Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency
latest news
Community Development and Advocacy Training Programme
DESSA has developed a six-day training programme in Community Development and Advocacy, which has been accredited through the Sligo Institute of Technology. In 2009 DESSA delivered our first Level 6 module to community and voluntary workers in the South East. DESSA assessed the students papers and liaised with Sligo IT Head of Humanities Department. The Programme aims to provide an understanding of disability equality issues and advocacy practices within a community development context.
Course graduates were presented with their certificates by Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanifin at the twenty-five year celebration of St. Brigid's Family Resource Centre in Waterford, on 26th February 2010.
Parent Advocacy Programme
DESSA has designed a programme to offer information and support to parents of disabled children, in order that they may become more effective advocates for their children. A pilot programme which was delivered in late 2009, in conjunction with An Siol Community Development Project in Dublin 7 has now been evaluated and the content and structure of the Programme has been finalised. If you are a parents group or a community organisation working with parents of disbaled children and you would like more information on DESSA's Parent Advocacy Programme, please contact Development Worker, Emma Byrne-MacNamee on cip@dessa.ie or 01 4538684.
Disabled Youth and Teenagers
In collaboration with Sligo Leader Partnership (SLP), DESSA are facilitating a once a month bridging Youth & Disability Club at Northside CDP for disabled teenagers who would be thinking of moving towards accessing their local mainstream youth clubs. The following Sligo FRCs will be involved in visits by DESSA staff to encourage local participation by disabled teens, Easkey, Tubbercurry, CLASP and Sligo City.
DESSA and Sligo leader Partnership have attracted funding for a summer 2010 arts 'GLEE' camp starting on the 12th July at Northside CDP exclusively for disabled teenagers and siblings. Peter Kearns of DESSA is currently working with SLP Community & Youth Manager Geri Bruce, to design the fun summer camp and he has identified disabled tutors to deliver morning & afternoon workshops. The camp is also envisaged to recruit new disabled teenagers to SLP / DESSA youth work for autumn 2010.
For more information on Youth work contact Peter 087-2506246 or email kearnsp@eircom.net or Geri 071-9141138 or email gbruce@sligoleader.com
North West DESSA Programme Promotional Tour 2010
DESSAs North West Community Support Worker, Peter Kearns will be contacting CDPs and FRCs to promote the planned autumn 'STEPS' Mainstreaming Programmes. If you are a CDP OR FRC staff member, board or volunteer in Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon or Mayo you can contact Peter on 087-2506246 or email kearnsp@eircom.net
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