Irish Wheelchair Association

• Operate a daily itinerary which incorporate - social, recreational and developmental programmes
• Advocate with and on behalf of people with disabilities for improved services and benefits
• Promote awareness of disability issues locally and nationally through Community Development
• Give social and practical assistance in the community
• Provide Education and Training Programmes that include FETAC accredited courses.
• Provide assistance to individuals with personal care needs
• Promote the idea of independent living
• Offer Motoring Advice, Assessment and Tuition
• Provide information and advice and link people to other voluntary & statory services
• Link & Support people towards employment

We also provide:

• Peer Counselling - confidential counselling by people with disabilities
• Information on Respite Care - breaks for carer's and those with a disability
• Sport - sporting activities for everyone
• Transport - a large national fleet of adapted vehicles
• Offer Motoring Advice, Assessment and Tuition
• Wheelchairs for sale, rental or repair
• A wide variety of branch activities - holidays, transport provision and social activities
  

Information Services:

A Citizens Information Centre satalite clinic is open every Monday 2pm-4pm

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Education & Training

There are Personal Development Activities which develop the following skills:

• Improvisation
• Creativity
• Public speaking
• Assertiveness
• Verbal communication
• Expression through drama
• Awareness of the use of all your senses
• Presentation skills for interviews and personal presentation
• Committee skills training programme
• Advocacy training

The Centre offers a wide range of computer courses to our members. They include: ECDL FETAC COMPUTER ARTS DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION

Computer Training Room

The assisted living services provide a variety of Assisted Living Packages that are tailored to meet the individual's needs and circumstances. Where possible, the person with the physical disability (individual) will exercise maximum control over how these services are organised. Assisted Living Services aim to:

• Provide assistance/support to the individual and their family in their own home or other identified locations.
• Enable the individual to live with dignity in as independent a manner as possible.
• Assist the individual to avail of the personal, social, educational and developmental supports as primarily defined by him/herself.

The Irish Wheelchair Association strives to achieve these aims by providing Personal Assistants to give the practical help and support required in each situation. There are 3 categories of assisted living services ranging from the individual having full responsibility, joint responsibility to the individual requesting that the IWA take responsibility for the management of the assisted living services.

For Further Information please contact Jane Ward (PA Co-Ordinator for Kildare Area) on 01-6302475

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Peer Counselling:

Peer Counselling is a joint service offered by IWA and the National Council of the Blind in Ireland (NCBI). The service operates under the same principle as counselling but the difference is that all IWA/NCBI peer counsellors have a physical or sensory disability. The peer counsellors have trained in counselling skills and they combine these skills with their knowledge and experience of disability to provide a unique counselling service. This community-based service is available to members of IWA/NCBI, their families and significant others.

Peer Counselling offers you:

• An individual service tailored to meet your needs.
• Every client is different and the counselling that takes place reflects that difference.
• A place to tell your story in your own time and in your own way.
• An opportunity to explore the issues that are important to you in a safe and confidential environment.
• A free, community-based service.

Peer Counselling Training is accredited by the National Association for Pastoral Counselling and Psychotherapy. All peer counsellors attend supervision meetings and are supported by a full-time psychologist/family therapist. If you would like to know more about Peer Counselling, email peer@iwa.ie. Alternatively, telephone 01-8186400 or our direct line 01-8338219 ( 24 hour message service ). Your application will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.

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Respite Care: IWA provides respite care in the following centres. Cuisle is our purpose built national holiday centre.
Cuisle Donamon Co. Roscommon Tel: 090 - 6662277 Carmel Fallon Respite Centre, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Tel: 01 8186458		Claddagh Court Irish Wheelchair Association College Road Kilkenny Tel: 056 - 7762775
Please contact the centres directly if you need further information. Back to top Transport Transport: At present there are 3 buses that cover the following areas Monday to Friday in the Clane centre: Broadford, Celbridge, Leixlip, Maynooth, Lucan, Kilcock, Ladychapel, Donadea, Enfield, Caddamstown, Edenderry, Carbury, Allenwood, Lullymore, Naas, Rathmore, Prosperous, Kilmeague, Staplestown, Straffan, Coill Dubh and Robertstown. Fetac & Centre Programmes: Every day we have various FETAC courses for the members within the centre. Monday Communciations Tuesday Pottery Wednesday Art Thursday Personal & Interpersonal Skills   Horticulture We also have a fully serviced computer room which is opened daily. We have tutors in the computer room every day to give you help & support. We have various activities happening within the centre which includes the following: Swimming, Boccia, Cards, Crosswords,Community Training,Bingo, Outdoor Activities, Exercies, Physio & Aromatherapy. We organise regularly trips to cinema, bowling, shopping, picnics, historical sites or any place of interest that the members wish to visit. Back to top Supported Employment: Supported Employment allows people with disabilities to enter or re-enter the workforce. It enables people with disabilities to be employed in paid jobs in the open labour market. A Job Coach assists the job seeker in all aspects of obtaining and maintaining a job in their chosen area. If you are attending the centre and find you would like to look for a job, a job coach will be assigned to you to help you in the employment area. Back to top Wheelchair Rental & Repairs: We offer a service to members of the public in need of temporary wheelchairs. We hire wheelchairs from the centre. Please contact Christy on 045 861346 for more details. Member Contact Programme The objectives are: To establish an IWA local contact person for new members and information enquirers. To ensure new members are welcomed and given access to as much information on IWA services as possible. To gather data to inform the future development of services and the IWA advocacy programme. To identify people who wish to become involved in advocacy. To give people access to specific local contacts. To encourage 'Service-users' to become members   Member Contact Program   The member / information contact person (MCP) locally are: Sinead Burke, Irish Wheelchair Resource Centre on 045 861346   Back to top