Many families, whose child has been diagnosed with a learning need, genetic condition or disability find that it’s hard to locate services and supports for their particular need. We have put together a list of special needs services and supports available in Mayo. If you know of other services or voluntary organisations that we can list here please email [email protected]

Special Needs Resources in Mayo

Disability Advocacy Service

Mayo Citizens Information Service Ltd is operating a Disability Advocacy Project. The aim of the project is to develop a professional advocacy service, which will be central to advocating for people with disabilities particularly people who may feel at a disadvantage when claiming their entitlements.

Advocacy is a means of empowering people with disabilities by supporting them to assert their views, rights and entitlements, ensuring their independence and, where necessary, representing and negotiating on their behalf.

The Disability Advocacy Officer is Clare O’ Neill. Clare is based at Castlebar CIC and can be contacted on (094) 9060371 or by email at [email protected]

Disability Services in Mayo

There are many voluntary organisations that provide information and support to families. We list the ones that have local committees or offices:

• www.loffa.ie a website of the Laois Offaly families for Autism – provides support and an information service for families with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
• Irish Wheelchair Association has an office in Portlaoise and offers information and advice.
• The Special Needs Parents Association provides information and support.
• The National Council for Special Education is a statutory body designed to sanction the provision of Special Needs Assistants in schools.
• www.irishdeafkids.ie is an on-line resource that is offering a new teen life-skills workshop on exam study skills and labeling life goals in Portlaoise (May 14th, 2011)
• The National Council for the Blind in Ireland (www.ncbi.ie) provides information and support services for the blind.

Psychologists (The Psychological Society of Ireland), Occupational Therapists (Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland) and Speech Therapists ( Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists ) can be located through their respective associations.

Resources

This on-line company supplies books especially written for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Down’s Syndrome.

CBeebies is a a nice site for both parents and teachers which gives simple information on a range of special educational needs categories. Articles are written by teachers, parents and family members of people with Special Needs

Other useful links

Office of the Minister for Children – www.omc.gov.ie

Department of Health & Children – www.dohc.ie

Health Service Executive (HSE) – www.hse.ie

Department of Education & Skills – www.education.ie