Date for Your Diary: National Two Day Conference

"We Can't Opt Out Of The Future."

21st & 22nd November 2007

Voluntary disability organisations have been to the forefront of promoting the inclusion and wellbeing of people with disabilities. They have a critical role to play in assisting people with disabilities to gain access, as equal citizens to all aspects of Irish life; this includes the provision of specialist services and in enabling people with disabilities to access services available to members of the public.

The conference focuses on the continued importance and changing role of disability organisations in the new environment being shaped by the Government's commitments in the National Disability Strategy (NDS) and Towards 2016 to the mainstreaming of supports and services to people with disabilities. A key tool to achieving this goal will be the ability of all organisations both voluntary and statutory to work better together.

Towards 2016 states that

"every person with a disability would …in conformity with their needs and abilities, have access to appropriate care, health, education, employment and training and social services…be supported to enable them, as far as possible, to lead full and independent lives, to participate in work and in society and to maximise their potential."

There are already many examples of joint working in the delivery of supports and services for people with disabilities. This conference aims to build upon this experience and to explore:

1. the centrality of joint working to the delivery of the NDS;
2. give an overview of different ways and means of joint working;
3. discuss joint working in Irish context;
4. identify what supports and what hinders joint working, and
5. allow organisations a time to learn from one another's experiences and concerns in relation to joint working.

The NDS and Towards 2016 offers a roadmap for the future supports and services to people with disabilities. This conference will assist organisations to prepare for this future.

Who Should Attend?

Representatives from voluntary disability organisations or statutory agencies interested in delivery of supports and services to people with disabilities.

Further information and booking details to follow.
For queries please email: conference@disability-federation.ie.