VOICE want to connect with people in Tipperary who live with disabilities

Online outreach platform VOICE is hoping to build a network of people living with disabilities in Tipperary.

VOICE stands for Virtual Online Inclusive Communities for Empowerment. The project, which is part of Independent Living Movement Ireland (ILMI), has two development workers and operates across seven counties.

The Tipperary Star spoke with Nicola Meacle, who is the VOICE Community Development worker for Tipperary Cork and Kerry.

According to Ms Meacle, their programme aims to help people with disabilities use their voice on issues that affect them.

“This is very new for a lot of disabled people. They might not have ever been asked their opinion or encouraged to give their point of view and there can be that sense of people in suits that they are the experts.

“I remind people, well there is a specific lived experience that can never be replicated. You are a person with a disability living in Tipperary, you know the issues as much as anyone can know the issues,” said Ms Meacle.

ILMI is a DPO- Disabled peoples organisation, which means the board of management and most of the staff are disabled people.

“The aim of the project is to connect disabled people by setting up an online platform in each county. Then disabled people can connect with other disabled people and become used to sharing their opinions and discussing relevant topics,” said Ms Meacle

The programme is growing, and this year, VOICE expanding the services it provides to people with disabilities.

Ms Meacle said they currently provide training for people to learn about the social model of disability as well as tools to challenge barriers and legislation.

The social model of disability focuses on the way society creates barriers for people with disabilities that are outside of the person’s conditions.

Examples might include building access, employment opportunities and accommodation.

“We do all of that in plain english, so it's easy to access, and we take it at everybody's pace,” said Ms Meacle.

VOICE also operates consultation meetings on green papers and law reform to give people with disabilities a platform to voice their concerns.

The most recent is on Wednesday, February 7, at 2:30pm.

“This is for any disabled person in Tipperary, even if you have never heard of VOICE before. This is an opportunity to have your voice heard,” said Ms Meacle.

Ms Meacle said this year, they are launching a peer mentoring program following the recruitment of a dedicated staff member.

A person can avail of a coaching session to work on everything from goal setting to confidence building.

VOICE recognises that not everybody has access to a smart device or they may not know how to use one.

The project has a limited number of tablets a person can apply for, and VOICE can also provide training.

The Future

VOICE as a project, consults with groups, networks and local authorities to make sure the needs of people with disabilities are met in planning.

This is something they hope to expand in Tipperary if local people can get involved.

“What we want to do is create a disabled person’s organisation in Tipperary so we would have a Tipperary DPO.

“So, that means anytime a local government develops anything or expands rural transport or physical infrastructure that they consult directly from disabled people,” said Ms Meacle.

This might include consultation on transport, housing, paths, other infrastructure projects and much more.

“I know there are a lot of cycle lanes, but to make sure that pedestrians with mobility impairments or people who are visually impaired that their needs are recognised as well,” said Ms Meacle.

To this end, VOICE is working to make connections in Tipperary.

Ms Meacle said that in April last year, they had a stand at the Tipperary PPN plenary meeting, they have visited day centres and took part in the Stroke conference in Clonmel last June.

“We got a lot of people coming up and learning about VOICE and seeing how they can get involved,” said Ms Meacle.

For those in Tipperary who would like to get involved in any of VOICE’s activities, you can contact Nicola Meacle on 087 718 9237 or at nicolameacle@ilmi.ie.For more information you can check out the ILMI website here.