In 2015 we attended a one day workshop run by Leap focused on empowering families towards creating an ordinary life for their child with disability. At that point we had been learning to live with a complex physical and intellectual disability diagnosis for our son Ed. We could not articulate what we wanted for him, but we were certain that we did not want him to experience a life of exclusion and special, away from his siblings and other children.
Following the workshop with Leap we started to understand that we needed to change our language and how we spoke about Ed towards a strength based, positive articulation of who he is. We sat with our children and discussed what they imagined a good life to be, and interestingly all three held the same hopes for their life. The reality that we could be the leaders in Ed’s life while he was growing and navigating his childhood became obvious. We started to outline a vision for Ed’s future, one where he would work within his community, within a valued role, contributing his expertise and value in a meaningful way. This vision became our destination and all decisions that we make are guided by it.
Recognition of Ed’s strengths provided a foundation for decision-making for Ed. It assisted in the decision around where he would attend school. Ed attended mainstream primary school, and remained in his class every day with the support of a shared SNA. We were able to outline our vision clearly to each teacher and as a result they applied their expertise to ensure that Ed was educated using a universal design for learning approach. This allowed him to demonstrate his understanding of the knowledge gained in a way most suited to his strengths. Ed moved on from primary to secondary school. Again, thanks to the language learned and support from Leap, Ed continues to enjoy his educational journey, surrounded by his peers, in an inclusive classroom. Ed is being knitted into his community, willingly, and he is experiencing a welcome that is true and genuine. It is not based on a “special needs” approach, but rather it is based on a recognition of his unique abilities and wonderful imagination and creativity It is tempting to pick the safe route for my wonderful son, yet the” tougher” route will be the one that provides a more meaningful and fulfilling future.
Today Ed will be attending the local drumming camp. He will independently take the bus there and back. He will hang out with his peers. He will have the life of any other 14 year old. We do not need to access service, he is entitled to July Provision, but because he is knitted in community, he does not need it. This has not happened by accident, rather it has been intentionally created by his family and friends with the support of Leap, buoyed by the vision for his ordinary life, his good life.
Ultimately our vision remains unwavering; Ed will work in a paid job where he thrives, included and valued as part of his community. He will live interdependently, supported by friends and family. He will live a good life, thanks to the support of Leap in helping us to articulate and clearly outline our vision for his future.
I learned more from the Leadership for Inclusion weekend than I thought possible, it was very powerful shared with like-minded group of people who want their son or daughter to live an inclusive, ordinary life. These are the moments where ideas grow wings and fly and our children and young adults get to live happy, fulfilled, inclusive and ordinary lives. I left Galway with fire in my belly.
The work that Leap do is crucial. Without their experiential wisdom and training for Families, the life our family member would have taken an entirely different trajectory. They have been instrumental in keeping us on track to create a good life for our son, where he is a valued member of society. The weekend workshops have given us the resolve to carry on. It’s really important to meet other families, hear their stories and to support each other on our journeys. We have learned that an ordinary life, not a special one is what makes for a good life. Everyone has a different type of intelligence and has something valuable to offer their community. It is crucial that Leap continue their good work, offering more workshops to other families to support our often invisible citizens to be fully visible and celebrated for who they are.
My story reflects my experience as a parent of a non-verbal daughter who has complex physical disabilities. A vision wouldn’t work for us without a personal budget and a personal budget alone without a vision cannot give you a good life. In our case both are necessary.
Pre Leap
Subconsciously we were overprotective parents which wasn’t working in our daughter’s favour. We Didn’t fully understand/believe in our child’s abilities, gifts and dreams and therefore were setting the bar too low. Our daughter had no independence to go anywhere or do anything, we were not really planning the future or daring to dream. As a family we were withdrawn from society – turning down invitations, staying at home all the time, not able to stay away from home unless our daughter was in respite.
With Leap
Leap helped us and everyone else to really ‘Believe’ in our child and the amazing qualities she has to offer. The work on ‘Discovery’ (facilitated by Leap) revealed an ambitious, talented young lady with so much to offer the world. This step was instrumental for creating a vision for our daughter. Leap showed us that there is a ‘good life’ out there for our child, which gave us the confidence and support to go on the journey for an inclusive life. They walked alongside us for all aspects of setting up a good life.
They shared the global research on poor outcomes for individuals not living an inclusive life. They encouraged and participated in the setting up a Circle of support – an invaluable resource for wonderful ideas and general support. We learnt that we absolutely cannot go this journey alone.
Our daughter is doing things now I never dreamed she would do ever do. We (parents) also have a lot more independence now in our own lives to pursue other work and interests.
Our daughter is happier and healthier than ever and full of the joys of life and that makes us incredibly happy and grateful. This is down to the amazing continuous support from Leap and an amazing team of PA’s.
I am delighted to be connected with Leap. Since having attended one of their family leadership weekends back in 2012 my outlook for Liam’s future has been full of aspirations envisioning what “a good life” could look like for us. I have attended many Leap events since that time. Thank you so much Rachel Cassen and team for your inspiring work.
My first encounter with LEAP was in 2019 when I attended a family weekend with my three children, two of which have special needs and complex medical issues. As a single parent I was sceptical as to how the weekend would unfold but LEAP was extremely organised and there was lots of support for the children so I was quickly reassured. I was introduced to inclusion and ‘what a good life’ looks like and the role I have in helping my children have that inclusive good life. On one hand I felt extremely heartbroken at the thought of my children not experiencing an inclusive life and on the other hand I was extremely motivated at the prospects of my children living life to their full potential.
My children have two different diagnoses and up to this point I was a member of each respective special needs club and there was no club that welcomed both or all of my children just as they are. The special needs clubs segregate children and parents and only advocate for the needs of that particular condition. They don’t prioritise inclusion; in fact, they thrive on segregation and organise events and activities that keep “us” all together and away from the outside world. To me, this sends an indirect message to our communities that ‘we are different and we don’t want to be associated with you’.
LEAP helped me look at life from a different perspective, to see my children as just children, with different strengths, weaknesses and opportunities just like everyone of us.
I stayed linked in with LEAP and was able to liaise with Rachel on many issues which has helped me immensely on my life’s journey as a single parent with three children. LEAP has been very supportive and I’ve never felt alone and when I questioned my own direction, I was gently guided by Rachel to stay on track.
In 2024 I attended LEAP’s ‘Leadership for Inclusion’ series and learned a lot about the history of disability in Ireland and the changing attitudes of our society. We discussed our basic human needs such as food, shelter and connections and also the importance of inclusion, participation and contribution to society. This led to hearing some amazing stories about our shared values and stories of the achievements of our children. LEAP has created a platform for families to network and connect with one another and open up discussion groups amongst us.
Thanks to LEAP I really feel that I am an integral part of this movement for change. Through their workshops I feel that I now share the same vision of ‘living in a community where we all belong’ and our differences are accepted.
Overall LEAP empowers families with valuable information and practical advice about inclusion and equality. They are there to support you and help you speak up for your children when faced with challenges, to reassure you, and even hold your hand. There is genuinely no other charity that I know off that offers this unique service. I feel its imperative that LEAP secure funding to continue its core mission and help in the creation of an ‘Ireland where everyone belongs’.
We are a family of five living in Laois with three sons, two of whom are on the autism spectrum. Ruairi, our eldest at 19, just finished school in June. We kept him in school an extra year as we were uncertain about his future. This year, with Ruairi eager to move on like his brother Oran, who was also finishing school, we began exploring local opportunities. Ruairi made it clear, saying, “I am the same as Oran, I want to go to college and get a job.” With his vision so clear, we began our journey.
While local services were helpful, they didn’t align with Ruairi’s goals. It was only when we spoke with the occupational guidance officer that we were introduced to Leap Ireland. That same evening, I spoke with Leap for 40 minutes, and they explained their approach. I was thrilled that Ruairi’s voice could finally be heard. Leap sent information about their services and connected us with other families to give us a clearer picture of what they offer.
After discussing it with Ruairi, we invited Leap to our home. Together, over four hours, Ruairi developed his vision with our support, and we created a plan for him to live a full, inclusive life. We later attended training at Leap’s Westmeath premises, which was invaluable. We met other families with similar visions, and Leap was always available for guidance, never making us feel like just a number.
With Leap’s help, we set up a circle of support, and since then, we haven’t looked back. Ruairi is excited to start college and engage more with the community. His personal budget will be available in September, and he’s already trying new things with our family and Leap’s support. We are confident Ruairi will attend college, find employment, and be a valuable member of society, just like his peers.
We’ve recommended Leap to many families, and once Ruairi is in college, I plan to advocate more for this choice. Everyone deserves to know their options, and without Leap, Ruairi’s story might have been very different. His future is now in his hands, with our support. We cannot thank Leap enough.
Leap were able to effectively manage the set up and delivery of training to a range of participants in various venues around the country. They were always professional, punctual and courteous. They managed a range of diverse situations and learning groups with skill and diplomacy. Their training and workshops were highly engaging and were designed and delivered to an extremely high standard. Training content and handouts were clear and concise even whilst covering complex topics. Training was well paced and utilised a range of methodologies including discussion and facilitated reflection, small group work and values clarification. I would have no hesitation in recommending Leap as a training provider.
For the last 6 years I have worked closely with Rachel Cassen, Director of Leap, on a number of projects, and am constantly impressed by her dedication, energy and capabilities in bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to work towards a common goal. The Centre for Disability Law and Policy at NUI Galway has a strong relationship with Leap, which began with Leap’s involvement in research on the personalisation of supports for people with disabilities in Ireland. Following the publication of the Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Bill in July 2013, our Centre, in partnership with Leap and Inclusion Ireland, hosted the first set of national seminars to explain the Bill to people with disabilities and their families. As a result, I was invited by Leap to form the ‘Self-Directed Living Research Group’ – bringing together families, self-advocates, disability service providers and brokers with a shared interest in community living. We jointly chaired the group, and sought out funding opportunities for our work – securing a small grant from the Irish Research Council for a series of workshops and a research report on the experiences of people with disabilities and their families in using individualised funding to create good lives in the community. The workshops we held around the country for this project led to the publication of a dynamic research report, which documented the important lessons learned by people with disabilities and their families on their journeys towards self-directed living. This research was well-received globally and was cited as an example of good practice during the plenary session of a conference in Vancouver in October 2015 entitled ‘Claiming full citizenship – an international conference on self-determination, personalisation and individualised funding.’ Since the completion of the report, Leap has gone on to develop the project further with a new group of families and we have continued to collaborate and support Leap’s work in the fields of inclusive education and equal citizenship. For example, Leap presented at our annual summer school in June 2019 on the subject of young people with disabilities belonging to families and communities. Rachel is always a pleasure to work with and someone whose vision and integrity I greatly admire.
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In 2015 we attended a one day workshop run by Leap focused on empowering families towards creating an ordinary life for their child with disability. At that point we had been learning to live with a complex physical and intellectual disability diagnosis for our son Ed. We could not articulate what we wanted for him, but we were certain that we did not want him to experience a life of exclusion and special, away from his siblings and other children.
Following the workshop with Leap we started to understand that we needed to change our language and how we spoke about Ed towards a strength based, positive articulation of who he is. We sat with our children and discussed what they imagined a good life to be, and interestingly all three held the same hopes for their life. The reality that we could be the leaders in Ed’s life while he was growing and navigating his childhood became obvious. We started to outline a vision for Ed’s future, one where he would work within his community, within a valued role, contributing his expertise and value in a meaningful way. This vision became our destination and all decisions that we make are guided by it.
Recognition of Ed’s strengths provided a foundation for decision-making for Ed. It assisted in the decision around where he would attend school. Ed attended mainstream primary school, and remained in his class every day with the support of a shared SNA. We were able to outline our vision clearly to each teacher and as a result they applied their expertise to ensure that Ed was educated using a universal design for learning approach. This allowed him to demonstrate his understanding of the knowledge gained in a way most suited to his strengths. Ed moved on from primary to secondary school. Again, thanks to the language learned and support from Leap, Ed continues to enjoy his educational journey, surrounded by his peers, in an inclusive classroom. Ed is being knitted into his community, willingly, and he is experiencing a welcome that is true and genuine. It is not based on a “special needs” approach, but rather it is based on a recognition of his unique abilities and wonderful imagination and creativity It is tempting to pick the safe route for my wonderful son, yet the” tougher” route will be the one that provides a more meaningful and fulfilling future.
Today Ed will be attending the local drumming camp. He will independently take the bus there and back. He will hang out with his peers. He will have the life of any other 14 year old. We do not need to access service, he is entitled to July Provision, but because he is knitted in community, he does not need it. This has not happened by accident, rather it has been intentionally created by his family and friends with the support of Leap, buoyed by the vision for his ordinary life, his good life.
Ultimately our vision remains unwavering; Ed will work in a paid job where he thrives, included and valued as part of his community. He will live interdependently, supported by friends and family. He will live a good life, thanks to the support of Leap in helping us to articulate and clearly outline our vision for his future.
I learned more from the Leadership for Inclusion weekend than I thought possible, it was very powerful shared with like-minded group of people who want their son or daughter to live an inclusive, ordinary life. These are the moments where ideas grow wings and fly and our children and young adults get to live happy, fulfilled, inclusive and ordinary lives. I left Galway with fire in my belly.
The work that Leap do is crucial. Without their experiential wisdom and training for Families, the life our family member would have taken an entirely different trajectory. They have been instrumental in keeping us on track to create a good life for our son, where he is a valued member of society. The weekend workshops have given us the resolve to carry on. It’s really important to meet other families, hear their stories and to support each other on our journeys. We have learned that an ordinary life, not a special one is what makes for a good life. Everyone has a different type of intelligence and has something valuable to offer their community. It is crucial that Leap continue their good work, offering more workshops to other families to support our often invisible citizens to be fully visible and celebrated for who they are.
Leap provided us with fantastic support on working with families. The two days of training they delivered provided staff with an honest platform to discuss proactive ways to engage families, to understand what is service business and what is family business, as well as reflection on their roles. The training provided a way of valuing and enhancing the role support workers provide and feedback indicated staff really appreciated the opportunity to learn and develop their skills and understanding. We look forward to working with you again! Thank you.
Leap provided us with fantastic support on working with families. The two days of training they delivered provided staff with an honest platform to discuss proactive ways to engage families, to understand what is service business and what is family business, as well as reflection on their roles. The training provided a way of valuing and enhancing the role support workers provide and feedback indicated staff really appreciated the opportunity to learn and develop their skills and understanding. We look forward to working with you again! Thank you.
My first encounter with LEAP was in 2019 when I attended a family weekend with my three children, two of which have special needs and complex medical issues. As a single parent I was sceptical as to how the weekend would unfold but LEAP was extremely organised and there was lots of support for the children so I was quickly reassured. I was introduced to inclusion and ‘what a good life’ looks like and the role I have in helping my children have that inclusive good life. On one hand I felt extremely heartbroken at the thought of my children not experiencing an inclusive life and on the other hand I was extremely motivated at the prospects of my children living life to their full potential.
My children have two different diagnoses and up to this point I was a member of each respective special needs club and there was no club that welcomed both or all of my children just as they are. The special needs clubs segregate children and parents and only advocate for the needs of that particular condition. They don’t prioritise inclusion; in fact, they thrive on segregation and organise events and activities that keep “us” all together and away from the outside world. To me, this sends an indirect message to our communities that ‘we are different and we don’t want to be associated with you’.
LEAP helped me look at life from a different perspective, to see my children as just children, with different strengths, weaknesses and opportunities just like everyone of us.
I stayed linked in with LEAP and was able to liaise with Rachel on many issues which has helped me immensely on my life’s journey as a single parent with three children. LEAP has been very supportive and I’ve never felt alone and when I questioned my own direction, I was gently guided by Rachel to stay on track.
In 2024 I attended LEAP’s ‘Leadership for Inclusion’ series and learned a lot about the history of disability in Ireland and the changing attitudes of our society. We discussed our basic human needs such as food, shelter and connections and also the importance of inclusion, participation and contribution to society. This led to hearing some amazing stories about our shared values and stories of the achievements of our children. LEAP has created a platform for families to network and connect with one another and open up discussion groups amongst us.
Thanks to LEAP I really feel that I am an integral part of this movement for change. Through their workshops I feel that I now share the same vision of ‘living in a community where we all belong’ and our differences are accepted.
Overall LEAP empowers families with valuable information and practical advice about inclusion and equality. They are there to support you and help you speak up for your children when faced with challenges, to reassure you, and even hold your hand. There is genuinely no other charity that I know off that offers this unique service. I feel its imperative that LEAP secure funding to continue its core mission and help in the creation of an ‘Ireland where everyone belongs’.
We are a family of five living in Laois with three sons, two of whom are on the autism spectrum. Ruairi, our eldest at 19, just finished school in June. We kept him in school an extra year as we were uncertain about his future. This year, with Ruairi eager to move on like his brother Oran, who was also finishing school, we began exploring local opportunities. Ruairi made it clear, saying, “I am the same as Oran, I want to go to college and get a job.” With his vision so clear, we began our journey.
While local services were helpful, they didn’t align with Ruairi’s goals. It was only when we spoke with the occupational guidance officer that we were introduced to Leap Ireland. That same evening, I spoke with Leap for 40 minutes, and they explained their approach. I was thrilled that Ruairi’s voice could finally be heard. Leap sent information about their services and connected us with other families to give us a clearer picture of what they offer.
After discussing it with Ruairi, we invited Leap to our home. Together, over four hours, Ruairi developed his vision with our support, and we created a plan for him to live a full, inclusive life. We later attended training at Leap’s Westmeath premises, which was invaluable. We met other families with similar visions, and Leap was always available for guidance, never making us feel like just a number.
With Leap’s help, we set up a circle of support, and since then, we haven’t looked back. Ruairi is excited to start college and engage more with the community. His personal budget will be available in September, and he’s already trying new things with our family and Leap’s support. We are confident Ruairi will attend college, find employment, and be a valuable member of society, just like his peers.
We’ve recommended Leap to many families, and once Ruairi is in college, I plan to advocate more for this choice. Everyone deserves to know their options, and without Leap, Ruairi’s story might have been very different. His future is now in his hands, with our support. We cannot thank Leap enough.
Hi Rachel,
I just wanted to personally thank you for all you gave us over the weekend. I didn’t properly hug you and thank you when you left. The work you along with Trevor and your team do gives steadfast hope and strength for us to continue to reach for our goals and dreams and the confidence to know we’ll get there. It’s scary at times (sometimes often!) but you really do help to take the fear away. Thank you, Rachel. I really do appreciate what you and Leap are doing for all of us at the weekends and for so many other families. I hope you now have some time for yourself to recover, rest and relax and bathe in the realisation that you are doing and instigating something mind blowing and wonderful.
Family testimony, Leadership for Inclusion Series, 2024