Three Tullamore people graduate from Partners in Policymaking course

Three Tullamore people Gerard Lonergan, Marie Garry and Helen Somerville were among 23 graduates to receive certificates from Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Social Affairs, at the Partners in Policymaking graduation ceremony, which took place in Dublin recently. The unique programme, run by Rehab, is specifically designed to give adults with disabilities and parents of teenagers with disabilities the skills they need to improve services and make their own contribution to building a more inclusive society for all. Seven self-advocates and sixteen parents of children aged 12 to 23 years with a disability graduated from the programme, which started in September 2009 and consisted of five training weekends in Dublin over a five-month period. Each month the participants travelled from all over Ireland to attend the training sessions which featured an impressive line-up of guest speakers including Christy Lynch from KARE, Ivan Cooper from The Wheel, Anne O'Connor, DCU, Ger Craddock, the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design and Brid Ingoldsby from the Citizens Information Board. Speaking at the ceremony, Sarah-Jane Dillon, Director of Policy and Service Compliance, Rehab said: "Over the past number of months, the participants on the Partners in Policymaking programme have worked hard to develop the skills necessary to more effective advocates for people with disabilities, to influence policy, improve services and build more inclusive communities. "In that period, they have not only developed the skills required to contribute to policymaking and become real partners with professionals, they have also created social and support networks with other people and families in a similar position, creating a strong foundation for ongoing advocacy into the future." Funded by The Wheel - the support and representative body connecting community and voluntary organisations across Ireland, the course content included a history of disability, legislation, education, person-centred planning, assistive technologies, supported employment and policymaking at both a national and local level. The course, which was free to all participants, incorporated group and individual assignments designed to encourage participants to put the skills they have learnt into practice, such as research, presentation and communication skills.