Like many frontline healthcare workers, Enable Ireland staff in Mayo are continuing to support people with disabilities across Ireland during the Covid-19 epidemic. Dedicated Enable Ireland staff are providing essential residential, respite, community living and family support, in a way that is safe for all.
Clare Lenehan, Enable Ireland Director of Services Galway and Mayo explained: "Where we can’t provide face-to-face support, our staff are finding creative and innovative ways to deliver clinical and therapy support for children and their families in key areas like physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. We’ve delivered therapy sessions via video and provided home support programmes over email or in some cases hand delivered support packs to people’s homes.
"The ongoing contact and support are vital at a time when many people with disabilities are feeling very anxious and vulnerable to Covid-19. We are using technologies like Facebook groups and video conferencing to stay connected and provide supports. We’ve had a great response from parents and adults who appreciate the support during this time when everyone is confined to home."
Therapy staff including occupational therapists and physiotherapists have put together resource packs for families, which the charity is making available to all parents via their website www.enableireland.ie/Resources4Parents
As a result of Covid-19, Enable Ireland has had to postpone fundraising events and temporarily close their 21 charity shops, including their shop in Castlebar. The charity states it is now facing a potential loss of €1.5 million income in 2020.
The charity is asking members of the public who are at home during this Covid-19 epidemic, to take some time to de-clutter their wardrobes and homes and get ready to donate their unwanted items to Enable Ireland once their shops re-open. You can support Enable Ireland by shopping on their online charity shop www.enableireland.ie/shoponline or donate online at www.enableireland.ie/donate
Enable Ireland is a national charity which employs 1,200 staff and provides disability services to over 8,500 children and adult with disabilities in 15 counties. In Mayo, Enable Ireland has provided community based services to children and adults with physical disabilities and their families since 1992.
Their children’s centre in Castlebar is known as ‘The Safari Club’, and offers therapy and support services to children under six years within a partnership model. For children over six, they provide services from centre based, community settings and in the schools. They also provide social work, family support and assistive technology services to children living in Mayo. Adults with disabilities avail of community supports and assistive technology through Enable Ireland Mayo
