Abstract:In July 2005 the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies set up a group called Community Participation and Inclusion to look at how each person with an intellectual disability could live a full active life in their own community. The first thing the group decided to do was look at the barriers and solutions to people who avail of intellectual disability services being involved in their own community. They organised a workshop in Athlone where people who avail of services could give the group their views and opinions. People who attended the workshop had different types of life experiences - some people lived with their family, some lived in a residential place, some shared a home with a friend.

The group learned that some of the problems and barriers people with an intellectual disability experience are the same for people without a disability, such as work commitments or being shy. And some of the problems and barriers experienced by people with an intellectual disability are different from people without a disability, for example, rules made by family, staff or managers about what people can do, where and when they can go, and with whom; and in rural areas particularly, the lack of accessible transport. Common Themes emerged from the consultation on: Friendship, Independence, Attitudes, Choice, Support, Transport, Accessible Information, Advocacy and Disability Allowance.

In support and recognition of these issues, the Community Participation and Inclusion Sub Committee made a number of recommendations to Board of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies on 18th April 2007.