Striving for inclusion

PEOPLE with learning disabilities want and need to be included in their communities, was the key message at the recent National Advocacy Conference, organised by the Brothers of Charity Services in Clare.
This is the 12th year of the conference, which this year was held in the Clare Inn and saw delegates from all over the country attend.
The conference heard of the importance of inclusion within local communities, from both international academics and people with disabilities from Clare. Key research dealing with inclusiveness carried out by people with disabilities was also presented at the conference.
Rob Hopkins, of the Brothers of Charity in Clare explained, “We were delighted with the results of the conference. The feedback has been particularly good, with everybody saying it was very inspiring. Some of the CEOs from other organisations were very complimentary.
“One of the things this conference highlighted was a leap on from advocacy, to doing research. People have always spoken up about their needs but this is now being backed up by facts and information. Ireland has established a reputation internationally for its inclusivity research and we are working with people with a learning disability to become researchers themselves. What we also found is that there are very few inclusiveness researchers operating outside of Ireland.”
Mr Hopkins explained the services in Clare have looked at the work of other countries in order to improve inclusiveness. “The Clare services have been very innovative in looking at different models abroad and we are seeing more community work happening.”
The Clare Inclusive Research Group, who recently visited Rome to speak about their exploration of relationships using drama, were among the speakers.
Ger Minogue, outlined the group’s research, which last week was also presented to the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies in Clontarf Castle.
“The Clare Inclusive Research Group have been called to the meeting following the success of our presentations in Rome. They are the only research partners drawing its members from the community of people with a learning disability.”
In Dublin, they discussed a proposal for doing a European research action project, with other partners from across Europe, on Transitions For People With A Learning Disability, for example from school to college or work, family home to personal home, adolescent dependence to adult independence. The proposal is at the planning stage and it is anticipated that a full funding application will be made by the end of next year.
The keynote speech of the Clare conference was carried out by Australian Professor of Disability Policy and Practice, Kelley Johnson, who addressed the conference via video link. Speaking along with Professor Johnson was Clare man Joe McGrath. They both explained their latest research on Inclusion and Belonging and spoke about what it means to belong in a community.
Professor Kelley told the conference that inclusion can often be seen as a “buzzword” and that a more appropriate term should be “belonging”.
Also appearing at the conference was William Case, an ambassador for young people with disability in the UK. He traced his journey from having everything done for him, to now getting direct payment and training families, staff and advocates with the Bury Parent Partnership.
Mr Hopkins explained, “He was a young guy who felt invisible with no purpose in his life but now he is in receipt of his own money directly, managing the training of others and doing major projects in the UK. He showed that people want to have a much greater involvement in their communities, with jobs, have their own home, it’s all about belonging,” he explained.
As well as guest speakers, the conference featured a number of focus groups. Mr Hopkins added, “What really came out of the focus groups is that being included is amongst people’s priorities, people want to be supported in terms of helping become involved in education and within the community.”
Members of the Inclusive Research Network, in Trinity College, the Kare In Control Project in Kildare, the Galway Research into Action team, Roscommon Advocacy Council, and Brothers of Charity organisations from different parts of the country also spoke at the conference.