VIEW, Issue two,
2012
Destined
to overcome
barriers |
A STAR performance
NICVA’s training team gained a great boost recently when its Big Lottery funded
learning programme for Destined was awarded a STAR award at a ceremony in
Dublin.
The AONTAS STAR Awards showcase teamwork and award recognition to adult
learning organisations, forming part of an Adult Learners’ Festival.
The entry
was based on the delivery of a Big Lottery funded four-day bespoke ILM
accredited learning and development programme for Destined, a support
organisation for people with learning difficulties based in Derry.
Aimed at
helping Destined's directors and management team develop the skills needed to
perform their duties as the decision makers for the organisation, the training
has resulted in eight individuals achieving an ILM Level 3 award in Effective
Management.
Roisin Kelly, Skills Development Co-ordinator at NICVA said “I am so
excited that this programme has won a STAR award, for NICVA but also for
Destined.
“They have all worked hard for their accreditation and deserve
recognition for all their hard work. Five of the group took part in the
shortlisting presentation for the award, and did an excellent job. I am really
very proud of what they have achieved.”
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Róisín
Doherty has used her experiences of growing up with Asperger’s syndrome and
cerebral palsy to help other people with learning disabilities. The 30-year-old
spoke to VIEW about the fulfilment she has found. As a founding director of the
Derry-based charity Destined.
Like most young women, Róisín Doherty enjoys a
full and varied life. She is married to Gary, a mechanic, and the couple enjoy
“the usual kind of things” – nights out at the cinema and their local The
Phoenix, as well as walking their dog.
But Róisín has had to overcome more
barriers in life than most people. She grew up the eldest of four children in a
loving and supportive family, but she still struggled with her disabilitiesand
the attitudes of other people.
“With Asperger’s it takes you a while to learn
stuff – it took me a long timeto learn maths and English and it’s difficult to
make friends sometimes becauseof my communication skills,” said Róisín, speaking
from Destined’s busy office in Derry city centre.
“With cerebral palsy, you get
noticed in the street for walking a wee bit differently. “It’s hard to explain
to people too, because they don’t see the person, they see the disability.”
Róisín attended Foyle View School and later Belmont House Special School in
Derry. Quiet and shy, she suffered some bullying and isolation. “At school I had
a couple of friends but not very many. “Because I went to a special school
myself, it wasn’t as bad as it was outside school. In the street, a lot of
people saw the ‘big bus’ and judged you.
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“You get a hard time because of it, and you want to explain to people what it’s
like, you want to try and make friends, but it’s not possible sometimes.
Sometimes people judge the learning disability before they see the person.”
As
well as her parents, who Róisín said “made sure everything was going well in my
life”, she credits one particular school friend, Ciara, with helping her to
overcome her shyness. “She brought me out of my shell and made it a bit easier
for me. I’ll always remember her being there for me,” she said. Gradually
Róisín’s confidence grew and after leaving school she completed a number of
courses in the North West Institute, gaining NVQs in business.
The Derry woman
has worked for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, the Housing Executive, Marks and
Spencer and an accountancy firm. But it’s through her involvement with Destined,
which was founded by a group of parents including her father Dermot O’Hara that
she has really blossomed.
“Working at Destined gives me a lot of satisfaction
and when I’m helping people I think: ‘I’ve done a good deed today, I’ve
supported people’. I feel good inside that somebody else has had a bit of help
and they’re happy with the support.”
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Róisín said the educational and social activities offered by Destined have had a
huge impact on clients' confidence and independence. “When some people come in
they're so quiet. There are people now who atthe start would have phoned their
mum to come and collect them from Destined or leave them down. But now they walk
to Destined and back up again, so they’re getting out. And there are people
going out at night who wouldn’t have before.”
One of the charity’s aims is to
help people with learning disabilities break down the barriers to
employment.Among its key initiatives is Access to Citizenship, which was voted
Best Health Project in 2010’s National Lottery Awards. The scheme aims to help
people with learning disabilities fulfil their potential and participate fully
in society. Róisín said more of this type of support is needed to get people
with learning disabilities into the workplace. “I’d like to see a lot more
people being able to get jobs, and even if they need a wee bit of support they
should get that. Then after a while they’d be able to do it themselves.“I’d also
like to see more housing for people with learning disabilities so they can live
out on their own more.”
For all her confidence and articulacy, Róisín says she
still gets nervous when she meets new people, and has to tell them about her
disabilities.“At first I might be a bit quiet, and then after a while I come out
of myself when I get to know people.”But one person she never feels
self-conscious around is Gary. “He just sees me as me.”
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