Máiríde Woods, writer, researcher, AT Board member Was a parent of a daughter with a disability Involved in parents’ organisations and with St Michael’s.

Journey to Independent Living: Achieving Equality through Direct Payments

Máiríde Woods, writer, researcher, AT Board member

Was a parent of a daughter with a disability

Involved in parents’ organisations and with St Michael’s House

Ex Citizens Information Board – Advocacy Section

AT Board member’s perspective

Ideas about Equality

How to treat people equally & fairly:same treatment in some situationssimilar opportunities in most situationssupport in other situations> equality of participation

Equal compared to whom?

Is equal opportunity enough?

Principles of dignity, respect & as much autonomy as possible > managing your own care package

Equality and diversity – on AT’s Board----------------------------Who should be on a Board?

People who think like us?

Accountants? Solicitors? Other specialists? Just people with disabilities? Other minorities?AT’s board has a variety of members who are committed to choice & independence for people with disabilities.

Oversight

Corporate governance

Responsibility

Reports

Grant applications

Meetings

Boards:engine and/or brakes?

Ordered Finances

Keeping to commitments

Encouragement

More meetings…

More reports…

Hard truths & priorities

Reminder of life being the art of the possible…

Getting new concepts to work

Enthusiasm for greater independence

Demonstrating benefits through enablingefficient management of direct payments

Managing direct payments gives the person with disabilities an active role in decisions about priorities within his own company

Individual choices can be catered for – e.g. more PA time for pigeon-fancying, less for cleaning

Person with disabilities becomes a sub-manager rather than a recipient

Role model effect is considerable in changing perceptions

Opportunity to learn in respectful dealings with funders.

Designing models of independent living is a learning experience & one where people need sensitive support. As a support organisation, AT is building greater competence & efficiency in people with disabilities who have started to run their own services, having formed their own small companies.

AT demonstrates the power of peer support services that are respectful of the person’s moves towards independent living & which use natural supports (family, friends).

Services need to be simplified -complexity excludes!

Walking the walk requires changeLots of policy documents wax lyrical about:

• direct payments• participation on an equal

basis

• consultation with people with disabilities

• control & choice

• changing role of service provider

• variety of service provision

…of person with disabilities & of funding bodies

..competence, hard work & judgment on part of person managing own service.

trust & professionalism from funder (HSE) personal support, advice & mentoring from Support body (AT)

high governance standards from Board

Those who do not learn from clichés are destined to repeat them…

By going out & doing it, you are showing that it can be done!