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Social Workers in Disability (SWID) will host their conference online this year.

Event Programme

9.30      Welcome/ Opening Address from Ciara Lynam, Chair, SWID

9.40-10.35       Eilín de Paor, BSc (OT), MSc (Dev. Dis) M.A.O.T.I

                    Occupational Therapist Manager/ Lecturer/ PhD Researcher UCD

                    Presentation and Q&A

10.45-11.25      Linda Schultz and Mary Greene

                    Day Opportunities Officers, HSE Disability Day Opportunities Service- Dublin South Kildare West Wicklow

                    Presentation and Q&A

11.35-12.15       Olusegun (Olu) Adesiyan

                    Mother and Carer

                    Personal Experience of Transitioning into Adult Disability Services

12.15-12.55      Peer Learning Opportunity

                    Smaller group discussion in Breakout rooms and Reflections on Conference.

12.55-1pm      Close

Context

Due to many developments in children’s health and disability services and more and more children living well into adulthood and beyond, transitions are likely to be part of a social work intervention  when working in the area of disability. Moving from children to adult services is a key transition point; a challenge for families in that it generally involves a move away from longstanding service providers as well as supporting the young person to move into adulthood. This transition is made more challenging when there are inadequate services to bridge the divide and in the absence of a national framework. This conference will look at transitions from a theoretical, service and personal perspective.

Learning Outcomes

The conference will provide

1. A theoretical perspective looking at national and international research on transitioning.
2. A greater understanding of the social work role in assisting those we support to prepare and manage this critical stage and raise issues and advocate for the young people at either side of the process.
3. A personal experience from a family who have undergone this transition.

Speaker Biographies

Eilín de Paor, BSc (OT), MSc (Dev. Dis.) M.A.O.T.I

Eilín de Paor has worked for 25 years in the health and disability sector. She qualified as an Occupational Therapist from Trinity College Dublin and worked in a variety of acute and community roles. Following a 4 year period with Cheeverstown House, she has worked in St. Michael’s House since 2004 in various managerial roles, as well as serving on various operational and strategic groups, design and evaluation of services and guest lecturer and Adjunct Assistant Professor to courses of the UCD Centre for Disability Studies.

Eilín recently commenced a career break from St. Michael’s House, following receipt of a 2022 Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship, to complete her PhD studies with the UCD School of Psychology. The focus of Eilín’s PhD is on exploring the experiences and perspectives of young adults with intellectual disabilities who have recently transitioned from school to adult life, as well as those of family members who support them.

Linda Schultz  & Mary Greene -Day Opportunities Officers

HSE Disability Day Opportunities Service - Dublin South Kildare West Wicklow.

The day opportunities office provides guidance, support and direction to enable people with disabilities and their parents to make informed decisions regarding their adult day services. We work closely with service providers to ensure that all people referred have access to the service which best meets their individual needs.

Olusegun (Olu) Adesiyan

Personal Experience of Transitioning into Adult Disability Services

Olusegun (Olu) Adesiyan is mother and main carer to her son, David. Olu works part time as a carer. David is 21 years old with a diagnosis of Down Syndrome. David has made the transition from preschool, Special School and then moved onto Adult Services at the age of 18 years. Olu will share her personal experience of this transition for her son David.