Booking has been closed for the National Federation event: "Next Steps towards Individualised Supports: Sharing experiences from the Next Steps Community of Learning"
Conference Details
The conference will take place on
Thursday 31st January 2013 from 10.00am to 4.00pm (registration from 9.30am)
at the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise
Chaired by
Minister Kathleen Lynch, TD
Twenty two member organisations of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Intellectual Disabilities are currently engaged in the Next Steps Project. This project is focused on implementing initiatives to progress the change towards more individualised supports, providing better outcomes for the funding invested in disability services. The participating organisations provide services to over 11,000 people with intellectual disabilities and have approximately 8,000 staff members.
The move towards individualised supports is fully in line with current national disability policies and strategies, including the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services; the Time to Move On from Congregated Settings and New Directions Review of Adult Day Services reports, and the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011-2016.
The organisations involved in the Next Steps Project have created a Community of Learning. Each organisation is progressing a case study (or more than one case study) which is working on the ground with people; their families; and staff members, to move towards more individual supports. These are not pilot projects with a time-limited lifespan – rather they are forging new ways to provide supports that will help to inform the transition from traditional models to a new way of providing support, focused on the individual. Information is gathered by the case studies every two months and shared amongst the community. Supports are identified and barriers are highlighted. As a group, the Next Steps Project then works proactively to identify solutions to the challenges presenting in the case studies.
This event will provide an opportunity for those attending to hear about the experiences of individuals whose lives are changing; the perspectives of their families; staff who support them and management in the organisations providing support. It will also provide an opportunity for reflection for all present on what next steps we can each take to provide the appropriate supports for people with intellectual disabilities to live life on their own terms.
Who should attend this event?
- Self Advocates
- Families members
- Staff
- Statutory bodies
- Community development representatives
Contact alison.harnett@fedvol.ie for further information.