Realising Equality through Active Participation

3rd December 2014 | 9.30am – 4.30pm

Davenport Hotel, Merrion Street, Dublin 2

Director of the School for Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SSEI), Lynda Stopford, stands among the latest additions to the line-up of speakers taking part in the Áiseanna Tacaíochta (ÁT) event, Realising Equality through Active Participation.

Held on 3rd December to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, this event will explore the development and lived experience of Independent Living and Direct Payments for people with disabilities in Ireland, offering valuable insights into the strong opportunities created through the innovative new approaches and cohesive action being spear-headed within the disability movement.

Hubert McCormack, a leading member of the Irish Independent Living movement, and Helen Lahert, formerly of the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities, also join the exciting range of speakers to give their perspectives on these hugely important issues.

With an opening from the Minister for Equality, Aodhán O’Ríordáin TD, and renowned journalist and policy analyst Sara Burke chairing proceedings, the event is set to be a day of great possibility, highlighting the ways in which society can come together to achieve real inclusion and equality for people with disabilities.

Independent Living, and the capacity to lead full, flexible and autonomous lives, is crucial in securing true inclusion and equality for people with disabilities. Moreover, Direct Payments give people the dignity of choice and control over their own budgets and services, which are crucial in achieving this. Leaders of this model, along with their family members, community networks and supporters, will discuss why they chose to adopt and support it, and why it is so important to them.

All speakers will consider their parts and responsibilities in pushing the movement forward, forging new ways of working together and fostering a strong sense of unity to strengthen communities in the active inclusion of people with disabilities.  Among those there on the day will be:

• Mark Blake-Knox | Cheshire Ireland
• Madeline Clarke | Genio
• Pat Clarke | Chairperson of the Disability Federation of Ireland
• Owen Collumb | Founding member of ÁT
• Michael Doyle | Irish Wheelchair Association
• Patrick Flanagan | Graduate
• Jacinta Fortune | Family member of Leader
• Martin Naughton | Director of ÁT
• Johnny Ryan | Leader.

The event is free to attend and open to everyone: to secure your place now, please complete the booking form below or visit our Eventbrite registration page by clicking here.

For more information, please email info@theatnetwork.com or call our offices on 01 525 0707.  All media enquiries should be directed to Orlaith Grehan on 086 183 1502 0r by emailing orlaithatnetwork@gmail.com.

Image by stockimages used with courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net.