Ability West has launched its 60th anniversary celebrations with a series of events across the communities it serves in Galway city and county, with more events planned over the summer.
Ability West has been providing dedicated services to children and adults with intellectual disability and comorbidities across Galway city and county since 1962. The charity is founded on the core ethos of empowering people with disabilities to live self-directed lives in an equal and inclusive society. People are supported and valued within an environment which promotes theirautonomy, health, and wellbeing, and enables them to reach their full potential.
Celebrations began last week with more than 30 events including Mad Hatter’s tea parties, yard and garden parties, a Reeling in the Years event, and art exhibitions, all showcasing the services, people, families, and communities who avail of, contribute to, or volunteer with the extensive services of Ability West. Leo Moran of the Saw Doctors made a brief appearance at a Reeling in the Years party in the Team Day Service in Tuam, and at Snipe Day Service in Liosban Business Park in Galway as part of the celebrations
Throughout the summer months and up to Christmas, Ability West and its community will host a series of celebratory events which will showcase the evolution and growth of the organisation which has embraced much change over six decades.
Also forming part of the celebrations calendar is a series of events showcasing and celebrating successes through sport, arts, music in live productions, and industry work placements. Services of gratitude, prayer, and memorial are also scheduled.
Central to celebrations will be the people involved in Ability West, both those receiving and delivering services and supports. This will highlight the enduring legacy and vision of a group of family and friends who came together voluntarily to support children with intellectual disabilities all those years ago.
Ability West was formed in Galway city by a group of parents and friends who wanted to support children with intellectual disability and their families through health and wellbeing services and societal inclusion for all. Six decades later, Ability West supports more than 600 children and adults across Galway city and county with an extensive range of tailored services and supports in 13 locations and 62 centres. Its headquarters at Blackrock House in Salthill is the base from which all services are co-ordinated. Today, Ability West is also patron of four special schools in Galway, Tuam, Ballinasloe, and An Cheathrú Rua.
Primarily funded by the HSE, the Department of Education and Skills, and continuous fundraising, Ability West employs a team of 640 staff including healthcare professionals, carers, educators, administrative staff, and management. The organisation also has a loyal base of volunteers, who help to inject energy and vision into all aspect of the organisation.
New services introduced by Ability West over the years inclide the Best Buddies programme operated in association with NUI Galway and ATU, which engages students and staff members of both universities in delivering a series of “buddy” services and supports. This and other programmes help to ensure that children and adults with intellectual disabilities achieve their full potential and live valued lives in their communities. Business and corporate partnerships deliver employment and work experience opportunities across Galway for many of those availing of Ability West services, for example engagement with Galway City Partnership’s newest project Inclusive Pathways to Employment.
“Dedicated to enabling people to realise and achieve their goals and ambitions is a critical belief of Ability West," said CEO Dr Audrey Pidgeon. "This is implemented across all levels of our team and with our volunteers, but most importantly those for whom we care, whether children or adults in the community, or in Ability West’s residential services. Testament to this is the extraordinary efforts of the Ability West team to ensure continuity of supports to people throughout all levels of restrictions during the pandemic. The strategic and steadfast growth of the organisation in its 60 year history verifies the ambition and commitment of Ability West to all of our people across all realms of the organisation, but most importantly the people and families whom we support daily. Sixty years is a hugely significant milestone to be celebrated and we’re excited especially after the impact of Covid and lockdown on our people and services.”
For more information on upcoming events and news, or to lend your support, see www.abilitywest.ie and follow @abilitywest on social media.
