Issue 68: June 2011 - Youth Work Ireland

service. The guidelines are an important tool inhelping create a society that accomadates all peopleregardless of age or ability. An accessible facilitycould lead to fuller inclusion in youth programmesand activities. This can have a major impact on ayoung person with a disability, enabling them to notonly become an active member of their local youthservice, but facilitating community participation,access to education, employment and improvedquality of life.”The development of the guidelines involved takinginto account national and international regulations,best practice guidelines and standards, as well as lifeexperiences of many of IWA’s 20,000 members.Young people with disabilities also contributed to thedevelopment of the guidelines, sharing theirexperiences of inaccessible amenities which theirable bodied peers enjoy.IWA’s Access Guidelines are often used by theAssociation to influence legislation and improveaccess standards in Ireland. By following theseGuidelines, youth services will be ensuring that theaccess needs and requirements of people with aphysical disability are fully met.To download a copy of the Access Guidelines go towww.iwa.ie or request a hard copy form the IWAInformation Department on 01‐818 6485.About Irish Wheelchair Association Youth Services:The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is a nationalorganisation dedicated to the achievement of fullsocial economic and educational integration ofpeople with disabilities as equal, independent andparticipative members of the community.The Association plays a central role in highlightingthe issues which affect its members in their day‐todaylives and their capacity to participate fully andequally in society.IWA as an organisation for people with physical andsensory disabilities advocate and lobby for the:Rights and equality of people with disabilitiesbeing respected and upheld.Social and economic inclusion of peoplewith disabilities.Government to invest in measures thatenact on legislation and enhance the qualityof life for people with disabilitiesThe Association has a vibrant and active youthservice, supporting young people with disabilitiesaged from 13 to 30 years of age. The ethos of theIWA Youth Service is one of partnership andopenness with young members, and all activities aredriven by their needs, wishes and requirements.Other resource materials available from IWA:View from Here Resource ‐ This resource whichcontains a DVD and support booklet has beenproduced to provide a disability awarenesseducational resource for young people. It isinteractive and is ideal for group work sessions as itstimulates discussion and challenges young people,youth workers and volunteers to think about thesimple steps they can take, the attitudes they canchoose and the decisions they can make to improvehow young people with disabilities are treated.Integr8 Resource ‐ Integr8 is a resource guide thatcontains a DVD and support booklet which has beendeveloped to increase awareness of needs, desireand wants of young people with physical disability. Itis designed to help all young people, youth leadersand all those involved in managing youth work toinclude young people with physical disability. There isa tool for carrying out an access audit of a youthservice to see how accessible the building andprogramme is.To download these resource materials please visitwww.iwa.ie /youthFor further information about IWA’s Youth Servicesplease contact Daragh Kennedy, National YouthDevelopment Officer on 087 997 5444 or emaildaragh.kennedy@iwa.ieIrish Youth Work Scene 15 Issue 68, June 2011