Hub na nÓg’s Post

Very useful toolkit from Hub na nÓg on including children under 5 years old in decision-making. This age group is often left out from participatory processes so this is a very rare resource on the issue. #childrights #childparticipation #earlychildhood

As professional researchers, these numerous examples of “good practice” might offer us concrete ways to involve young children in decision-making processes. They also highlight how we can avoid hindering their decision-making freedom from an adultism-critical perspective. Thank you for this insightful toolkit! #ChildParticipation #GoodPractice #Adultism #Research #ParticipatoryResearch #Toolkit

What high risks cases of GBV do we need urgent funding for women with disabilities? 🔹 Accessible Services: Ensuring that support services, shelters, and resources are fully accessible and accommodating for women with various disabilities. 🔹 Specialized Care: Providing tailored care, including medical assistance, counseling, and rehabilitation programs that cater to the unique needs of women with disabilities. 🔹 Empowerment Programs: Offering empowerment initiatives, skills training, and education to empower women with disabilities and help them regain independence. 🔹 Advocacy and Awareness: Raising awareness about the intersection of disability and GBV, advocating for policies that protect these women, and promoting a culture of inclusivity. Unless these high risks cases are addressed with preventable conscience, spaces would be safe and free for all citizens.

Empower yourself to make a real difference! Our Trauma-Informed Advocacy course is designed for professionals like YOU who support women, girls and gender diverse people with disabilities. Co-designed with women with disabilities, this course equips you with the knowledge and skills to provide safe, trusted, and trauma-informed advocacy. Gain valuable insights into: • The impact of trauma and how it can be processed • Trauma-informed principles for effective support • Practical strategies for creating a safe and empowering environment This course is relevant to all professionals – whether you work in disability support, domestic and family violence services, healthcare, education, or community work. Invest in your professional development and become a champion for positive change. Visit Neve's Professional Development Hub today by clicking on the Log in button in the top right hand corner of the website! [https://buff.ly/4aN9Gp1 ] [Image Description: A person with white skin, short brown hair and a green t-shirt is speaking in sign language to a person facing away from the camera with long blonde hair and an olive green jacket. In a white text box with a purple flower frame reads: "Trauma-informed advocacy for women, girls, feminine identifying and non-binary people with disabilities. Free online course. Now available in the Professional Development Hub." The white Neve logo is in the top-right corner.] #NeveWWDA #ProfessionalDevelopment #TraumaInformed #DisabilityAdvocacy

Our October recommendation is Included: A book for all children about inclusion, diversity, disability, equality and empathy by Jayneen Sanders. This book introduces the reader to six wonderful kids: Sam, Rishi, Jay, Audrey, Ty and Zara. The aim of this story is to ensure all kids understand that kids with disability are just like kids everywhere. They love playing games, books, making stuff and being silly. They have things they are good at and things they need to work on. And just like kids everywhere they want to feel safe, loved and included. This book provides the reader with ways they can be more inclusive in their play and encourages the celebration of diversity in all its unique and wonderful forms. Children will come away with a growing understanding that people everywhere have differing abilities, and this only makes the world a more colorful, exciting, diverse and amazing place. [Image description: Book cover for "Included: A book for all children about inclusion, diversity, disability, equality and empathy" is a light-yellow background illustrated with drawings of a variety of children of different abilities represented.] #BennettsVillage #APlaceForAllToPlay #Play4All #ItTakesAVillage #InclusivePlayground #InclusivePlay #InclusivePlaySpace #PlayIsLearning #DesignForAll #BuildCommunity #PlaygroundFun #Accessibility #InclusionMatters #Inclusion #AllAbilities #LoweringBarriersToPlay #Charlottesville #CharlottesvilleVA #CvilleVA #BennettsVillagePlaySpace #AccessiblePlaySpaces #AllAbilitiesWelcome #ILoveCville #AlbemarleCounty

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman today published the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making: Action Plan 2024-2028. This Action Plan builds on the ambition and achievements of the first National Strategy on Children and Young People's Participation in Decision Making and aims to further promote the inclusion of children and young people in decision making at all levels – in the home, in school, in their communities and at national level. The successful implementation of this Action Plan will, in the short term, result in the views of children and young people being harnessed to inform policy, services, legislation and research that is relevant to their lives. Their views will also be sought in evaluation and monitoring of relevant services and policies. Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Gorman said: “Ireland is a world leader in participation practices, being the first country in Europe to have a dedicated Participation Strategy for Children and Young People. I am pleased to be able to further progress this important focus with the publication of this Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making: Action Plan 2024-2028. The ambitions of this Action Plan will see the voices of children and young people embedded in decisions made across more Government Departments and Agencies than ever before. Public policy can only be improved in the recognition of children and young people as citizens of today, not just adults of the future.” Full Press Release Here: https://bit.ly/49C11F8

How often do we come across public decision-making that involves children and young people? Perhaps it will become a more common occurrence in Ireland over the next few years, if we succeed in implementing Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, 2023-2028. This policy framework aims to ensure that the voices of children and young people are embedded in decision-making in their homes and their communities, in education,  in health and social services, in legal processes, and in the development of legislation and policy. The framework states: “Children and young people are experts in their own lives, and adults do not always know how children feel, what they think or what they like, and must give due weight to children and young people’s views in decision-making processes.” (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, 2023:24). In addition, it is encouraging to see that the framework itself was developed in consultation with over 1,200 children and young people across Ireland. https://lnkd.in/eWupju2N

Authentic consultation is essential for deep understandings and effective responses

📢 “No one should experience violence because of who they are.” Persons with disabilities—especially women, girls, and children—face heightened risks of GBV because of stigma, exclusion, and systemic inequalities. Too often, they remain invisible in programmes and policy discussions, leaving their rights unmet and their safety compromised. The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women highlights the urgency of disability-inclusive approaches in GBV prevention and response. From accessible reporting systems to empowering organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), we must build pathways to safety and justice for all. On Day 9 of the #16DaysOfActivism—and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities—our message is clear: inclusive solutions are not optional—they’re essential! Together, let’s break barriers and create environments where every person, regardless of ability, can thrive. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dHGKtsCH #LeaveNooneBehind #DisabilityInclusion #EndGBV #HumanRights #EndVAWG #IDPD2024 #UNPRPD #FODSWA #DPMO #UNEswatini UNICEF

Next weekend marks fifty years since the ACC system "began". Its architects envisaged a single system for all disabled people. However, it was never realised. Recent media issues have highlighted the massive issues with what we are doing now, and the impact on the lives of disabled people. It's time to put lived experience at the centre of any discussion and have an honest conversation about how we structure, deliver, and fund disability services. We can't keep doing what we're doing. A few years ago, someone spent time thinking and writing about a significant innovation by designing a single system. It combines the best of the ACC model, including integration at the point of service delivery, a sustainable funding model, and a rights-based system that can be enforced, with the principle-based approach from Enabling Good Lives. It would see four enforceable rights, six principles of expansion, and a great foreword by Dr. Huhana Hickey MNZM PHD. Most importantly, it can be done. Chapter 3 sets out a plan on how a system like this can be realised and operational in five years. Together, we have the opportunity to create a system that works for everyone. Let's discuss this with friends, colleagues, leaders in the disability community and politicians. This is not an issue that needs to become a political football. This issue needs collaboration and leadership to finish the job that was started half a century ago.