Event fee includes lunch and refreshments.
We are delighted that both Deputy Emer Higgins, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability and Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children, will speak at the conference.
The Disability Special Interest Group (SWID) was established as a forum for social workers engaged in all areas of disability services. Membership includes practitioners from Children’s Network Disability Teams, adult disability services, hospitals such as the NRH, and voluntary agencies.
This full day event will focus on recognising the right of children and adults with disabilities to be decision-makers in their own lives. We will explore active participation by children with disabilities in choices and decisions about their lives and services, and promote the will and preference of adults with disabilities examining what this means for Social Work practice.
Social Workers in Disability work in partnership with people with disabilities, their families, carers, colleagues and service providers. Our role is to advocate, assess needs and barriers, coordinate services, provide emotional and practical support, and empower individuals to enhance their quality of life and live more independently.
| 09:00 | Registration, tea/coffee and scones |
| 10:00 | Conference Welcome - SWID chair Mary Lynch |
| 10:10 | Strengthening Children’s Voices in Decision‑Making Beth Ferguson, Hub na nÓg, Deirdre Reidy, DCDE & Sarah Page, Senior Social Worker, Coastal CDNT |
Lisa Flanagan is Senior social worker in Prosper Fingal, a section 39 agency that supports adults with an intellectual disability. Lisa has worked in child protection and has over 20 years experience in the field of intellectual disability. Lisa has been facilitating Relationship and Sexuality Education in the area of intellectual disability for 18 years and completed a course in Sexuality and Relationship Education with Callan Institute in 2016. Lisa also completed the LGBT Ireland Champions training in 2022 and has a keen interest in developing supports in this area for adults with an intellectual disability.
Maria Gates is a Senior Social Worker in Prosper Fingal, a section 39 agency that supports adults with an intellectual disability. Maria is an experienced social worker having worked in a variety of fields including mental health both child and adult; medical social work and child protection. Maria has over 20 years experienced in the field of intellectual disability. She has also been facilitating Sexuality and Relationship Education with adults with an intellectual disabilities for over 9 years. Maria completed the LGBT Ireland Champions training in 2022 and this gave her the skills and knowledge to develop supports for the LGBT community in the field of intellectual disability. Maria will be co-presenting with service users on a LGBT Social Group for adults with an intellectual disability.
