The HSE provides day services and rehabilitative training for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, or complex physical disabilities. The focus is on supporting people to participate in the mainstream activities and in the life of their community, in line with their wishes and needs.
Day services provided in line with New Directions policy enable people with disabilities to access to a range of supports and activities on a one-to-one basis and in group settings. The level of support will depend on the particular needs and abilities of each individual. Activities vary from centre to centre and depending on the interests of the people who attend each service.
Support to access training and employment is dependent on each individual’s support needs. Programmes and modules may include:
• Social skills
• Independent living
• Work experience
• Work related social skills
• Work related money management
• Time management
• IT skills
• Community information
• Travel training
People with disabilities who participate in rehabilitative training or day services have the opportunity as part of their person-centred plan to develop the social and work-related skills that may assist in their progression to mainstream services. Day services support people to identify future goals and aspirations and will help to identify pathways to mainstream services, such as further education or training provided via ETBs or colleges. They can also assist with job sampling or finding short-term work experience for people who wish to find employment, or support in accessing mainstream employment services.
In the wider context, my Department is leading discussions at whole of government level to re-examine the scale of ambition and programme of work to be pursued in relation to removing the barriers to employment for persons with disabilities during the ongoing process to develop the next National Disability Inclusion Strategy.
