Steps to Participation - Updates

Na Calai CDP, Portumna, Co. Galway
GAP stands for ‘Gaining Access for Portumna’ and arose from DESSA’s ‘STEP’  Programmes. DESSA has been delivering support to Na Calai CDP, Portumna from spring 2006 to staff and participants on the following Programmes:

- Making Choices  (autumn ’06 and spring ‘07)
- Step Forward (autumn ’07 to spring ‘08
- Practical Self Advocacy (autumn ’08 to spring ‘09)
- Step Out (autumn ’09 to spring 2010)

DESSA Community Support staff and NaCalai’s new staff member have scheduled a series of public presentations and advocacy poetry performances as part of DESSA’s final ‘STEPS’ Programme STEP OUT. The fun based gigs with members of GAP disability group to kick off on March 25th 2010 at PortumnaRetirementVillage @ 11.30am to 1pm – All our welcome. Contact Martina at NaCalai CDP at 0909741887 OR Email: nacalai@eircom.net
 
Tuam CDP, Galway
DESSA has been delivering support to Tuam CDP from summer 2007

- Making Choices x 2 (autumn '07 and spring '08)
- Step Forward (autumn '08 to sping '09)
- Practical Self Advocacy (autumn '09 to spring 2010)

Staff, Board and participants are preparing to launch the group's Aims and Objectives with a seminar and forum performance in Tuam Town Hall during April 2010. The Group members and Tuam CDP will be looking for more participants to get involved after their launch and for more Tuam disabled people fpr the start up of DESSA's final 'STEPS' programme, STEP OUT (scheduled for autumn 2010). Contact Helen Kelly, Tuam CDP, 093-25340 or email, tuamrc@eircom.net

Ballybane CDP, Galway
DESSA has been delivering support to Ballybane CDP from summer 2006. Technical assistance from DESSA Community Support Worker, Peter Kearns, has included funding applications, programme design, sourcing facilitators & sign language interpretors and roll out of delivery of the following programmes,

- Making Choices (autumn '06 to spring '07)
- Step Forward (autumn / winter '07/'08)
- Practical Self Advocacy (autumn '08 to spring '09)

2009 saw the public launch of a group nameed Ballybane CDP ADVOGITS and mainly deaf participants performed their forum play in Sligo Northside CDP during December as part of a DESSA and Sligo Leader Partnership input into European Disability Day. DESSA and CDP staff are securing VEC classes for participants in 2010 and linking in with possible Galway Disability Network under Galway Partnership.  If you are interested in getting involved with the ADVOGITS contact Imelda at 091-768305 or email cdp4@eircom.net

Northside CDP, Sligo
Since spring 2007 over 45 disabled people have gone through the process of DESSA's Steps to Mainstream with Northside CDP. The first Making Choices programme was launched at the accessible Northside Community Centre in autumn 2007.

A number of DESSA Steps to Mainstream participants are now active members of the CDP groups and committees, such as Organic Gardening, Womens Group, IT and photography classes. The disability group has organised a number of mainstreaming promotions and gigs at Northside CDP with the constant professional support of Ann Donegan. DESSA is looking forward to promoting disability equality development of CDP board, staff and Northside groups within Northside Centre and Sligo Leader Parthership Disability Network. 

The Northside CDP Disability Group work under the name of Sleveen Advocates and will be going on tour with new forum plays around training centres as a recruitment drive for their CDP and will be publishing an advocacy poetry book in early 2010. For more information on the Sleveen Advocates contact Ann Donegan at 071-9147097 or email sligonorthside@hotmail.com

Breffni Family Resource Centre
DESSA delivered a community development workshop at Carrick-on-Shannon National Learning Network (NLN) centre in winter '08 and after been approached by disabled Advocacy worker Ricahrd Paterson, DESSA and Breffni FRC decided to support the local community mainstreaming of NLN Saiol Nua Socail club in 2009. Following the successful meeting with Saiol Nua, both Breffni FRC and DESSA delivered Making Choices in spring '09 to 14 participants.

Those that took part in Breffni's Making Choices are now involved in DESSA's Step Forward Programme with the Saiol Nua Club members using Step Forward to successfully mainstream their social club into the family centre. If you would like to take part in Breffni's FRC Step Forward course contact Suzanne at 071-9622566 or email brefcom@eircom.net - web www.breffnifrc.com

Manorhamilton's North Leitrim Women's Group CDP
DESSA have been supporting NLWG CDP to facilitate an exclusive women's Steps to Mainstream. The 1st women only Making Choices includes the delivery of women specific modules aimed a target group of 16 Leitrim disabled women.

Two local disabled women artist/activists are being mentored by DESSA to deliver disability equality workshops on Making Choices which kicks off at 2pm to 4pm on Thursday 25th March at Manorhamilton Bee Park Centre. DESSA and NLWG will also be facilitating a Step Forward Programme to follow on from 1st course in autumn 2010. Contact Jane for more inforamtion at 071-9856220 or email nlwrg@eircom.net

Dundalk's Disability Awareness Forum Theatre - DAFT
DESSA welcomed the launch of a DVD in Dundalk Town to promote DAFT's forum theatre work which DESSA has developed with them since 2005. DAFT tours and performs for community development groups around the North Easr abd even down to Dublin. DAFT are holding a 3 day workshop on April 27th, 28th, 29th and are always open for new members and they are looking for venues to perform, so book them up for your CDP or FRC disability awareness promotions. If you would like more information contact Nora email beeandnora@eircom.net