Sarah Johnston's Colleagues at Áiseanna Tacaíochta
Sarah Johnston's Contact Details
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Ireland
Áiseanna Tacaíochta
Sarah Johnston's Company Details
Áiseanna Tacaíochta (ÁT) provides leadership and support to empower people with disabilities to live with the independence, choice and freedom they are entitled to. Our goal is to make Independent Living accessible to everyone, and to establish it as a right for people with disabilities.For the first time in Ireland, we facilitate Direct Payments to people with disabilities, enabling them to take charge of their own budgets, their own services and, ultimately, their own lives. 68% of people who use disability services in Ireland are not satisfied with the level of control they have over their own lives, so we work to change this.We act as an intermediary between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and our members - who we call Leaders - to establish a Direct Payment to the individual. We support our Leaders and their family groups in setting up their own company so that this money can be sent straight to them. Our Leaders use their budget to choose and manage their own services, mainly Personal Assistance (PA), ensuring that these supports fit in with their lives and not the other way around.Our model breaks the cycle of dependency on service providers and customises services to each person's needs and circumstances. By giving people with disabilities more control, independence and responsibility, we are moving towards a more equal, inclusive and progressive future for everyone.