Mehr Infos

68% of people who use disability services in Ireland are dissatisfied with the level of control they have over their own lives; at Áiseanna Tacaíochta (ÁT), we dedicate ourselves every day to changing this. We are the first organisation to offer Direct Payments to people and families with disabilities in Ireland, empowering them to take charge of their own budgets, their own services and, ultimately, their own lives. Direct Payments change the way that people and families with disabilities receive the funding that they are entitled to from the Health Service Executive (HSE), so that they can choose and manage their own services and supports, mainly Personal Assistant (PA). This means that, for the first time, they can ensure these services and supports fit in with their lives, and not the other way around. A Direct Payment is the difference, for example, between a college student making all their lectures as they could hire a PA to start work at 7am, instead of missing everything as they have to to wait for one who starts at 11am. It’s the mother being able to arrange extra speech and language therapy for her young son. It’s the friend being able to meet for a coffee or enjoy a night out, instead of being stuck home alone. These are small, normal choices with big consequences, but, shockingly, they don’t exist for most people and families with disabilities in Ireland yet; we are absolutely committed to opening these opportunities and challenges to everyone.