Date: Thursday, April 27th 2017 from 10:00 – 4:00pm (registration from 9.30am)

Venue: The Mullingar Park Hotel, Westmeath

Audience: Persons with a disability, family members, policy makers and professionals.
Cost: People with a disability and family members on a low income €15 all others €30

From Brisbane, Australia, Jeremy and Margaret Ward are parents whose eldest daughter, Mena, lived with disability and required support to live in her own home, which she did successfully for over 10 years.

Jeremy’s older sister also lived with a significant disability all her life. He has many years experience in disability advocacy, in the law as it relates to people with disabilities, and in assisting families to plan for the future. He continues his interest in the areas of future planning, leadership development and advocacy. Jeremy recently published The Shouted Goodbye, his memoir of reflections on his life with his daughter Mena.

When Margaret became Mena’s mother, she found herself being an advocate, writing policy and establishing services that respected families; all in an effort to make a better life for Mena and other people with disability. Margaret is particularly interested in inclusive design in housing and communities. Mena showed her firsthand how important it is for everyone to have a safe, affordable and welcoming home and a loving family. Margaret also learnt firsthand the importance of working in “right relationship” with paid staff to help Mena build a good life.

This workshop explores how to create a partnership between families and services that really works. It includes:

  • Identifying what makes a good life;
  • The importance of a vision and plan;
  • Understanding what is family business, what is service business and what can be shared;
  • How to make the most out of what you have, and then some; and
  • What families can do now for a future when they are no longer around.

FAQs

  • Tea/Coffee and sandwiches included in ticket price.
  • Parking Provided free of charge at hotel.
  • Full refund given up to 25/04/17.