Enable Ireland

James and Luke recently had their first ferry experience travelling to Holyhead. Where would you go if it was your first time on a ferry? ⛴️ They had always wanted to travel on a ferry. So, James and Lule went on a mini adventure from North Wall in Dublin to Holyhead, Wales. Their Enable Ireland Personal Care Assistant, Dean, went with them. James and Luke got to experience the VIP lounge and tuck into some breakfast while on the ferry. When they landed they explored the town and did a bit of shopping before it was time to head home. James said it was “a great day out!”. #DisabilityIreland #AccessibilityMatters

💥Introducing Life With No Limits Champion - Jer O’Connor! Jer undoubtedly lives Life With No Limits! He has embarked on some incredible adventures - including jumping out of a plane (twice!) and diving in the Red Sea despite having had a life-long fear of water.💥 “When I was young, I was terrified of the water. I remember going to Ballybunion Beach with my family. Even trying to dip my toes in the water gave me motion sickness. After I was diagnosed, I spent a long time putting off certain things. However, I realised that my condition was getting worse and that my time was becoming limited to do the things I wanted to do in life. I wanted to try and conquer my fears and not let anything hold me back. I told Conagh, my key worker at Enable Ireland services in Kerry, about my phobia of water. She introduced me to Kerry Passion of Diving by taking me to one of their open days. They are a voluntary organisation that specialises in making scuba diving accessible to everyone. That’s when I decided I wanted to overcome my fear and achieve a diving certification. Through Passion of Diving, I achieved the theory part of my qualification in Ireland. To achieve the practical part of my qualification, I was fortunate to take a trip to Egypt and go diving in the Red Sea. We went for a week and spent four days diving. 20 people of mixed abilities went from Passion of Diving and they are the some of the best people I’ve met in my life. Being among the corals, the fish and the different sea life was beautiful. Plus, I achieved my full diving license! Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to go on a few other diving trips, including one to Poland where I dived with sturgeons. I would love to get more people with a disability interested in scuba diving, simply for the freeing feeling it gives you. I’ve learnt it’s important to be open to new opportunities in life and to not let fears or self-doubts restrict you. As well as scuba diving, I try to go skydiving at least once a year. There’s a great sense of exhilaration and freedom to do something where your disability is not a factor. When the parachute opens you get to see the world from a different perspective. It’s made me realise how small my problems are. I’m very proud of myself for taking on these challenges. Next, I’d like to go on a roller coaster or a zipline, as well as trying paragliding or parasailing. There’s a whole world of adventure out there!” Read Jer’s full story – https://lnkd.in/e4bwJ5xv Life With No Limits provides a platform for children and adults using Enable Ireland disability services to share their life experiences. It also raises much-needed funds to support the charity’s work. You can support our work by: 💛 Visiting our charity shops. 🧡Donating to volunteers collecting for Enable Ireland throughout September. 💚Drop a bag of quality pre-loved items into any TK Maxx store or Enable Ireland clothing bank. Or donate online at www.enableireland.ie

Congratulations to Brian who attends our services in Sandyford. He has become an ambassador for The WayFinding Centre. This is an innovative, multi-functional centre which is driven by the need to make transport accessible for everyone. The centre provides practical training and hands-on experience, knowledge and the opportunity to explore all aspects of transport in a safe and controlled environment. Brian is really enjoying his new role there!

There is still time to help improve neurological services in Ireland by sharing your experiences. ✨ Neurological Alliance Ireland's My Neuro Survey is the largest pan-neurological experience survey in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and runs until the 15th of November. The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete. It’s fully anonymous and secure. By taking part you will help improve treatment, services and care for everyone affected by neurological conditions. Complete the survey here: https://lnkd.in/enDtQFJB

It’s the final weekend of the #Paralympics and tomorrow #EnableIreland Ambassador Mary Fitzgerald will be competing in the F40 Shot Put final at 10:35 am. Please join our services in cheering for Mary. We know she’ll smash it! 💪 #LifeWithNoLimits | #TeamIreland | #Paris2024 | Paralympics Ireland

💥14 year-old Molly Marshall, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, is a Life With No Limits Champion. Molly shows life has no limits! She has represented Ireland twice in the AA National Junior Para Athletics Championships in Coventry.💥 “I was quite young when I started athletics. I remember seeing a poster in Enable Ireland for a club called Rebel Wheelers. Then I went to a Sports Ability Open Day and Rebel Wheelers were there. I got talking to them and I decided to try the club. I absolutely loved it! My passion for running started there. “Since then I’ve had the opportunity to compete in both mainstream and para competitions. In 2023, I got to take part in my first international competition. I was chosen by the IWA (Irish Wheelchair Association) to compete and represent Ireland at the AA National Junior Para Athletics Championships in Coventry, England. I went with my mum, dad, and Nell and we had an amazing time. It was exciting to be there with so many athletes who had different levels of ability. Competing in a professional championship felt like a step-up and it was great to compete against people I didn’t know. Plus, I won gold medals in all three events for my disability classification - the Para 100m, shot put, and discus! I was lucky enough to be chosen again in 2024 where I entered the 100m, 200m, and discus.” Read Molly’s full story – https://lnkd.in/easGfzKE Life With No Limits provides a platform for children and adults using Enable Ireland disability services to share their life experiences. It also raises much-needed funds to support the charity’s work. You can support our work by: 💛 Visiting our charity shops. 🧡Donating to volunteers collecting for Enable Ireland throughout September. 💚Drop a bag of quality pre-loved items into any TK Maxx store or Enable Ireland clothing bank. Or donate online at www.enableireland.ie

Thank you so much to the PwC Risk Assurance Team for their fantastic fundraising efforts on behalf of Enable Ireland. 🙏 We are incredibly grateful to have been nominated alongside Cycle Against Suicide to benefit from their Charity Day. PwC colleagues raised €6,000 in support of our services and we are very thankful for their efforts on our behalf. PwC Ireland Careers #PwCProud

It’s September which means the return of our #LifeWithNoLimits Campaign. Throughout this month we will be sharing the stories of Life With No Limits Champions. These are children and adults who attend Enable Ireland services and prove life has no limits! Later this week we’ll be introducing our first Life With No Limits Champion. You can support our campaign this September by donating online, or dropping a bag of quality pre-loved items into any TK Maxx store or Enable Ireland charity shop.

Congratulations to Katie O’Brien and Shauna Bocquet who finished 8th in their respective events over the weekend. It has been fantastic to watch both women who attended Enable Ireland services in Galway represent our country in the #Paralympics. At 12:05 today, Shauna competes in her next event – the T54 1500m (heat) plus Colin Judge, who attends Enable Ireland SeatTech services in Dublin, will be in Table Tennis action at 12:45. Best of luck to both Paralympians! #EnableIreland | #TeamIreland | #Paris2024 | #TheNextLevel

It’s a big day for Katie O’Brien and Shauna Bocquet! Our services in Galway have signs on display in support of the two Paralympians who attended Galway Children’s Services. Shauna is competing in the T54 Women’s 5000m final scheduled for 9:40 am today. Shortly after, Katie and her partner Tiarnan will compete at 9:50 am in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls repechage hoping to secure a place in the final. “Go n-éirí leat” from all Enable Ireland services across the country! #EnableIreland | #TeamIreland | #Paralympics | #Paris2024