This week Derry City and Strabane District Council has been continuing with its campaign to raise awareness and improve services for people with disabilities with Dementia Awareness training for staff, marking the International Day of People with Disabilities (December 03).
The Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, joined staff members during the session, which was led by local support organisation DEEDS - Dementia Engaged and Empowered in Derry and Strabane. It’s just the latest in a series of disability related training events for staff and Elected Members being rolled out this year.
The training follows on from a council motion originally passed in July 2023, setting out Council’s pledge to do more to help the Council area become a Dementia friendly City and District, and providing Members and public facing Council workers with the opportunity to avail of dementia awareness training.
Highlighting the need for more awareness around disability, Mayor Barr said: “This is an issue I personally feel very passionate about, and throughout my time in office, I have taken every opportunity to make my events more accessible and inclusive and to raise awareness about the needs of everyone living with a disability.
“I have worked with disability support groups to organise events like my Inclusive Birthday Party, and tried to shine a light on Council’s ongoing Access and Inclusion work in Arts and Cultural venues, as well as our provision in areas such as Sports Services. Not to mention some of the initiatives to help support the fantastic BUD Club which is my chosen charity for the year.
“We all need to do more to make life easier for those living with the challenges of a disability. Through raising awareness and promoting greater understanding we can make the changes needed to make everyone feel supported and welcome wherever they go in Derry and Strabane.”
Awareness of Disability issues and ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities are key commitments set out in Council’s Equality and Disability Action Plans. Today’s session was open to all staff, but particularly targeted at those in front line roles who may come into contact with the public and those who are responsible for the design or delivery of services to the public. Council’s Elected Members already took part in a training session back in April which generated much positive feedback.
Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, pictured at the Derry City & Strabane District Council ‘Dementia Awareness Training’ in conjunction with staff from DEEDS and held in the Foyle Arena. From left are Maeve McBride, Marie Ward, Mary McSorley, policy officer (equality), DCSDC, and from right, John Barrett, Wendy McLaughlin and Eilish Brown. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)
Speaking after the session, Eilish Brown, Training and Support Officer with the Old Library Trust, who delivered the training, said: “DEEDS are delighted to have the opportunity to deliver our immersive experiential dementia awareness training to Council staff to mark the International Day of People with Disabilities. Dementia, particularly in the early stages, is an invisible or hidden disability, which is why our aim is to raise awareness of the condition. Our goal is to make our city and district dementia friendly, so that people living with dementia have the best opportunities to live well for longer. By becoming dementia friendly, our city and district will become more inclusive. As a result, people living with dementia can retain their independence, feel supported and respected, and crucially be confident that they can still make a positive contribution to community life. What better way to help achieve this than with our own DCSDC staff becoming dementia aware.”
Anyone in need of information or support in relation to dementia can call the team at DEEDS on 02871 373870.
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