North Tipperary Disability Support Service celebrates 20th anniversary

The brainchild of John Carroll, RIP, North Tipperary Disability Support Service (NTDSS) was set up in 2001 to provide personal support to people with disabilities. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the company, which opened in the Old Church, Borrisokane, before moving to Ashe Road, Nenagh, in 2015 from where service is currently provided to 78 people.

Edel Carey, current chairperson recalls: “In 1998 I was approached by John and Patricia Carroll of Sopwell and asked if I would get involved with Borrisokane Area Network Development (BAND), who were conducting research which identified a huge lack of personal support services in rural North Tipperary.”

It is no secret that people with disabilities prior to the eighties in Ireland were often cared for in institutional facilities. The emergence of the ‘Independent Living Movement’ in the 1990s opened the conversation of providing ‘Personal Assistants’ (PAs) to enable people to live a life of their own choosing.

DISABILITY ADVOCATE JOHN CARROLL

John Carroll who lived with muscular dystrophy was a disability advocate. He had worked with the Tipperary Centre for Independent Living in Thurles as a Leader Co-ordinator and his ambition was to set up a similar service that would benefit people in his own area.

Unfortunately, John did not live to see NTDSS open. His passing left his mother Patricia determined to get the project off the ground. She had supported John in getting a group of people with disabilities together to be proactive in getting support. Some of the original founding members are since departed and to their families we extend our gratitude and appreciation for what they contributed to NTDSS.

Patricia took up the role of CE supervisor when NTDSS opened and later became the Service Manager until her retirement in 2017. She recollects the early days. “John was already successfully using a PA service at home and his vision in setting up NTDSS, was to ensure that others could live a more independent life. When news of the funding came through after John’s death, it really was bittersweet.”

Patricia is now a member of the board of management, continuing to oversee what John had set out to achieve.

PA SUPPORT

PA support was provided in the early days through a Community Employment Scheme with invaluable support from Mary Kennedy, former Community Employment Officer, FÁS, and employed 15 people. Patricia remembers: “We started out with two pens and two notepads and grew from there. It was very humble beginnings.” In 2003 one of our special moments was the visit from former President of Ireland Mary McAleese for our official opening at the Old Church.

It became evident that demand for service could not be met through the CE scheme alone, so a period of lobbying ensued. In the meantime, a generous donation from JP Mc Manus and money raised through two fashion shows organised by Mary Garrigan allowed us to retain staff, one of whom was Ann Ryan, our administrator who is with us from day one, and knows all our trials and triumphs and has been a stalwart employee.

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS

After many flag days, golf classics, fashion shows, mini marathons and church gate collections we eventually acquired funding from the now HSE to provide a continuous service. This was the turning point for NTDSS with support from Fearghal Grey and Maureen Gleeson in the Disability Office of the HSE who have been so effectively supporting our service.

We currently have 43 employees. Service Manager Denise Darcy joined our team in September 2019, replacing Mary Carroll who was Service Manager for two years following Patricia’s retirement. Denise could not have anticipated the first two years that lay ahead for her with the onset of Covid-19 with all the challenges it has posed.

What does it mean to have a Personal Assistant? It means many things, from allowing someone to remain in their own home versus a residential setting to providing social and recreational support and family respite.

SERVICE USER TESTIMONIALS

“I have been a client of NTDSS for the last few years. It’s a service you never imagine you’ll need until you really need it. I was 39-years-old when I was injured and having help at home was the furthest thing from my mind. I was very nervous about accepting help but I needn’t have been. When I arrived home from hospital, Denise introduced me to two wonderful carers who have been instrumental in helping me normalise my life at home. I am forever grateful for the kindness of the staff at NTDSS. Helping me physically is the least thing they do, beyond that-they provide me with company, friendship and emotional support. I can’t thank them enough for the way they have helped me and my family.”

- Daragh

“My service started with NTDSS in 2009. NTDSS is a lifesaver for me as it gives me the support to allow me to concentrate on my illness as my treatments and physio take up to three hours a day to do when I am well, When I am unwell it goes to 6 hours a day. Also I tire very easily and I am not able to do much as the day progresses. NTDSS has been a lifeline to our family down through the years. They have given us so much support in some very hard situations and it has allowed me to keep my independence.We have been so lucky with any of the PA's that have come to our house. They have become part of our family as they have seen first-hand the good days and the bad days in our home. They come with professionalism and patience. They are truly amazing people and we are so blessed to have NTDSS in our lives and forever grateful for all their support.”

- Carol

WORKING TOGETHER

NTDSS works alongside the Tipperary Centre for Independent Living with Anne Bolton and her team and with several disability organisations to provide a comprehensive service to individuals.

The company is overseen by a Board of Management which comprises of people with or having an interest in disability. The work of the Board is governed by the Charities Regulator and the Companies Office. Current members include; Patricia Carroll (founding member), Elizabeth Coffey (founding member), Fiona Heffernan, Joe Tracey, Fiona Leamy, Aoife Donoghue, Margaret Feeney, Daniel Flynn and Edel Carey (founding member).

The Board of NTDSS thank everyone who has assisted us from BAND, to Michael Collins, solicitor, our original funders FÁS especially Mary Kennedy, JP McManus and Mary Garrigan and everyone who helped us during our fundraising years to get ourselves established, to Barry Lamb and Patrick Griffin, to the HSE in particular Fearghal and Maureen, to our Personal Assistants past and present, to our Service Users past and present, to office staff Theresa Murphy and Ann Ryan, and, finally to our Service Manager Denise Darcy who keeps the show on the road with professionalism and dedication.

We want to wish our frontline workers and most importantly, our service users, good health and happiness as we come to the end of our twentieth year of service.

Final words from Patricia: “As we reflect on 20 years, I know John would be very proud of all we have achieved. I would personally like to thank everyone who supported us in any way. We will continue to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities, seeking equality in services provided.”