The Mayo Advocacy Service for

People with Disabilities

Advocacy Officer: Clare O’NeillTel: 094 9060371 087 2266023

mayo.disabilityadvocate@citinfo.ie

The Mayo Advocacy Service

for

People with Disabilities

One of 52 projects funded by Citizens Information Board (Comhairle)

Working with people from all disabilities groups living in the community

Based at Citizens Information Centre

Managed by a Steering Committee (Reps from disability service providers, DFI, HSE and Mayo Co Co)

The Advocacy Service

Assists people

to claim their entitlements,

to access services,

be taken seriously

and

have their voices heard

Based on the principals of:

Empowerment (choice and influence)

Respect for the client’s wishes

Act in the clients best interest

Act independently

Confidentiality

Act diligently and competently

The Mayo Advocacy Service is represented locally..

Local Social Policy group (CIS) Mayo Co Co led Disability Forum Mayo Co Co rep - steering Committee Mayo Co Co – Internal Access Committee HSE led Physical and Sensory Planning group Ballina and Castlebar Community Network

Groups Ballinrobe Disability Forum

The Mayo Advocacy Service Experience

The issues that challenge the service, including examples.

How can we work better together

Challenges

Understanding the role

of an Advocate

Challenges Lack of information and clarity

Housing list, points system, scheme of letting priorities

Inflexibility of the system

Challenges

Address the specific needs of the client e.g. Child with autism Disability not always = physical

disability

Challenges

Communication: Volume of written correspondence and calls Personal and family information FOI file - not reflective, calls not recorded 6 weeks to arrange meeting – no decision

makers at the meeting 2.5 years – one meeting with senior decision

maker 6 months of phone calls and correspondence to

the engineer in charge, one of two small jobs completed

Challenges

Language

Delays in delivery of service Time it takes to resolve issues Inflexibility Impact on people with disabilities

Repetition of issues

Reasons to be cheerful… Individuals are very

helpful Positive change for

clients Continuous learning

and improvement Improved working

relationship

Positive examples: Traveller family

with three people with disabilities

Couple with ID Father with

physical disability

How we can work better together Think people not systems Give clients the opportunity to be listened to

and taken seriously The Advocacy service knows the client - asset

to resolve issues Seek solutions Training Joint training between agencies

(Customer service – a social policy issue)

The Mayo Advocacy Service for

People with Disabilities

Advocacy Officer: Clare O’NeillTel: 094 9060371 087 2266023

mayo.disabilityadvocate@citinfo.ie