The Steps to Participation Programme

This programme seeks to empower disabled people and community development practitioners with knowledge and capacity to ensure the active participation of disabled people within the community.

Participation is important in increasing the voice and influence disabled people have in shaping the world around them. It provides greater opportunities to interact with non-disabled people on more equal terms so helping to transform attitudes and behaviour and can provide opportunities to acquire new experiences and confidence which may help people find employment. Participation is fundamentally important to people’s sense of status and belonging. Disabled people have a right to equality of opportunity. Like all other citizens, disabled people want the right to independent living, the right to make their own choices and the right to actively contribute to society and their communities.

The aim of the programme is twofold:

  • firstly, to increase disabled people’s participation in public, civic and community life by delivering strategic supports to disabled people at a local level through local community development organisations;
  • and secondly, to provide those local community development organisations with the capacity and supports to co-ordinate the programme at a local level.

These strategic supports - training, networking, advocacy and mentoring will enable disabled people develop skills, experience and confidence to actively engage and participate within their communities.

The programme comprises

  • (i) a series of training programmes designed to introduce disabled people to their local community; explore disability issues so that they can inform policy and effect change locally and nationally; and develop practical skills to enable participation using various interactive methodologies such as Forum Theatre
  • (ii) the development of advocacy and mentoring supports enabling disabled people achieve personal life goals within a mainstream community development context;
  • (iii) capacity building among community development practitioners in disability equality; and
  • (iv) the development of a model of mainstreaming.

DESSA is currently supporting a number of CDPs and FRCs in the Limerick, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Donegal areas to develop the Steps to Participation Programme, targeting local disabled people with a view to building their capacity to meaningfully participate in their community. This process has developed organically and will continue to be developed with the support of the participants and the projects involved.

The following diagram gives an overview of the proposed steps that projects are currently undertaking.

STEPS TO PARTICIPATION: DEVELOPING SOCIAL ESTEEM

6. Participation in the Community –

  • Understanding community structures, accessing positions of power e.g. member of management committee

5. Validating Social Esteem - Understanding Citizenship and Advocacy

  • Developing understanding of citizenship, role of advocacy, identifying issues promoting social model response.
  • Active Citizenship Voter Education

4. Group Choices – Capacity Building a Group

  • Skills development, committee roles, communication etc.

3. Individual Choices – Accessing Community Education, Training, Leisure Resources

  • Identify goals, planning access route, accessing resources (Mentoring West)

2. Step Forward Group Development – Building the Group & Individuals

  • Disability Equality, Group Development, Future Planning for group and individuals (8 weeks)

1. Making Choices – First Step into CDPs & FRCs

  • Information, Personal Development, Awareness Raising (10 weeks)