While there are a number of groups and representatives within the area with a disability focus, people experiencing a disability have been identified as a group who are not visible within the community. Young people experiencing disability are probably the least visible within the community.

Much of this exclusion stems from a lack of awareness of disability and the issues surrounding it. In particular, there is a lack of awareness and understanding of the social barriers to participation by disabled people in the area, not just within the Network but also within the range of organisations and services within the area. This in turn creates a gap in policy development and practice to support inclusion and participation.

Current Activities

• Establishing a database of individuals and groups within the area
  who are living or working with the issue of disability
• Undertaking an audit of community and statutory buildings in the area
  to assess accessibility for people with disabilities and to provide mechanisms of support where change is needed. This would apply also to regeneration projects withinthe area. It will initially involve establishing a benchmark of Best Practice for organisations in terms of physical structures and needs.
• Developing policies and promote examples of good practice around disability awareness, which can be adopted by the Network and promoted for the individual groups and members within the Network.
• Undertaking initiatives, which can promote the involvement of the people with disabilities in community led projects within their area.
• Supporting t local organisations and groups in maintaining their awareness of disability issues by providing appropriate information, e.g., provision of a checklist for consideration when planning and  hosting activities and functions for and with the community.

Links:

www.disability-federation.ie
www.enableireland.ie
www.iwa.ie
www.ncbi.ie
www.nda.ie

For Further information please contact Noleen Jennings at 6174847 or e-mail: noeleen@nwicn.ie