A Kildysart man recently completed a media training course with the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) which was offered to disabled people (self-advocates) over four Mondays in March.
Michael Meere, who is from Kildysart in county Clare, has shared his own story here.
“I am a student at the national learning network in Raheen, in Limerick. I am 44 years of age. Following a cycling accident, I am partaking in an IT program in order to promote my rehabilitation journey. I have numerous conditions and injuries, some which aren’t apparent. I am Chairman of the local (Limerick) & Regional (Southern) advocacy Committees.
I find this work very rewarding, satisfying and interesting. I have been involved in many successful campaigns to bring about change and to help others in need. What gives me determination and motivates me is the fact that I’ve had some very serious accidents and I appreciate how lucky I am.
I have been in the NHR on two occasions and it’s given me huge insight and perspective. I came close to being confined to a bed 24 hours a day with someone caring for me and if I was I would like someone like me that has tenacity and the ability to fight for me and my needs. I have been involved in transport campaigns, got a bus shelter for our local Bus route, conducted a mass emailing campaign so that fellow students also got the 500-euro disability bonus and lobbied successfully for change within our centre, I have also completed many health, hidden disability, costs of living with a disability, pre-budget Video productions etc,
I have many hobbies. I love walking, motorbikes, automobilia collection, fishing, horses, public speaking helping others, animals, GAA couching and swimming,” Michael said.
Michael now hopes to use his newly acquired media skills to continue to raise awareness of disability.
Self-advocacy is essentially the action of communicating and representing one’s needs, views or interests. It is about understanding your rights, speaking up, taking action and taking control of one’s life. Where people cannot speak up for themselves, they are supported to do so by others.
Effective self-advocacy will mean that a person has good information, training, the right support when needed, opportunities to learn by doing, confidence in themselves and will understand that self-advocacy can be at an individual or group level.