PICTURES: Offaly Centre for Independent Living holds inspiring Leaders Engagement Day

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Offaly Centre for Independent Living which covers both the Faithful County and Laois held a service known as 'Leaders Engagement Day'.

The conference was led by keynote speaker Joanne O'Riordan and CEO of Disability Federation of Ireland, Elaine Teague.

The purpose of the day was to highlight and identify the real issues and challenges about rights, representations and independent living for people with disabilities in Laois and Offaly.

Elaine Teague started her presentation by reflecting on the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for people with disabilities. She said: "This is a moment in time to pause, reflect and celebrate that for the first time ever people with disabilities are at its core”.

The strategy outlines a course for disability policy across government for the next five years with the ambition for to drive real change. 

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It's vision is to ensure full participation in Irish society on an equal basis with others as disabled persons have a right to a life without borders. 

Ms. Teague was quick to stress that strategy alone will not change lives and implementation is everything. She highlighted the huge need for support to enable persons with disabilities to engage and participate in community life on an equal basis. 

The keynote speaker, Joanne O'Riordan from Cork is one of seven people in the world living with a rare physical condition known as Total Amelia which means that she was born without al four limbs. 

Joanne has been a vital activist for people with disabilities and has used technology to enhance her abilities in both education and her wider social environment. 

Joanne has been a huge inspiration to others and was quick to encourage those in attendance to make their voices heard and stressed that their voices matter. 

She welcomed the new National Human Rights Strategy and its implementation across all government departments. 

Offaly Centre for Independent Living is one of the leading providers of Personal Assistant Services in Laois/Offaly, and the organisation is enshrined by the philosophy of independent living.