Know Your Rights Night- For Parents of Children With Special Needs
May 9, 2008 – 9:32 amRelease Communication Intervention and Irish Autism Action Hosts
Know Your Rights Night
28 May 2008
7:30pm
Fairways Hotel, Dublin Rd, Dundalk
Everything you wanted to know about your
entitlements but were afraid to ask!
Speaking:
Jacinta Walsh, Information Officer, IAA, Dundalk
Sarah Rennick, Information Officer, IAA, Ireland
Additional Speakers to be announced
Questions and Answers to Follow
Tea, Coffee and Biscuits will be Served
2 Responses to “Know Your Rights Night- For Parents of Children With Special Needs”
i am a mother of an 12 year old downs syndrome child.i had 6 hours of home support but the person that was doing it got a better job offer so i have been left without any support.Ihave been waitng 12 months to get someone new.I ring the office to find out if there is any progress on getting someone,i get the brush off,they say they’ll contact me but it never happens.I am at my wits end.I do not know what to do,my husband is suffering from high blood pressure.I feel i am being let down badly,i would’nt be asking for this help unless i really needed it.the summer holidays will be upon me soon,i do not know how i’l cope.
By kathleen barry on May 6, 2009
Hi Kathleen,
I wanted to give you the best answer possible, so I asked an information office friend for some suggestions for you, as well as other professionals who attended the Know Your Rights Night.
I hope these replies are helpful for you:
Information Officer:
I would usually say to parents that if they can identify someone in their local community – or a family member – they can approach the hse team and ask that this person be employed – subject to interview and all the usual garda checks. This has worked in the past – I have done it twice to ensure my own home help hours were delivered – however I would also say that with the freeze on hse taking on more staff this may not now be possible – but it’s worth asking!
Mum should also approach Downs Syndrome Ireland 01 4266500/1890374374 or Inclusion Ireland 01 85559891 and ask for an Advocacy Officer to take on her case and fight for delivery of the support she needs.
SLT:
If you are eligible for the Domiciliary Care Allowance maybe you could use that to pay for home support? You might have to find your own home support worker- I’d suggest posting on rollercoaster.ie as you might get other parents with advice for you there…
By Jennifer on May 8, 2009