Inclusion Ireland to run Communication and Skills Course in Dundalk

Inclusion Ireland, the national association for people with an Intellectual Disability are offering a  Communication and Skills Course in Dundalk commencing in April . The course will run on April9,16,23,30 and on  May 7, 14, 24.
The location for the course is:
Partnership Court, Park Street, Dundalk

This exciting course aims to empower parents and to encourage them to be as effective as possible for the challenges they meet. The work is centred on the considerable expertise of parents, and involves parents in a series of workshops.

The Course will take place for two hours, (10am-3pm)  one day a week, over seven weeks. Cost to register is 30 euro which will be refunded on completion of the course.

The course is based around a book called 'People Skills' by Robert Bolton. The main elements of the course are;

• Self care to prevent burnout.
  
• Stress management as a means of reducing stress.
  
• Mutual support for accessing support for self and others.
  
• Networking and learning from other parents.
  
• Listening skills as a means of enhancing relationships (both within the family and with service providers).
  
• Assertive skills as a way of claiming rights and having needs met.
  
• Information to ensure awareness and confidence.

Contents of the Sessions will include:

Setting the scene; Introductions, overview of the session; sharing family details; dealing with stress and caring for oneself.

Reactions and feelings of parents to the diagnosis of disability; sharing experiences; approaches to mutual support.

Developing assertion skills as a means of advocating for oneself, one's family and others.

Revision and integration of the skills of the sessions.

There is some role play but that is always fun. Parents are never overwhelmed by the course.

Parents who have attended this course have said: "you have changed my life, I wish I had done this years ago" and "I wish this course could go on, I have learned so much".

The other important part of the course is that it is run by parents, Frieda Finlay and Anne Lawlor. Frieda and Anne are trained as facilitators and have all the experiences and empathy as parents themselves.
 
APPLICATION FORM

Registered Office: Unit C2, The Steelworks, Foley Street, Dublin 1. Tel: 01 8559891 Fax: 01 8559904 Email: info@inclusionireland.ie