National leadership roles for local DSI volunteers

Two members of the Longford and Westmeath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland recently took posts on the top table of the national representative body.

Last weekend’s Down Syndrome Ireland Annual General Meeting saw two well known members of the local branch selected for national leadership roles that will see them advocate for people with Down syndrome across Ireland.

Former Longford Westmeath branch chair Martina Kelly (Longford) was elected President of Down Syndrome Ireland at the AGM held at the Clayton Hotel, Leopardstown.

Martina has been a tireless volunteer and advocate at branch level for many years, her election to the presidency is an enormous achievement for her personally and a source of pride for families and supporters in Longford and Westmeath.

Also from the branch, Fintan Bray (Westmeath) was ratified as Chair of Down Syndrome Ireland’s National Advisory Council (NAC).

Fintan, who has been active both locally and nationally in advocacy and civic life will now lead the NAC in its role of representing the opinions and lived experience of adults with Down syndrome and bringing those voices directly to the organisation’s board and decision makers.

The NAC is a council of adults with Down syndrome from across Ireland whose purpose is to ensure that the views and priorities of people with Down syndrome are central to Down Syndrome Ireland’s work.

The council meets regularly, holds its own AGM and invites the board to update them on organisational plans and initiatives.

The NAC has been active in campaigning and advocacy on a range of public policy and practical issues including accessible transport, voting rights, employment, and education for people with Down syndrome.

In recent months, the NAC has also met with senior political figures to raise these issues directly. Martina and Fintan will both champion practical actions that improve lives, guided by the lived experience of people with Down syndrome.

Martina and Fintan’s elections are an important reminder that people with Down syndrome are leading, shaping and informing policy at the highest levels in Ireland.

John Fitzpatrick, is the PRO of the Longford & Westmeath Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland: “We're a parent lead branch, like all DSI branches in the country. We focus on life skills for our members.”

DSI fills the care gaps the State cannot manage: “We provide service that the HSE should provide, but do not. We supplement speech and language, as well as physical and occupational therapy. We focus on a holistic approach from the time they are born and into adulthood.”

The continuation of education is another area that DSI facilitates: “We provide cookery and horticulture courses, as well as numerous social events throughout the year. There are also sibling assistance and wellness supports available.”

Speaking on his selection Fintan Bray, the newly ratified chair of the National Advisory Council, said: “I’m delighted to share that I’ve been officially ratified as Chair of the National Advisory Council (NAC) of Down Syndrome Ireland. It’s an honour to represent the voice of adults with Down syndrome at a national level.

“When I first joined the NAC, I was just a member. Later, I became acting Chairperson, and now I have the privilege of leading the Council. Before that, I was involved with the Regional Advisory Council (RAC), where I represented our region and spoke up for what we wanted.

“Both the Regional and National Advisory Councils exist to give people with Down syndrome a voice, our voice and to show our ability, not our disability. We represent ourselves and people all over Ireland who were born with Down syndrome, ensuring that our perspectives and experiences are at the centre of decisions that affect our lives.

“If you would like to join either the Regional Advisory Council or the National Advisory Council, please contact me or Down Syndrome Ireland we’ll be happy to help you get involved.”

Martina’s presidency and Fintan’s chairing of the NAC creates a direct channel from Longford and Westmeath to the national leadership of Down Syndrome Ireland, strengthening our branch’s ability to influence services and supports that matter to families here and across the country from services, school and adult education support, to employment initiatives and community participation.