ÁISEANNA TACAÍOCHTA: A Pilot on a new flight path

What do we do?

Áiseanna Tacaíochta translates into English as Supported Facilities. We in Áiseanna Tacaíochta aim to provide the support and the facilities to enable people with a Personal Assistant (PA) service to manage their service independently. Áiseanna Tacaíochta first and foremost is a user led organisation. This means that the idea, the drive and expertise sought to guide our organisation has been developed by people with disabilities for people with disabilities.

Our staff is made up of people with disabilities which helps to inform our decisions and ensures that the philosophy of Independent Living is practiced in everything the organisation does and says.

Model

In order to adequately account for funding, it was researched and decided by our organisation, that each individual would establish his or her own company limited by guarantee. The individual with the assistance of their Circle of Support, somewhat like a microboard, manage all aspects of the PA service independently of the original service provider. This is similar to practices in many European Union countries such as Sweden, Holland and Britain. The image below illustrates how the individual
(Network Member) is now in control of his or her service, recruiting and training their PAs.

Support and Facilities

Áiseanna Tacaíochta helps to facilitate this new choice by building an individual’s capacity, ensuring that each member has the supports in place (Circle of Support and Peer Support) so that they are
prepared and knowledgeable of the new responsibilities that are involved in running their own PA service. We are in the process of building our website for the ease of access to all the relevant and
important advice materials. We are also developing links and advocating for access to mainstream training for individuals and their Circles of Support.

A Peer Support Network

This Network is available to individuals so that they can learn from one another’s practical experiences and these experiences will also help to inform Áiseanna Tacaíochta as a growing organisation to adapt to the needs of those availing of our services.

How can I take part?

Áiseanna Tacaíochta is in its pilot stage and once that has been completed we will be open to applications for membership.