Outside The Box: September 2005 - May 2006

Programme 39: 30th May 2006

Programme 38: 23rd May 2006

Programme 37: 16th May 2006

Programme 36: 9th May 2006
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the subject of tonight's programme. Guests include:
- David and Claire, both of whom suffer from OCD.
- Lesley Shoemaker, counselling psychologist and adviser to OCD Ireland. www.ocdireland.org
- Sinclair Hamilton, psychotherapist and adviser to OCD Northern Ireland

Programme 35: 2nd May 2006
Tonight, we discuss the forthcoming charities legislation and the impact it will have on the operation of the thousands of charities registered in Ireland. Guests included:

Deirdre Garvey, The Wheel. www.wheel.ie

Kieran Loughran, Disability Federation of Ireland.

Gerry Bohan, a lawyer with expertise in this field.

Programme 34: 25th April 2006
Tonight's programme looked at the problems facing disabled people in setting up a business. A new organisation, The Institute for Minority Entrepreneurship, has recently been set up to assist all minority communities in Ireland, including disabled people, to progress in business. The guests were:

·Dr Thomas M. Cooney, Institute for Minority Entrepreneurship and Faculty of Business, DIT
contact details:
www.thomascooney.com
www.ime.ie

Kath Sutherland, UK Disabled Entrepreneurs Network. http://www.disabled-entrepreneurs.net/contact.html

Programme 33: 18th April 2006
Tonight's programme looked at Dublin city council's efforts to increase access for disabled people around the city. Through the Council's Community Forum Disability Focus Group, a project has been launched called "Access All Areas" where individuals can log specific areas and places where access is difficult. Simply log onto www.dublin.ie and click on the "Citizens Audit Tool" icon.

Guests were:
Brendan Dowling - Chairperson of The Dublin Community Forum
Sean Kinsella, Member of the Disability Focus Group
Peter Finnegan, Dublin City Council

The program also featured an opinion piece from actor, writer and disability advocate, Donal Toolan. Donal spoke about the process of drafting a UN Convention on disability which is currently underway in New York.

Programme 32: 11th April 2006
Tonight's programme featured an in-depth discussion with writer and disability advocate Tom Shakespeare. Tom is Director of Outreach at the Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Institute at Newcastle University in the UK. He is also one of the UK's leading disability rights advocates and has written on such subjects as disability identity, the sexual politics of disability and end of life issues. His homepage is:

www.windmills.u-net.com

Programme 31: 4th April 2006
Tonight's programme focused on Osteoporosis, as the Irish Osteoporosis Society is currently running an awareness campaign.

My guests were: Prof. Moira O'Brien, founder of the Irish Osteoporosis Society, Nick, Ciara and Olive, all of whom have direct experience of osteoporosis.

Contact details for the Irish Osteoporosis Society:

33 Pearse Street,
Dublin 2,
Ireland.

Telephone: 01-6774267
Email: info@irishosteoporosis.ie
Web: www.irishosteoporosis.ie

Programme 30: 28th March 2006

Programme 29: 21st March 2006
Tonight's programme featured an interview with the taxi regulator, Ger Deering, concerning his proposals for the provision of an accessible taxi service for disabled people. The regulator web site is: http://www.taxiregulator.ie/

Also, marking world Downs syndrome day, we featured an interview with Michael McCormack and Susan Clarke from Down's Syndrome Ireland who told us about their plans for the day. They can be contacted on 01-8730999

Programme 28: 14th March 2006
Tonight's programme featured an interview with Mary Keogh and Anne Hayes from the Centre for International Rehabilitation Network. Mary is undertaking a project to audit the status of people with disabilities in countries across Europe, including Ireland.

Take a look at the centre's web site. http://www.cirhomepage.org/

Programme 27: 7th March 2006
Tonight's programme featured exhibitors from the Access & Mobility exhibition which took place on March 11th, 2006. Guests included:

Richard Rider, exhibition organiser and publisher of the Access Directory.

Gordon Lynch - Lyncare. www.lyncare.ie

Dave Carthy www.davecarthy.com

To receive your free copy of the Access Directory, contact Richard Rider on (087) 798-3709 . Alternatively, call the information Department of the Irish Wheelchair Association on 01-8186456.

Programme 26: 28th February 2006
Tonight, we feature three people with intellectual disability talking very frankly about their lives. Laura Jane Dunne and Aimee Richardson, both of whom have Down's syndrome, and Susan Murray, who has a learning disability, open up to presenter Olan McGowan about their experiences of education, employment, relationships and their interactions with other people.

Programme 25: 21st February 2006
Tonight we focus on the experiences of disabled people in third level education and beyond. Specifically, we discuss the Graduates Fair which will happen in the Mansion House, Dublin, on February 28, 2006.

Guests include:
Ann Heelan, Executive Director, AHEAD. (The Association for Higher Education Access and Disability)
Tina Lowe, project coordinator, AHEAD.
Disabled graduates, Niamh Hayes and Frank McGennis.

AHEAD can be contacted on 01-7164395. Website: www.ahead.ie

Programme 24: 14th February 2006
It's been four decades since the drug thalidomide was withdrawn from circulation as a treatment for pregnant women suffering from morning sickness. The catastrophic effects of the drug are well documented, but tonight, three thalidomide survivors discuss how life has been for them over the last 40 years. Tonight's guests were Carmel Daly, Maggie Woods, and Dr Austin O'Carroll.

For people who were, or believe they may have been, affected by thalidomide, and wish to speak to somebody about joining a group, you can contact Dr. Austin O'Carroll on 087-2503643, or Carmel Daly on 059-863-2060.

See also: www.thalidomideuk.com

Programme 23: 7th February 2006
Tonight's programme featured a project initiated by Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind which aims to train guide dogs to work with children with autism and their families. Guests included:

Ken Brydon, Training Manager, IGDB
Dr Arthur O'Reilly, Board Member - IGDB
Maura Keaveny and Moire Skelly, to parents of children with autism who have benefited from the project.

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind contact details:

http://www.guidedogs.ie

National Headquarters
and Training Centre,
Model Farm Road,
Cork.

021 4878 200 or
Lo Call: 1850 506 300
021 4874 152

Programme 22: 31st January 2006
Tonight, we featured the Suaimhneas Clubhouse. Clubhouses are community-based centres where people with mental illness can come to support themselves. They are an initiative of Eastern Vocational Enterprises Ltd, a subsidiary of the Health Service Executive. Guests included:

Claire Brennan (Manager) Suaimhneas Clubhouse, 01-8479911

Margaret Webb (General Manager, E.V.E. Ltd.) 6719664

Iverna, Joe, Andrew, three members of the Suaimhneas Clubhouse.

Programme 21: 24th January 2006
With the disabled sailing world Championships about to get underway in Australia, we interviewed some sailors from the Irish team. People interested in getting involved in disabled sailing should contact the Irish Disabled Sailing Association through their website: www.sailforce.ie

Also featured tonight was the CEDAR Program, an initiative of the Dublin diocese of the Catholic Church encouraging disabled people to get more involved in their church. CEDAR stands for Crosscare Encouraging Disability Awareness & Respect, Crosscare being the social services agency of the Dublin diocese. Guests included:

Fr. Joe Jones - chaplain to the Deaf
Bridget Campbell a blind woman active in her parish
Marie Carroll , Co-ordinator Cedar Programme,
Crosscare is based at Red House, Clonliffe College, Dublin 3. -836 0011 Email mcarroll@crosscare.ie www.crosscare.ie

Programme 20: 17th January 2006
Tonight's programme featured Michael McGrath, the only severely physically disabled person, as far as we know, to have visited both north and south poles. Michael has muscular dystrophy and his foundation aims to eliminate all forms of muscle disease. Check out his website: www.musclehelp.com

Programme 19: 10th January 2006
ADHD - Tonight's programme focused on Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which affects three to five per cent of children. The program also highlighted a new publication from the HADD Family Support Group entitled ADHD and Education: A Resource for Teachers.

Guests included: Stephanie Mahony. Chair of HADD Family Support Group.
Dr Amanda Kirby. The Discovery Centre, Cardiff.
Dr Eddie McGrath. Consultant Paediatrician.

Contact details for Chair of HADD Family Support Group.

Carmichael Centre, Carmichael House, North Brunswick St, Dublin 7
hadd@eircom.net
www.hadd.ie

Programme 18: 3rd January 2006
Christmas and the so-called festive season can be a particularly difficult time for people with eating disorders. Tonight's programme featured Jennifer Banks, who has lived with bulimia for over 20 years. Other guests included:

Margot Brennan of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute

Imelda Redmond, Eating disorders recovery programme, St. John of Gods Hospital Hospital in Dublin.

Jenny O'Reilly CEO of Bodywhys, the national organisation supporting people with eating disorders.

http://www.bodywhys.ie/

Programme 17: 27th December 2005
Five disabled people take a look at the lighter side of living with disability. Guests included:
David Egan
Ann Marie Flanagan
Maggie Woods
Darragh Moore

Programme 16: 20th December 2005
Tonight we discussed the Equal Status Act with particular emphasis on a series of projects being undertaken by the Equality Authority aimed at educating service providers as to how they can reasonably accommodate disabled people. Guests included:

· Niall Crowley Equality Authority

· Sr Brid Smith, a blind person who successfully sued a pub or discriminated against her by refusing her entry with her guide dog.

· Liz Hoctor of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union

· Anne Marie Coneely. Kildare County Council.

Contact the Equality Authority on 01-4173333. Www.equality.ie

Programme 15: 13th December 2005
Tonight we had two reports featuring people with intellectual disability. The first featured the Remember Us Arch Project, a project in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, aimed at integrating children with learning disability with their non-disabled peers.

Project Co-ordinator Nora Roban. Tel. No. 087 2508642
E-mail nroban@hotmail.com
Web pages www.balbriggan.net (click Remember us)

The second report featured the launch of a book called "It's me, it's me" by Jacqueline ODonoghue, telling the story of a young girl with Down's syndrome, China Mc Gowan, and her zest for life.

The book is published by Folens and is available in Eason's and all good bookshops. All proceeds go to the Down Syndrome Centre which was founded by the father of two children with Down's syndrome with the aim of building Ireland's first specific centre to offer treatment services to people with this disability.

Programme 14: 6th December 2005
This program dealt with the sensitive issue of sexuality and disability, with particular reference to people who have learning disabilities. The issue was discussed in depth at a conference organised by the Irish Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. (IASBAH ). Guests included:

Gert Job, Sexuality Specialist
Rita Nugent
Angela O'Riordan and Edel Browne, Family Support Workers for IASBAH
Contact details: http://www.iasbah.ie

Programme 13: 29th November 2005
Tonight we discussed how Ireland is addressing Ireland's approach to its increasingly ageing population. Many disabilities are a natural consequence of ageing. Simultaneously, disabled people are actually living longer. As a result, we will have a much greater disabled population in the future. But are we preparing adequately for this reality?

Guests included:
Sharry Mc Daid, National Disability Authority. (NDA have just produced a report on the subject)
Bob Carroll, National Council for Ageing and Older People
Pauline Conroy, Social Policy Analyst from Ralaheen Ltd.

Programme 12: 22nd November 2005
Tonight's programme focused on the development of architecture over the decades, and how accessibility considerations have played an increasing part in architectural thought. Guests were David Bonnett, a UK architect who contracted polio at a young age, and Fionnuala Rogerson, architect and member of the Accessibility Taskforce of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland.

Programme 11: 15th November 2005
Tonight's programme featured a consultation paper recently published by the Law Reform Commission entitled Vulnerable Adults and the Law: Capacity. The Law Reform Commission will host a conference on December 3 to discuss new structures to deal with capacity. They can be contacted on 01-6377600. The web site address is www.lawreform.ie Guests this evening included:

Patricia Rickard-Clarke I can Law Reform Commission
Dr. Sean O'keeffe - Irish Society of Physicians in Geriatric Medicine
Deirdre Carroll - NAMHI

Programme 10: 8th November 2005
Tonight the issue of disabled parking and the disabled Persons parking card was discussed. Guests included:

Ann Cody, who has organised a monitoring system in Kilkenny
Tony Maher, Irish Wheelchair Association, the principal issuing body.
Owen Keegan, Dublin City Council Director of Traffic
Dr. Ronan Boland, member of Irish Medical Organisation GP Committee & Editor of MyGP.ie website

Programme 9: 1st November 2005
Tonight's programme debated the issue of awards ceremonies in the disability sector, with particular focus on the O2 Ability Awards and the recently-launched Excellent in Accessibility Awards from the National Disability Authority. Guests included:

Donal Toolan
David Egan
Caroline Casey O2 Ability Awards/Aisling Foundation
Mary Van Leishout, National Disability Authority

Programme 8: 25th October 2005
Tonight's programme focused on the importance of Advocacy for disabled people. Comhairle, the national agency charged with providing advocacy services to disabled people, has recently grant-aided certain groups around the country to undertake advocacy projects. Guests included:

John Truelove - Sligo Interagency Disability Group
John Saunders - Schizophrenia Ireland
Helen Lahert and Tony McQuinn, Comhairle
Anne Marie Flanagan

Programme 7: 18th October 2005
Tonight's programme centred on Boardmatch Ireland, a new initiative which aims to support the development of the voluntary and community sector (the nonprofit sector) by strengthening boards and management committees.

Boardmatch will do this by recruiting skilled, talented and diverse people to work voluntarily on the boards of nonprofit organisations. These organisations will, through Boardmatch, get access to skills sets that may not be readily available and, through that, strengthen the board and the organisation. This matching service between people and organisations will happen through this website: www.boardmatch.ie

Boardmatch
tel: 01-4535023

Programme 6: 11th October 2005

Programme 5: 4th October 2005
Tonight's programme focuses on the issue of Special Education, particularly in relation to the new systems being introduced this year following the enactment of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act.

The school of tomorrow will be a far more diverse and inclusive placed inthe school of yesteryear and NAMHI has just published a booklet to let parents, teachers, pupils and all interested parties know what to expect. For a copy of the guidebook, contact NAMHI on 01-6766035

Programme 4: 27th September 2005
This programme discusses Disability and Population Health.

Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) is hosting a National Conference on Disability and Population Health on the 5th & 6th of October in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise. The conference will examine the issues for the Disability Sector in the context of the Population Health approach to healthcare provision. DFI has developed an initial discussion paper on Population Health, which outlines the disability interest regarding the Population Health approach to health policy. For further information please contact Maria Fox, Regional Support Officer, Midlands. Tel 0506 28632, email mariafox@disability-federation.ie

Guests included:
Pat Doorley. Health Service Executive.
Brenda Gannon. ESRI.
Maria Fox. DFI
Dr. Helen McAvoy. Institute of Public Health.

Programme 3: 20th September 2005

Programme 2: 13th September 2005
On tonight's show, a lively debate about the involvement of charities in the provision of state services to disabled people and the choice, or lack of choice, the current model gives.

Guests included:
Donal Toolan, actor, broadcaster and activist.
Frank Flannery, chairman of the Not-for-profit Business Association
Pauline Conroy, social policy analyst
Mary Deane, Medical Director, Royal Hospital Donnybrook

A conference entitled "From Charity to Choice: changing perceptions of about disability" will take place on October 12 at the Stillorgan Park Hotel, Dublin. For further information contact Maeve Nolan, Royal Hospital Donnybrook, 01-4066600.

Programme 1: 6th September 2005
This program looks at how the condition of Asperger's Syndrome, or high functioning autism, may have affected many of history's greatest geniuses. Indeed, it was most probably what gave rise to the extraordinary creative abilities of Mozart, Beethoven, Jack B. Yeats, Vincent Van Gogh and many others throughout history.

The guests are:
Professor Michael Fitzgerald of Trinity College, Dublin
Pat Matthews, director of the Irish Society for Autism
Dr. Roger Newson of King's College London

Professor Michael Fitzgerald's book, "The Genesis of Artistic Creativity", is available from Jessica Kingsley Publishers. www.JKP.com