22 November 2008 - Training day for Professionals

Identifying and assessing the needs of Deafblind children with additional complex disabilities.

A training day for professionals involved with carrying out assessments of need in the context of new disabilities legislation.

Date: Saturday 22 November 2008

Venue: All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin

Time: 10.00am – 3.30pm, including lunch

As you will be aware the Disabilities Act 2005 states that children under the age of 5 with disabilities are entitled to have an assessment of their needs. In this context Deafblind Ireland is keen to offer training to professionals who will be called upon to carry out such assessments.

No survey of deafblind people has ever been carried out in the Republic of Ireland. Based on UK and European research the incidence of Deafblindness averages between 80-100 per 100,000 of the population. Applied to Ireland this would lead us to expect between 3200 – 4000 people with a significant dual sensory loss. A major strategic aim of Deafblind Ireland is to conduct research into the needs and numbers of deafblind people in the whole of Ireland, North and South. With this information we intend to gain recognition of deafblindness as a separate disability and improvements in the number and quality of services for deafblind people.

Deafblind Ireland is pleased to offer this one day training course for professionals. The emphasis will be practical, concentrating on developing core skills in the identification of dual sensory loss.

We are pleased to have as our main speaker Liz Hodges, Head of MSI programme at Birmingham University. Liz is an acknowledge thinker and practitioner in this field.

Lorna Milway, Children’s Services Co-ordinator will share her experiences of working with Deafblind children in Northern Ireland.

Eileen Boothroyd, Head of Education for Sense UK will present the UK policy perspective.

This is a FREE training course and promises to offer practical skills and insight.

I look forward to seeing you on the 22 November.

Best Wishes

Yours sincerely

Ges Roulstone

Chair

Deafblind Ireland