scene in an old movie and you will marvel
at the change.
One has to be strict with oneself and there is a lot of disciAppearance, however, is secondary when health is a
pline required to get oneself into a correct frame of mind
consideration. Has my health improved since I took up exbefore ever doing exercise. Having got into the right state
ercise? If sense of wellbeing is healthy, I would say that my
of mind (banishing the word “cannot”), then it is time to get
health has improved immeasurably. My basic chronic disphysical.
ease is still there, but my strength and flexibility as a result
So in my quest to become fit, a whole new world has
of exercise has made me into a new person with stamina
opened up for me. I am a regular user of the IWA gym in
and strength.
Clontarf and practise specific exerIn building my exercise routine,
combining Pilates and Alexan“There was a lot at stake: cises
I drew particularly on the two
der technique as well as my own
either I did exercise to get exercises which I do because I simgreat physical practitioners of
modern exercise, Matthias
me mobile or… I refused to ply enjoy doing them. I have
Alexander (Alexander Technique)
reached that stage where I enjoy
think of the alternative”
and Joseph Pilates (Pilates).
exercise and the feeling of wellbeing
Both men suffered from ill health
it induces. I would urge anyone who
during childhood and it was their determination to overhas a chronic illness, ill health or physical impairment, and
come their physical weakness that resulted in their study of who wants to feel alive, to get moving.
the human body. They were the first to recognise and reI know it is hard to get over the negative ‘please don’t
alise that functioning of the human body had become com- bother me’ attitude you develop after experiencing an illpromised, i.e. the body is doing things in our modern
ness or set back. I was lucky in that my physios gave me
society it was not programmed to do. For instance, driving
no other choice but to get moving. Just remember that
a car for hours, sitting down for long periods, using a com- your perseverance will eventually pay off as you begin to
puter – all functions that affect the body so that our posture see the obvious progress you are making.
and movements become distorted and disjointed.
There is something to suit everyone in the world of exerBoth Alexander Technique and Pilates work on the mind
cise and age is no barrier. Choose the exercise that suits
as well as the body and the corner stone of their physical
you, be it gentle exercise like yoga or Pilates or more strenexercise is movement. My physios introduced me to both
uous exercise like aerobics or weights. With gentle applicatechniques while I was in hospital (over ten months in total)
tion, persistence and encouragement (plenty of which is
and, once I got interested, I began researching myself
available from IWA gym instructors Ritchie, Ciaran, Laragh,
through the internet, books and DVDs.
Michael and Thomas), you will amazed how exercise will
Exercising is not easy as both mental and physical effort
give you a new lease of life no matter what age or level of
is required and each is as important as the other. Putting it
fitness. Remember the old maxim: if you don’t use it, you
simply, the mind has to be utilised to get the body working. lose it! Your body will thank you for it.
40
20334-CRC Medical:Full page A4
25/06/2009
16:03
Page 2
CRC Medical
Changing The Provision of Seating & Mobility
Equipment in Ireland
CRC Medical is a client focused company, and our aim in 2009 is
to provide our clients with the highest quality solutions
available to them in the shortest time frame.
CRC Medical is a “not for profit company”.
Our team has a proven track record of quality & reliability and
are always happy to help with any questions or queries you may
have…
www.crcmedical.com
CRC Medical introduces the OSD
Rocket 2 & Rocket Kids Power Chairs to the Irish Market
These are high quality powered wheelchairs with many extra features as standard thus lowering
the cost of powered mobility in Ireland.
Standard Features …
I
I
I
I
I
I
Electric Tilt in Space
Width & Depth Adjustable Seat
Manually Angle & Tension Adjustable Backrest
Rear Wheel Suspension
Legrests Are Swing Away & Removable
LED Rear/Front Lights With Indicators – Built In
Line With Chair
I Swing Away Shark 2 Controller
Kids Rocket Chair
Rocket 2
€3995.00
€3995.00
CRC Medical stock the following wheelchairs, cushions & accessories:
Invacare
Delta Orthropaedic Flotech
Sunrise Medical
OSD
Jay Cushions & Jay Backs
Permobil
PDG
Matrx Seating Systems
For More Information Contact
CRC Medical
Unit 19, Seatown Business Campus,
Seatown Road, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Tel : 00 353 1 8833293 • Fax : 00 353 1 8833294
25/6/09
16:41
Page 42
Charlie instructing Gary
INTO THE BLUE
SCUBA diving is fun, liberating and surprisingly relaxing, says Gary Allen
eing taught how to swim at an early age meant I
Charlie Brehony, who runs the Galway Dive School, is
always had a special affinity with the water. I
committed to making diving in his organisation as inclusive
don’t think it would be incorrect to say that this is as possible, and he recently got Fraser over to Galway to
the case for a lot of physically disabled people as train several members of Galway Dive Club (GDC) to beit’s a medium where your disability can be somewhat lesscome qualified instructors to disabled divers. When I met
ened by the buoyancy.
Charlie and he told me about his plans, I couldn’t pass up
Until a couple of years ago, my water excursions
the opportunity to give it a go.
amounted to frequent visits to the swimming pool and not
Not having heard of SCUBA diving for people with dismuch else. Then I took up sailing and that opened my eyes abilities before, I hadn’t a clue what to expect. As with all
to a whole new realm of water-based activity. That would
first time divers, my ‘try dive’ took place in a swimming
have been enough to
pool, so when the apkeep me entertained.
“…the effort and concentration involved pointed date and time arThat is until I heard
rived I made my way to
made me forget about my breathing to Leisureland in Galway. It
about SCUBA diving
for the disabled.
was only when I arrived
the point where being underwater
SCUBA (Self-Conthat it hit me what I had
seemed completely natural. They guys signed up to do.
tained Underwater
Breathing Apparatus)
I changed into my weteven produced a Frisbee…”
diving for people with
suit and met Charlie and
disabilities was pioneered by a Scot called Fraser Bathsome others from GDC at the pool side. Charlie talked me
gate. Fraser took up SCUBA diving after he was paralysed
through the equipment. The basic equipment for a SCUBA
in a climbing accident when he was 23. He became the
dive is a mask, fins, air tank, buoyancy control device and
world’s first wheelchair user to qualify as a diving instructor. the breathing apparatus itself.
B
42
25/6/09
16:41
Page 43
sport
Charlie, Benny and Tony
from Galway Dive Club
with Gary before the dive
Once I was kitted out, there was a little work to be done
to see if any extra weight needed to be added to the buoyancy control device to ensure I sank under water. This was
my first experience of breathing underwater and it did take
me a few minutes to get used to the concept of breathing
normally under water, but wasn’t long before I was actually
sitting on the bottom of the pool, albeit the shallow end.
At this stage, Charlie pointed to the deep end of the pool
and I crawled along the pool floor until the depth started to
drop gradually and I soon found myself seven feet underwater.
For the first while I had to concentrate hard on breathing
normally, but when it came to making my way down to the
deep end, the effort and concentration involved made me
forget about my breathing to the point where being underwater seemed completely natural. They guys even produced a Frisbee which we started to throw around.
The dive was to take two hours and I really did think the
clock was wrong when I saw that the two hours were
nearly gone. I had immersed myself in a new world for two
hours and loved every second.
A lot of you reading this will appreciate the freedom that
water gives. The reduced sense of gravity can be very liber-
ating. In my opinion, SCUBA diving takes this to a whole
new level. I can’t recommend the experience highly
enough. Unexpectedly, I found the whole experience very
relaxing once I got used to it, which is probably down to
the complete silence underwater. However, there is no
doubt that the overriding benefit of SCUBA diving is that it
is bloody great fun!
USEFUL INFORMATION
GALWAY DIVE SCHOOL
Tel: 085 2626957 www.divegalway.com
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
FOR HANDICAPPED DIVERS
www.iahd.org
SCUBA DIVING GENERAL INFO
www.thescubaguide.com/introduction
spokeout
43
25/06/2009
15:21
Page 1
CAR INTERIOR DESIGN
TRANSFORM YOUR VEHICLE
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who understand the importance of the perfect interior.
Our fully qualified experienced coach builders, trimmers and technicians are
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From our dedicated workshop in Galway City we can service a national client
base. Our good customer relations is verified with much of our business coming
from existing customers or referral from satisfied clients.
To see what we can do for you, call us on 091 767 439 for complete
details. Or visit our web site www.carinteriordesign.ie
Unit 6, Glenrock Business Park, Ballybane, Galway
091 767 439
087 790 4736
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Spokeout_Summer_09_p45,47:Layout 1
25/6/09
17:46
Page 45
news
Adapted rental vehicles
Finding a rental company that has
adapted vehicles on its books can be
a difficult task. IWA’s information service often gets calls from people with
disabilities looking to hire an adapted
vehicle while they are on holiday in Ireland or while their own vehicle is being
repaired. At present, we are only
aware of two companies that provide
the service:
• Motability Ireland, The Irish Mobility
Centre, Ashbourne, Co Meath. For details, contact Motability’s head office
on 01 835 9173 or Jonathan Moore
on 086 805 5072, or visit www.motabilityireland.com. Motability Ireland delivers nationwide.
• Vantastic, Unit 2a, Howth Junction
Business Park, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5.
Call the head office on 1800 242 703 /
01 839 2449 for further details, or visit
www.vantastic.ie
BLADE RUNNER
PICTURE REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION OF OSSUR
Oscar Pistorius, a South African double amputee, caught headlines
when he became the first Paralympian to win Gold in 100, 200 and
400 metre sprints in the Bejing 2008 Games.
It wasn’t simply Oscar’s achievement that attracted media interest
but also the technology behind his incredible prosthetics. Oscar
credits his Ossur’s Cheetah® Flex Foot running legs – which he
often refers to as blades – with enabling him to run at his fastest and
accomplish his unique achievements.
Össur (www.ossur.co.uk) is an Icelandic based company that specialises in orthopaedics. The company researches and produces
products within the fields of prosthetics, braces, supports and compression therapy. Similar products are also
made by Otto Bock (www.ottobock.com ), a German-based
company specialising in orthopaedics.
FREE ACCESS to
EIRCOM
Directory Enquiries
Eircom provides its directory enquires service free-of-charge for
anyone that can’t use the
phonebook due to a sensory or
physical disability or medical
condition. You can request an
application form by ringing
freephone 1800 574 574
Text to report abuse of disabled parking
Sligo County Council is delighted with
the success of a new ‘text alert’
scheme which makes it easy for people to report the abuse of disabled
parking bays by non-badge holders.
The new system, which was
launched in November 2008, enables
people to report traffic problems
around the streets of Sligo. Text messages from the general public are relayed via the local authority’s
Communications Office to traffic war-
dens who can then respond immediately to the scene of the alert.
The scheme has been a particular
success amongst the local disabled community, who are using
the system to report widespread
abuse of disabled parking bays.
Reports of illegal parking and other
traffic problems within Sligo Town
should be texted to 087 7850566
during the hours of 9am to 5pm,
Monday to Friday.
spokeout
45
24/06/2009
14:15
Page 1
Accent
Building Services Ltd
Building
Contractors
• Disabled Persons Extensions
• Bathroom Conversions
Phone: 01 820 5505
Web: www.accentbuilding.ie
RANGE OF
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(Dublin),
Cuddihy Mobility
(Kilkenny).
Or contact us at: Green Machines, Techna House,
Terenure Rd East, Dublin 6. T: (01) 490 0470
E: [email protected] W: www.greenmachines.ie
Showrooms Open Tues-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm
Retailers & Suppliers of CTM Mobility Vehicles & Powerchairs
An easier way for people with disability to get around
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU
G
G
G
G
Shopping Trips
Visiting Friends
Going to Lunch
Doctor or Dentist
appointments
G Theatre or Cinema
Trips
G School Trips
AN ACCESSIBLE,
AFFORDABLE
“DIAL A RIDE”
SERVICE
To become a Member or for more information,
Phone 276 5488
Or visit our Website at: www.easicab.net
Spokeout_Summer_09_p45,47:Layout 1
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Page 47
news
Trying out the new swing
DANCE WORKSHOP IN CAVAN
Winners on Wheels (WOW) is a Cavan-based group
that aims to make it possible for young children who
are manual or powered wheelchair users to enjoy
recreational activities. The group is organising a dance
workshop on Saturday 11th July in Cavan Leisure and
Sports Complex. Two professional wheelchair dance
tutors will travel from the UK to teach the class which
is aimed at teaching wheelchair users how to dance.
The admission fee will be €10. For further details, contact Amanda on 087 7696 404, Denise O’Reilly on
086 3300 908, or Carmel Smith on 087 1705 422.
MULLINGAR’S GOT TALENT
HAVE YOU GOT TALENT?
ARE YOU THE BEST IN MULLINGAR?
IF SO, WE NEED YOU!
Liberty swing launch
The Variety Club of Ireland recently presented an accessible ‘Liberty Swing’ to St Joseph’s School for the Visually Impaired in
Drumcondra. Many of the children who attend the school are
also wheelchair users and this swing will enable children with limited mobility to get on the swing without transferring from their
wheelchairs. This is the first swing of its kind in Ireland and only
the second in Europe.
The Liberty Swing project is an ongoing project for Variety Club
Children’s Charity who have been helping sick, disabled and disadvantaged children in Ireland for over 50 years. They hope to
continue to present liberty swings to playgrounds nationwide.
For further details on the project, visit www.varietyireland.org
The Irish Wheelchair Association, Mullingar, is
hosting Mullingar’s Got Talent. Whether you’re 5
or 105, if you think you have what it takes to
make it, then why not come along and audition?
Auditions will take place on July 18th in the
Annebrook Hotel, Mullingar, from 10am to
6pm, after which 12 acts will be chosen to perform live on stage in the Arts Centre, Mullingar,
on 14th August for a top prize of €500.
This event will raise much-needed funds for
the Irish Wheelchair Association who provide a
number of services for people with physical
disabilities in the local community.
For further information contact
Dani Weldon on 04493 47511
Wheelchair accessible transport in Wicklow and South Dublin
Easi-Cab Travel Club is celebrating ten
years of service to the community. The
service covering South Dublin and
North Wicklow has recently expanded
to cater for the towns of Wicklow and
Arklow.
Easi-Cab has a modern fleet of mini
buses equipped with ramps and lifts
which provide easy access for wheelchairs and mobility scooters of all
sizes. Carers are welcome to travel
free-of-charge and, where required, a
number of wheelchairs can be accommodated.
The mini bus dial-a-ride service is
available for all sorts of outings including shopping trips, visiting friends and
family, lunch dates, doctor and dentist
appointments, theatre and cinema
trips, and school outings. Many club
members are regular travellers on a
daily or weekly basis.
The Easi-Cab Travel Club is a doorto-door service which is open to people of all ages who have a permanent
or temporary need for that little extra
assistance when travelling. For more
information, visit their website at
www.easicab.net or phone 01 276
5548 / 0404 40044.
An Easi-Cab mini-bus
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47
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25/06/2009
12:38
Page 1
All CommuniCarers
NURSING AGENCY
KEN CARROLL
ADAPTATIONS
car adaptations for the disabled
Based in the West of Ireland
Located in Galway, “Ken Carroll
Adaptations” adapts most makes of
cars and vans for drivers or passengers with physical disabilities. Our service list
includes Swivel seats,
push and pull
hand
controlls,
Inferred steering
wheel spinners, Left
foot accelerators, Wheelchair accessible
vehicle adaptations and boot hoists.
Our clients are public & private hospitals, rest homes & private
individuals. We provide highly qualified & experienced nursing
staff whenever & wherever. We offer short and long term
assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ken Carroll Adaptations
Cloonacauneen, Claregalway, Co. Galway
For a consultation or advice
CALL
Tel: 01 - 851 2022
I Mob: 086 - 872 4736
I Email: [email protected]
www.allcommunicarers.com
T: 091 798 098 • M: 087 250 2923
E: [email protected]
www.kencarrolladaptations.ie
TRANSPORT PROVIDERS FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES.
Services available:
Affordable Door-to-door accessible transport
for our members.
Self-drive accessible vehicles which can be driven
by family or friends.
To avail of our service Call 01-6100475
(0879146708) or e-mail [email protected]
or visit our web site www.ldag.ie
25/6/09
16:52
Page 49
news
IWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AGM 2009:
ACCESS = EQUAL
Members gathered at IWA’s Annual Conference and AGM in
Kilkenny to discuss topical issues, celebrate the launch of IWA’s
new Access Guidelines and socialise with friends from around the
country. Emmett Daly from Offaly attended the event
Kathleen Mc Loughlin, CEO with John Moloney, TD, Minister of State,
Department of Health and Children
Jimmy Byrne, Secretary, IWA; Pat Crotty, Lord Mayor of Kilkenny; and
Molly Buckley, Vice Chairperson, IWA
Donal Toolan, who chaired the panel discussion, with CEO Kathleen
Mc Loughlin
he 49th Annual General Meeting was held in Lyrath
Estate Hotel, Co Kilkenny on 23rd and 24th May,
2009. The theme of the conference was Access =
Equal and, as part of the event, IWA launched its
new publication Best Practice Access Guidelines, Designing Accessible Environments.
These Access Guidelines look at the points of access in
all public and residential areas. There were new measurements put forward for public toilets, increasing the turning
circle from 1500mm to 1800mm to cater for those people
who use power wheelchairs, making it possible to do a 180
degree turn without any obstacles. There were also proposals to have assisted bathrooms with the 1800mm turning
circle, a bench for changing or sitting on and a ceiling or
portable hoist also. In my opinion, this is a great idea because, as a person who needs assistance myself, I find it
very hard to find any places in public that I can use a bathroom in comfort. Even if I have my own hoist it’s almost impossible to get a wheelchair toilet that is big enough for the
electric wheelchair and hoist too. So I would be a big fighter
to see this plan coming into action as soon as possible.
The Access Guidelines also include a plan for a fully
T
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Page 50
Liz Fogarty and Eamon Cleere, Kilkenny
Minister John Moloney talking with a member
John Donovan, Kilkenny
Volunteers Tom Delaney and Mick Cantwell, Kilkenny Branch
John Ryan, Chairperson, Tipperary Town Branch and John Harrington,
volunteer and CE staff member, IWA, Tipperary Town
wheelchair accessible house. It has a main bedroom with
space enough left for your chair and also a hoist too if
needed, as well as a good-sized en suite bathroom and
spare bedroom. The kitchen and dining area are combined
in an open-plan style with plenty of space to move around,
again with the 1800mm turning circle. Other clever ideas
included a store room which would be very handy to store
away all the hoists, spare chairs and cushions, and a
canopy outside the door, to keep you dry in the predictable
Irish weather!!! I found the plan very interesting as I am
looking into planning for an extension onto our existing
house, or perhaps even building my own house.
Mr John Moloney, TD, Minister of State at the Depart-
ment of Health and Children with special responsibility for
disability, was the special guest at the Conference and he
was very much in favour of the proposed access recommendations. The committee behind the new access guidelines comprised occupational therapists, members and one
of the founders of the Association, Oliver Murphy. It was
clear that everyone on the committee put a lot of time and
effort into the new guidelines. We hope to see these guidelines in general use sooner rather than later.
On Saturday evening there was a Gala Dinner which was
very nice. After the meal, everyone let their hair down and
danced away to the brilliant music provided by The Marble
City Sounds until nearly 2am. Sunday morning quickly
50
25/6/09
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news
MESSAGE FROM
KATHLEEN MC LOUGHLIN, CEO
Tuam members and branch volunteers
Martin Costello, Kilkenny
Our summer issue comes to you following our very successful AGM and Conference in Kilkenny. It was great to see such
a huge attendance at the Conference again this year, as
it is our only occasion annually to bring members, staff
and volunteers from right across the country together.
I believe it is vital that we get together nationally with
members to debate the issues identified by them as
priorities for the Association. Our theme this year
‘Access = Equal’ provided the opportunity for much
stimulating debate, and Conference feedback indicates
that the launch of the Association’s Access Guidelines
was viewed by many of you as a very positive development for the Association. The guidelines have been very
well received and we are working hard to ensure that
they are distributed widely. Our task now, is to ensure
that we encourage all those concerned with the design
and building of our physical environment to implement
the recommendations therein. We encourage all members to support us in this effort.
In this issue, we have enclosed a ticket for our
‘Friends of IWA’ draw. Please consider if you can perhaps join the draw, or alternatively if you can encourage
someone you know to join. As you are all aware, our
funding has been cut by three percent this year and so
we will have a significant shortfall in funds. We are hoping that if we can encourage new people to become
‘Friends of IWA’ we can raise enough money to allow
us to continue to provide services at current levels.
Please do what you can.
ACCESS GUIDELINES
Kilkenny City & District Pipe Band
came around and we found ourselves back in the hands of
the IWA staff again.
Kathleen Mc Loughlin, CEO, said a few lovely words
about members who had passed away during the year including Phili Murphy who was a very good and close friend
of mine. I thought it was very good of Kathleen to say the
few words about individual members and show that we are
known as people and not just a number. There were no
new members elected onto the Board as no nominees
were put forward, so existing members resumed their positions on the Board.
It was a brilliant weekend and I believe it’s in Kilkenny
again next year. Hope to see ye all there!
Since the foundation of IWA in 1960, access
has been a priority issue for members. With
this in mind, IWA has developed a new publication Best Practice Access Guidelines,
Designing Accessible Environments. The
development of the guidelines involved taking into account national and international regulations, best practice
guidelines and standards, as well as the life experiences
of many of IWA’s 20,000 members. The guidelines can
inform plans for the development of new facilities or for
the upgrading of existing facilities, and will also be
used to influence future legislation. The guidelines are
available on www.iwa.ie For a CD version, please
contact IWA on [email protected] or 01 818 6455. A limited
number of hard copy versions are also available.
Readers are invited to respond with comments or
suggestions, and IWA will endeavour to amend subsequent editions of the guidelines accordingly.
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Page 1
H
D C
DISABILITY NEEDS LTD
Contractor for all disabled persons
including showers & access ramps
Derek Hanlon Contractor
to Dublin City Council for
all disabled persons needs
for over 15 years.
Including;
• Walk in, level access,
standard shower trays
• Access Ramps
• All grant work covered
• Member of CIF
• Serving all of
greater Dublin
• Free no obligations
survey.
• Fully insured
NEW DUBLIN SHOWROOM
Unit 8 St Anthony's Business Park,
Ballymount Road Dublin 22
Tel: 014642768 I Fax 014642777
Opposite Red Cow Hotel
Open to the public
Automatic Toilets • Bathroom adaptations
• Daily Living Aids • Riser/ Recliner chairs
• Electric and Manual wheelchairs
• Scooters • Profiling beds.
Free assessments carried out by appointment
Ballymount, Dublin 24, Co. Dublin
Mob: 087 25242138
Accessible Community Transport Southside
I If you, or a member of your
family
have
difficulty
getting
Accessible Door-to-Door Transport in
South and West Dublin ...or
I If you are a person with a
disability, or who has a mobility
difficulty,
which
prevents
you
from getting to or using public
transport...
A.C.T.S IS HERE TO
HELP YOU WITH YOUR
ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT NEEDS.
I We provide a service for our members from Dun
Laoghaire to Tallaght and in towards the City Centre with our
ACTS minibuses
I We will take you to meetings, training courses,
appointments, shopping and even for a night out!
Please call 292 1573 / 292 1574 for further details
or visit our website:
www.actsltd.ie
www.disabilityneeds.com
25/6/09
16:56
Page 53
news
Tipperary ‘ladies’
‘Team Sligo’
MINI MARATHON
Lorraine Doherty
SUCCESS
Over 200 women braved the searing sun to take
part in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon on
behalf of IWA
articipants in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon, which took place
on Bank Holiday Monday 1st June 2009, tackled the 10 kilometre walk in sweltering heat in order to raise much-needed
funds for IWA. Gathering first in IWA’s marquee in the Charity Village on Merrion Square, the runners stocked up on water and
took time to customise their IWA t-shirts, before moving on to the
start line. Over 200 women took part on behalf of IWA, including CEO Kathleen Mc Loughlin, and the emphasis
was on having fun rather than breaking any records!
P
Gerry Sharvin and Jimmy Byrne
Natasha Spremo,
Michelle Byrne and
Kathleen Mc Loughlin
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Page 54
EVENTS
Dolores Dunne
and Jim Daly
SPIRIT DAY TRIP TO KILDARE
At the end of April, 16 SPIRIT members from
the Ardee centre visited the National Stud and
Japanese Gardens in Kildare. The weather was
not great at the beginning of the journey, however the sun shone when they arrived and a
great day was had by all. St Fiachra’s Gardens,
in the National Stud, looked spectacular and
were very accessible. Another visit is planned
for those who could not make it on the day!
Lizzy Mo
on
Matt Ma ey and
guire
JOHN SULLIVAN
CENTRE BALL
Members and staff at the
John Sullivan Resource Centre in Clane, Co Kildare, held
their annual formal ball in
February. The ball, which is
now in its third year, came
about when members decided it would be fun to
hold a glamorous evening
event, where everyone
could get a chance to put
on their ‘glad rags’ and
Service user Bri
dget Lally with
party. This year some men
staff member Sin
ead Burke
opted for black tie, whilst
ladies wore an array of
stunning dresses. A lot of hard work goes
into the occasion, making it a very worthwhile date for the diary.
LEITRIM ADVOCACY SERVICE
At the launch of the Leitrim Advocacy Service, a partnership between IWA and the CIB, are (l-r): Seán Sweeney,
Chairman of the CIB Leitrim; Helen LaHert, Advocacy and
Accessibility Manager, CIB; Elaine Morris, Leitrim Advocacy
Service; special guest Charlie McGettigan; Dolores Tiernan,
Development Manager, CIB; and James Raftery, IWA
CUISLE OPEN FISHING COMPETITION
Cuisle Holiday Centre hosted the inaugural Cuisle Open Fishing Competition for people with disabilities at Easter. The
overall winner of the Cuisle Open Perpetual Shield was
Mossy Breakell from Co Galway. Three competitors, Derek
Ingley, Mossy Breakell and Mark McKnight, went on to represent Ireland in The Cuisle International Fishing Competition
at which the overall winners were the team from Holland.
54
Pictured (l-r): Fro
nt row: Derek Ing
ley, Mossy Break
Back row: Gearo
ell and Mark Mc
id Weadick, Shell
Knight
y Heelan and Ja
vier Vega (volun
teers)
25/6/09
17:34
Page 55
snapshots
ARDEE GROUP HOLIDAY
IN WEXFORD
A group of 25 members from Ardee
enjoyed a three-night break in Wexford Town during May. The group
stayed in White’s Hotel which they
found very accessible, although the
footpaths and narrow streets in the
historic town centre left something
to be desired! With great food and
traditional music in the hotel each
night, the group had a fantastic
break and many of the service users
said they would love to return to
Wexford some time soon.
ROSE OF TRALEE VISITS CLONTARF CENTRE
Rose of Tralee,
Aoife Kelly with
Zonja Moore
The 2008 Rose of Tralee, Aoife Kelly, paid a visit to the
Clontarf ROC and Regional Training Unit (RTU) earlier in
the year. IWA was selected by the Rose of Tralee Festival as its 2008 charity and Aoife, an Occupational Therapist at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun
Laoghaire, will act as an ambassador for IWA during her
reign. Aoife was shown some of the wonderful art
work being undertaken by members and had
time for a chat with many. Also on the day,
there was a performance of ‘Two Peas & a
Fried Egg’ by the students of the RTU especially for the Rose.
Students from the RTU
AUGHNACLIFFE CENTRE
CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
Pictured at the 10th anniversary celebrations for Aughnacliffe Centre in Longford are (l-r): Fr Seámus McKeon, PP;
Kathleen Mc Loughlin, CEO; Paula Banks, FÁS; Mary
Smyth, Regional Director, IWA; Hugh Farrell, Regional Manager, IWA; Chris Moran, Chairperson, Longford Branch;
and Martin Tarmey, Service Coordinator, IWA
with
lennon
Cathy G
omery
tg
n
o
M
Ann
Rose of
Tralee,
Aoife Ke
lly, wit
Derek Sm h
ith
spokeout
55
24/06/2009
13:04
Page 1
You’re at home with
our delivery service
Make shopping pleasurable again
by doing it at home and online
Finding the time to do the weekly shop is not always easy.
Well, we’re here to help. You can make your shopping
experience easy, quick and efficient again by doing it
online at www.tesco.ie
As well as the obvious advantages of being able to pick
and choose products from the comfort of your home,
24 hours a day, 365 days a year, there are lots of other
reasons to shop online.
You get the same great offers and deals as you’d find
instore with all special offers grouped together on a
dedicated page.
Our personal shoppers are trained to select the freshest
produce for you, and you can choose when you want
your shopping delivered – any day of the week within
a two-hour time slot, and up to 9pm on week nights.
You can even place your order up to three weeks in advance.
Plus, if you register using your Clubcard, all the items you
usually buy will be listed under ‘My Favourites’, so you can
go straight to them time and again. You will, of course, be
able to collect Clubcard Points as you would in store. So go
on, make shopping simple again at www.tesco.ie
FOR SALE
TOYOTA AURIS LUNA 2007
www.tesco.ie
• Lightweight • Compact •
Long Range •
Joystick Lever: Simply operate the Joystick
Lever, and the wheelchair is at your command.
Yamaha Motorcycle Technology is fully reflected
in this system.
Controller for Assistant: Assistant
controller is Yamaha original with the speed
adjustment dial knob.
Adapted with Hand Controls
Indicator switch also on Hand control
Automatic, electric windows, electric mirrors, environment control, Parking Sensors
NINE AIR BAGS
Black – 33,000 miles
SERVICE RECORD
One year remaining on manufacturers warranty
€19,700.00
Tel 01 - 6273443
Flat Motor: A highly efficient flat type
motor has newly been developed. This
flat motor is compatible with a wide range
of wheelchairs.
TML Mobility Solutions Ltd
Ph/Fax: 045868458 • Mob:0862556121
email: [email protected]
www.tmlms.ie
25/6/09
17:04
Page 57
snapshots
rine O’Neill,
Donoghue, Cathe
b members John
n McManus
Clu
An
t
d
ee
an
Str
k
t
ric
un
de
Bro
New Mo
Geoghan, John
ny
tho
An
,
ne
ha
Claire Le
NEW MOUNT STREET CLUB TRIP TO ROME
Through HSE Lottery funding, a group of six members
and four staff from the New Mount Street Club travelled
to Rome last year for an action-packed holiday. Day trips
were organised to the Vatican, the Spanish Steps and
the Colosseum but the highlight of the trip was seeing
the Pope in St Peter’s Square and receiving his blessing.
It was a truly memorable time for everyone.
Back row (l-r): Pat Byrne and John Donoghue
Middle row (l-r): Israelito Casimpoy, Rose McCoy, Claire Lehane,
Janet Healy and Anthony Geoghan
Front row (l-r): Catherine O’Neill, John Broderick and Ann McManus
ROSCREA COFFEE MORNING
Roscrea Resource and Outreach Centre held a coffee
morning to launch Angel Day last November. On the day
members displayed the artwork which they had created
with the assistance of tutor Anita Stone and funded in
conjunction with North Tipperary Arts council.
ACHIEVEMENTS
CLANE FETAC GRADUATES
Thirty-two service users, members and staff from Clane Resource and Outreach Centre recently graduated in a range of FETAC accredited courses including Pottery, Horticulture and
Graphic Communications. The graduation took place in Millicent Golf Club, Co Kildare, and
graduates and guests were welcomed by a string quartet from Clongowes College.
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Page 58
news
IWA CAR & HOME
insurance schemes
The IWA Car & Home Insurance
Schemes recently launched by
Glennon have been very well
received by staff and members
any staff and members have already taken out
policies to insure their cars and homes under
the schemes. As well as securing the broad
cover offered by the schemes, staff and members have achieved premium savings, running into many
hundreds of euro in some cases.
The Glennon/Allianz prize of a year’s free car insurance
has been won by Karen Thomas from Finglas who has
been a member of IWA for the past ten years and has
found their assistance invaluable. Karen recently recommenced driving following an illness and read about the IWA
insurance schemes arranged by Glennon in Spokeout.
Karen is dependent on her car to get out and about and
recently renewed her insurance with another insurer who
was charging her a premium of over €1,600. When Karen
discovered that she could arrange her car insurance under
the IWA scheme with Glennon for less than €600 she immediately cancelled her existing policy and arranged her
insurance with Glennons. So having already saved €1,000
on her car insurance, she was delighted to hear that she
had then won our draw for a year’s free car insurance,
saving her a further €600 which she intends to put to
good use.
The good news for our staff and members is that Glennon and Allianz are again offering the chance to win a
year’s free car insurance for staff or members whose car or
home insurance policies fall due for renewal during July,
August or September or are arranging new car and home
insurance policies during these months. So, in order to
qualify for a draw for a year’s free car insurance, all you
have to do is contact Glennon for a free quotation.
Glennon has also continued to try to enhance the
scheme benefits and is pleased to announce the following
free extra covers which have been negotiated since the
launch of the scheme:
M
FREE COVER FOR MOBILITY AIDS IN THE HOME
The IWA home insurance scheme will now automatically
include free-of-charge the following extras:
An item covering Fire, Theft and Accidental Damage to
mobility aids used within the home up to a value of €3,000
An item covering wheelchairs, either manual or battery
operated outside, the home up to a value of €2,000.
FREE COVER FOR THE COSTS OF ADAPTING
VEHICLES FOR USE BY DISABLED DRIVERS
The IWA car insurance scheme will automatically cover freeof-charge the costs of repairing any insured Loss or Damage for the adaption of any vehicle for use by any staff or
member to cater for their disability up to a limit of €5,000.
Remember you qualify for the IWA car and home insurance schemes where you are:
A Member of the Irish Wheelchair Association and your
Spouse or Partner and Carer
An Employee of the Irish Wheelchair Association and
your Spouse or Partner.
If you want to save money on your car and home
insurance, sometimes up to hundreds of euro, secure
broad cover including these new free extras, and be in
with a chance to win a year’s free car insurance, all you
have to do is contact Glennon for a quotation by:
Calling Glennon on 1890 812221
Emailing [email protected]
Completing the on line enquiry form at iwa.glennons.ie
Faxing Glennon at 01 7075990
Writing to Glennon at Charlemont House, Charlemont
Place, Dublin 2
Glennon will offer you a quotation on the spot or, if your
policy is not immediately due for renewal, will contact you
closer to your renewal date with your quotations.
Karen Thomas with Kathleen Mc
Loughlin, CEO of IWA, receiving her
prize from Vincent Moore of Glennon
58
25/6/09
16:02
Page 59
letters
small ads
FOR SALE
Wheelchairs, scooters and
adaptive equipment
Monami mobility scooter Fourwheel, excellent condition. €900
ono. Tel: 086 050 1396 (Dublin)
Elap swivel seat Hardly used, perfect condition. Best offer. Tel: 045
431 974 or 086 377 8118
Linak Molift foldable/travel hoist
New, never used. Cost €3,000, sell
€1,600. Tel: 086 367 3221
Carony transport wheelchair
Never used. Best offer. Tel: 086 898
1396 or 094 937 1270
If you have an item for sale, a holiday contact or a personal
advert, please send approx 25 words to Small ads, Spokeout,
IWA, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Small ads are free-ofcharge to members. Adverts for accessible holiday accommodation are €20.00 (cheques or postal orders payable to IWA Ltd).
Elap swivel seat Free to good
home, must be collected. Tel: 01
455 8661
Cars and accessories
Fiat Doblo 2008 High roof, Ricon lift,
perfect condition, 7,000 km. Best
offer. Tel: 066 714 4814
Ford Galaxy Ghia 2007 150 kg
hoist, excellent condition. €28,000.
Tel: 087 763 2232
Ford Focus Ghia 2007 Four-door
saloon, automatic, steering ball,
very low mileage, mint condition.
€15,950 ono. Tel 01 841 2317 or 085
112 6815
VW Transporter 1.9tdi Caravelle
2000 Three seats, remote wheelchair lift, two owners, 74,000 miles.
€8,000. Tel: 087 967 2277
Citroen Berlingo Multispace 2003
Hand controls, built-in ramp, 4,000
km, mint condition. €4,500 ono.
Tel: 01 496 2894
Fiat Duplo 2003 Raised roof, fully
electronic lift, good condition.
€6,000 ono. Tel: 087 643 2552
Mercedes Vito 2.2d 2007 Eight
seater, removable back seats, fitted ramp, restraints and seatbelt.
€24,000 ono. Tel: 086 871 8560
Crossword
To be in with a chance of winning one of two €50
‘One4all’ gift tokens, which can be used in 4,500
outlets nationwide, simply send your completed
crossword along with your name and address to:
Spokeout Crossword, Irish Wheelchair Association,
Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Correct entries
will be entered into a draw on Friday, 28 August
2009 and two winners drawn.
Crossword No. 4 by Gordius
Across
1. Prelate residing in Armagh
or Dublin. (10)
6. Town in Cork, once called
Queenstown. (4)
10. Three legged seat. (5)
11. The addition of salt and
pepper, for example. (9)
12. Made of potter’s clay. (7)
15. Devil. (5)
17. Sound of pain from the
end of another sofa. (4)
18. By word of mouth. (4)
19. The young night hunter
tears the towel. (5)
21. Agriculture. (7)
23. Batman’s enemy is quite
a card! (5)
24. Baking compartment. (4)
25. Help. (4)
26. Held on desperately. (5)
28. Least problematic. (7)
33. Disinclined. (9)
34. Unfettered. (5)
35. Whirlpool. (4)
36. One who manufactures
clothes. (10)
Down
1. Recess found in a church.
(4)
2. Stadium built with a poker
rack. (5,4)
3. Light wood, often used in
model-making. (5)
4. Japanese dish of raw fish.
(5)
5. Headless female found in
the Middle East. (4)
7. Drug that contains morphine. (5)
8. Where in 2 down to find a
pig article with a tripod? (5,5)
9. Inconsiderate or dangerous driver. (4-3)
13. Great civilisation of
Mexico. (4)
14. Travel to and from one’s
place of work. (7)
16. Speculation. (10)
20. Tick voles off as farm
animals. (9)
21. Easily broken. (7)
22. Breaking stories. (4)
27. Not married. (5)
29. Man from Aberdeen? (5)
30. Muslim religion. (5)
31. Jetty. (4)
32. Prophet, visionary
mystic. (4)
COMPETITION WINNERS FOR SPRING 2009
Crossword: WJ Walter, Leitrim PO, Co Leitrim;
M Whyte, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
SCRIBBLE BOX
spokeout
59
25/06/2009
15:40
Page 60
letters
YOUR VIEWS Got something to say? Write to us at Spokeout,
Irish Wheelchair Association, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3
DIFFICULTY GETTING ATTENDANT SERVICE AT PETROL STATIONS
Dear Editor
I am a new motorist and have my car adapted due to my
disability. Something has come to my attention in recent
weeks and I wanted to know if it affects others or if it’s
just me and, if not, whether anything can be done.
It takes me a considerable amount of time and effort to
unload my chair from my car, and so when I am on my
own and require petrol, I pull in to a service station and
ask another motorist to ask inside the shop for a shop attendant to come out and pump petrol for me.
While most service stations are very helpful and do
send someone out to pump the petrol, others are not.
Recently, while driving late in the evening, I pulled into a
station to get petrol. I waited to get the attention of some
other motorists going into the shop and when I finally did,
they went inside and explained I was waiting for assistance. Twenty minutes later, I was still waiting. The attendant inside could see me clearly and, at that time, had no
other customers. After ten further minutes of waiting, I
decided to drive to the next station where the staff were
very helpful and prompt.
On several other occasions, I have had to drive off from
a petrol station as there was no one around to get the attention of shop attendants.
In my opinion, all petrol stations should have a call button on their forecourts to provide assistance for those
that require it.
Yours sincerely,
Dani Weldon, Mullingar
HELPFUL STAFF AT HEUSTON STATION
Dear Editor
I read the spring Spokeout with interest, but would like to
say that I and several other people have always found the
staff at Dublin’s Heuston Station extremely helpful, kind
and efficient, so I was sorry that they got such a bad review in the cartoon pages.
I’m not in a wheelchair but can’t walk very far, and find
getting on and off the train difficult. My local station in
Kilkenny will ring Heuston Station when I’m travelling up
and the buggy will be there to meet me, and on my return
there is a comfortable room to sit and wait till they send me
down to the train in the buggy and help me get on.
Yours sincerely,
Pamela Blunder, Kilkenny
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The cartoon was simply a light-hearted way of drawing attention to difficulties reported by a number of
wheelchair users. I think everyone would agree that
many staff go beyond the call of duty to facilitate
passengers with disabilities.
The views expressed on this page are the views of individual readers and do not necessarily
represent the views of IWA
60

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Transcription

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