Charity to host consultation event

In the past three months the group has held workshops at its Feeny office in a bid to identify some of the difficulties of leading a life with a learning disability. The group has also engaged in a consultation process with parents and families to gain insight into the barriers to participating in the community. The organisation has also completed a survey questionnaire to determine the levels of supports for families living in isolated circumstances.

The organisation will be hosting a further consultation event, aimed at parents of children from birth to 12 years of age. This will take place in the Feeny office on Thursday evening next, September 18, at 7pm.

Parents who want to be part of the research are asked to attend the evening, which will include a question and answer session and discussion forum. The aim is to give people an opportunity to voice their concerns and share their experiences of the services, or the lack thereof, in the rural Londonderry district.

Members of DESTINED will collate the information gathered into a document which will be presented to key service providers such as the Western Health and Social Care Trust and Western Education and Library Board’s youth service.

Charlene Keenan, Manager of DESTINED Feeny, said: “We continually hear about the lack of services for people with learning disabilities and their families throughout the north Derry area. Hopefully, through this research project, we will gain a better understanding of the needs of the community that will allow us to lead campaigns for better provision.

“Our last consultation event for parents of adults with learning disabilities brought together many carers who, for the first time, were able to discuss their collective experiences.”

Contact Ms Keenan by telephoning at 02877 781 141 or email [email protected].