Category: Grace Moynihan

I can’t believe today was the final day of the program; time went by so fast! For my final blog, I will be discussing what occurred on the last two days as well as saying a few final words about the program.

To wrap up the week, we continued to attend the conference. Yesterday, the topic was “International Solidarity and Human Rights Monitoring to Protect Family Life”.  A notable speaker of this day was Robert Martin. He discussed his horrid experiences of being institutionalized for his disability when he was younger. He discussed the stigmas, abuses, and missed opportunities he was forced to deal with every day. It was difficult to hear his stories because no individual should ever be treated that way. He also discussed how institutions have transitioned into group homes, which are not much better. This is just one of the few issues people with disabilities are still faced with. One thing Robert said that really stuck out to me was, “Segregation has never worked so why do we still do it?”. There is a lot of truth to this remark, yet people with disabilities are still faced with segregation in places like school and living arrangements. It is important that society always asks this question when dealing with the rights of all individuals.

Today was the Moot Court Competition and the final day of the conference. Kelly and Rachel did an amazing job representing their team! After the decision was made of who was the best team and the best individual advocate, we received our certificates.

I’m sad that it’s officially over! However, I’m happy that I was given the opportunity to meet such amazing girls and to have been part of such an insightful, enjoyable program. I am eager to apply the knowledge I have learned here to my future career as well as in my every day life. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my experiences along the way! Thanks Ireland for an unforgettable month:)

-Grace Moynihan

It’s officially the final week of the program. 🙁 I can’t believe how fast time flew! For our final week, we are attending the 11th International Disability Law Summer School at NUI Galway. The topic this year at the conference is “People with Disabilities and the Right to Family Life”. So far, there are many things that I have learned from this conference.

On Monday, June 17, the topic was “Introduction to the CRPD”. The first presentation was on “craftivisim”, which is activism through crafts. I think this is an interesting idea because it is a way of expressing what you are fighting for without relying solely on words. Art can be very powerful and influential, so I think this style of advocacy can be very impactful. In addition, we were informed that Galway is known as the “city of tribes”, which makes the location of this conference ideal for the topics discussed! We were also introduced to various articles of the UNCRPD that go along with the rights to family life, such as articles 12, 19, and 23. Essentially, this day discussed components of the UNCRPD and the drafting process, as well as rights people with disabilities are still fighting for.

The topic yesterday was “Human Rights and Family Life”. A common theme mentioned was “belonging”. I feel that this is significant because many people with disabilities are faced with barriers that prevent their full inclusion within society. Even though countries have come a long way with this, there is still a need to promote more inclusion in areas like independent living and education.

Today, the topic was “Respect for Family Life: Perspectives of Parents and Children”. A speaker that really stuck out to me was John Bosco Conama from Trinity College Dublin. He compared and contrasted the experiences a child has when growing up with parents who are hearing verse parents who are Deaf. He mentioned that 95% of children who are Deaf are born to hearing parents; however, most hearing parents choose to have their child undergo services like oralism and auditory interventions.  Children who are Deaf with hearing parents are generally not encouraged to use sign language nor be a part of the Deaf community; this is an issue because it limits them from interacting with other individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Unfortunately, this is common because of the idea of “fixing” disabilities in society. I found this to be important because sometimes this mentality contributes to the exclusion of people with disabilities. There are unfortunately many stigmas within society that violate the rights of people with disabilities, which also plays a role in the lack of full inclusion for people with disabilities.

Despite this conference  being heavily focused on the UNCRPD, the US is one of the few countries that has not yet ratified! Even if they never ratify, hopefully the US will try to participate in international discussions about disabilities because different perspectives can help expand knowledge.

There is just two more days left of the conference and then we are all done with the program! 🙁 Stay tuned for my final post…

Greetings from Galway! We arrived to this pretty city on Thursday afternoon by bus and got ourselves situated at NUI Galway.

On Friday, June 14, we visited the Aran Islands, which was something I was looking forward to visiting this whole trip. Our tour guide, Michael, picked us up from NUI Galway and shuttled us to the ferry. During this time, he gave us some insight on the Aran Islands and Galway while we passed through a scenic route. Once we got off of the ferry, we explored some shops, where I got a comfy hat for the chilly weather that day!

On the island, we hiked up to the Dun Aengus fort and Cliffs, ate at a delicious café, walked along Kilmurvey beach, and met some friendly animals along the way! Fun fact of the island: only 700 people live on it! It was interesting to learn about its culture and the close connections these villages have with each other. I am glad I was able to visit this beautiful island and can check it off of my Ireland bucket list! 🙂

Yesterday, June 15, we explored the town together. We ate lunch at The King’s Head pub and explored the local market. We also saw the colorful houses along the water!

I am excited to explore more of Galway’s attractions soon!

Today, we went on a tour to the Cliffs of Moher as a group. Unfortunately, when we arrived, it started to downpour.:( However, the cliffs were still very fascinating to see, despite the fog and the rain. I can see why it is the second most visited attraction in Ireland!

On the ride back, we stopped by the Atlantic coastline and Dunguaire Castle. It still fascinates me how Ireland is filled with various historical attractions, made by both humans and nature. It is definitely something I will miss seeing when I go back to the United States.

Tomorrow begins our NUI conference. To be continued on Wednesday…

Week 3 is officially here and it’s already time to say goodbye to Dublin! For our final three days in Dublin, we wrapped up our site visitations.

On Monday, we went to Equine Therapy, where we learned the impact animals have in providing services for individuals with disabilities. Prior to learning about equine therapy, they gave us a tour of the school. Here, I learned that reading Braille is increasing in Ireland; I found this interesting because it is decreasing in the UK and US. Also, Marvel does not have comics in braille nor has audio books, which I find shocking. After touring the school, we went outside and saw the animals; they were so cute! One thing I learned from this portion is many times, individuals with autism spectrum disorder are asymmetric while riding; they lean either to the right or left rather than balancing in the center. Proper riding has many benefits to a child, such as helping a child seek sufficient sensory input. However, this form of therapy is not covered by the HSE and has a long waiting list. Hopefully, within the next few years, it will be paid for because it has positive outcomes!

Later that day, we went to the Ireland vs. Gibraltar soccer game at Aviva Stadium. Ireland won 2-0! It was definitely something I was happy we did, especially since I am a soccer fan and played soccer my whole life.

On Tuesday, we went to St. Michael’s Raheny School, which is a special education school for ages 4-18. It was really interesting to see the techniques utilized by the teachers at this school, especially since my major is Special Education. One thing that particularly stuck out to me was that the students were outside often; this is something I feel should be encouraged at all schools. There are benefits to outside play, such as releasing energy, seeking proper sensory input, or even engaging in play with other students. I feel that sometimes going outside is not a main priority at many schools, which it should be. In all, I learned many things that I can potentially use in my future career.

On Wednesday, we visited Friends of the Elderly Ireland. This organization provides activities Monday through Friday for individuals 65+ years (with a few exceptions). While there, we helped serve food to members and danced along to the band. As a group, we all sang “Don’t Stop Believing”; even though we skipped the second verse, I’d say it was a huge success! I enjoyed this site because we interacted with the members and learned some dance moves. It was a good way to end our site visits!  

There were a lot of things I took away from our site visits, as highlighted in posts previously as well. I am happy I was given the opportunity to visit these organizations, especially since the things I learned really opened my mind to new perspectives.

Tomorrow morning, we are off to Galway…bye for now, Dublin!

I can’t believe we are already halfway done with the program! With only a few days remaining in Dublin, we took the time to visit many sites.

Thursday, June 6:

To begin, we visited Enable Ireland. This organization is a school and clinic, which provides services for individuals with physical disabilities ages 9 to 18. Here, I learned more things about Ireland’s healthcare as well as their policy for giving services. For instance, HSE is divided into different parts based on location and these locations generally provide different services. HSE also provides approximately 95% of funding for services. One thing that stuck out to me during this site visit was how all of the therapists are in the same office. It is team-based and collaborative, rather than separate. I found this interesting because you generally see therapist offices separated in the US. In all, I learned a lot at this site in regards to the services provided for individuals with physical disabilities.

After Enable Ireland, Hannah, Quinn, Caitlin, and I visited the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. No picture does it justice; it was definitely worth seeing!

Later that night, we went to dinner as a group to Brazen Head’s Food, Folklore, and Fairies. Here, we learned about Irish history, from its dishes, popular stories, and music! The food was delicious; I tried salmon for the first time! Also, I learned there are different types of leprechauns, which completely shocked me! It was very fascinating to learn more about Irish history, especially since my great grandparents were from county Kerry.

Friday, June 7:

The next morning, we had presentations. Each of us presented on a particular disability assigned to us. It was interesting to see how Ireland and the United States handle things similarly but also differently when it comes to disability services. I definitely learned a lot from my group’s presentations. It was also a sad day because Dr. Coduti was leaving the program. 🙁 We miss you!

Saturday, June 8:

Yesterday, we had a long, but eventful day. At 6:45 am, we got on the bus for Northern Ireland. There, we went to the Titanic Museum, Giant’s Causeway, and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. Despite my fears of crossing this bridge, I was surprised I was able to walk there and back on it. I am happy we got the opportunity to visit each of these sites, especially since Northern Ireland is about 2 and a half hours away from Dublin!

Sunday, June 9:

Today, we went to High Tea as a group. It was a fun activity to do together and it filled me up!

We have one more week in Dublin, and then we are off to Galway! To be continued on Wednesday….

 

Week 2 in Dublin so far has brought many adventurous experiences. On Sunday, June 2, we took the train to Howth, Ireland. After exploring their market, we came across the Ireland’s Eye ferry and spontaneously decided to visit this remote location. Words cannot describe how remarkable the view was! Despite coming face to face with my fears (birds and heights), I am so happy we all decided to take on this adventure.

The next day, June 3, was filled with more intriguing travels! We did a day trip with Dr. Coduti and Dr. Smal to New Grange, Ruins of Monasterboice, Slane Hill, and Tara Hill. It was really cool to see these notable places in person and I learned a lot about Irish history along the way!

On June 4, we continued with our site visits. We walked to Fighting Blindness and were greeted by Melissa and John at the entrance. I found this organization particularly interesting because their platform is research, advocacy, and counseling. These three components generally are not found all together in organizations that promote particular disability services, which is why it stuck out to me. There is also an open-door policy for counseling services for a person using this organization. I found this interesting because there is a limit to the amount of counseling sessions people get at places like Penn State’s CAPS. In all, I learned a lot of information regarding visual impairment and counseling that I feel is crucial to know for my future career in Special Education and in my relationships with others.

Today, June 5, we visited Deaf Village Ireland and met with Amanda. I learned a lot from this site, especially in terms of the similarities and differences of the Irish and American Deaf Communities. Here, we learned that ISL was officially recognized as a language last year, which is huge news! Even though it will take a few years to process legislation around it, this will provide more opportunities for Deaf individuals in things such as services. I also learned that some letters in the ISL alphabet are different than ASL’s letters, such as g, h, and p. I was also given the opportunity to sign “Penn State” here, which is something I learned in my ASL I class. One thing Amanda said that stuck out to us was “Deaf is not a disability, it is a language barrier”. I found a lot of truth behind this statement. Many times in society, due to stigmas, disability it is faced with a negative connotation. It is important to recognize that disability is not the barrier, but the way we perceive it can be.

A common theme I continue to see at the organizations we visit is the idea of choice. I find this very important because I believe no progress is made for individuals unless decisions are created based on their perspectives. This is definitely an idea I will take away from this program, and will hopefully be able to see in U.S. disability services more.

For more to come..stay tuned!

It is officially the end of week 1 of the program and I can’t believe it! This week, we had the opportunity of visiting four sites: Trinity Disability Service (as discussed in my previous blog), Trinity’s SciFest, Saint Michael’s House, and Mental Health Ireland. At each site, we received insight on Ireland’s beliefs toward particular disabilities as well as programs that give support to these disabilities.

On Wednesday, May 29, we attended Trinity’s SciFest. Here, we interacted with ten first-year students with varying intellectual disabilities as they presented their final projects; the topic this year was  to pick an idea that is of interest to them and apply it to science. All of these presentations brought creative perspectives to the table that I learned a lot about.

On Thursday, May 30, we traveled to St. Michael’s, which is a facility that offers services to older individuals with varying disabilities. As we walked into the building, we were greeted by Stephen, who gave us a tour of the facility as well as the background and ideals of it. In each room, we were greeted by smiling faces that, by the end of the day, we got to know. Throughout the day, I learned many things about this location. This organization provides services to 1800 individuals in the greater Dublin area. Individuals learn many life-skills and are encouraged to have independence. They are encouraged to work in their community, independently use public transportation, and have their voices heard when establishing a plan that benefits him or her. In all, I found this facility’s environment very welcoming and a place that promotes inclusion and independence of people with disabilities in a positive way.

On Friday, May 31, we visited Mental Health Ireland, where Martin informed us how their organization promotes positive mental health. During his presentation, there were many similar things to the US he informed us about, such as social stigma surrounding disability as well as the lack of awareness of it in society. However, there were ideas brought to my attention that I have never thought about before. For instance, he emphasized the idea of the family’s role in the effectiveness of getting the individual support. I am used to hearing about the client-counselor relationship, so I found this conversation insightful. Another thing that stuck out to me was that conversation surrounding mental health generally happens after a tragedy occurs. I found this important because it is a topic that should be emphasized more in society. In all, this location expanded my knowledge in counseling which is a field I find interest in. After Mental Health Ireland, we visited the James Joyce Tower & Museum and then walked around near the water. What a pretty sight!

Each place promotes the idea of choice for the individual, where each individual’s voice is being heard. This particularly stands out to me because sometimes this idea is overlooked in our society. So far I am learning a lot from these sites, and can’t wait to gain more insight at our remaining six!

Greetings from Dublin, Ireland! On Sunday, May 26, we entered through the gates of Trinity College. While trekking my bags across the cobblestone ground, I was amazed by the beauty of this campus. Today, we had our first site visit: Trinity Disability Service. Here, we listened to a presentation given by an occupational therapist from Trinity who works for this service. She discussed Trinity’s process of providing the most beneficial services for people with disabilities so they can reach their fullest potential.

There were a few things during this presentation that stuck out to me. For instance, the European Social Fund pays for services for each individual who needs them at Trinity. In addition, the students have a say in what services they feel they need in order to succeed. Another thing I learned is the exam accommodations at Trinity is generally an additional 10 minutes for every hour of the exam; in the United States, it is generally time and a half. I found this interesting because she mentioned most students do not even need all of this additional time! In all, the process appears to prioritize each student’s voice as they choose what services work for them.

One statistic that really stuck out to me was that 10-15% of Ireland has a disability and 10-15% of the Trinity population registers. This is very representative of the general population, meanwhile it is not in the US; it is underrepresented! Therefore, I feel that it would be beneficial to utilize a registration technique like Trinity’s in other universities to encourage all individuals with disabilities to seek services that are necessary for them. There are many things I have learned from this presentation that I feel are important and I can advocate for in school systems, especially since I will be a Special Education teacher in a few years.

So far, I am really enjoying my experience in Dublin, Ireland. The city’s architecture is beautiful and there are many things I am looking forward to visiting in the next few weeks. I am excited to see what the rest of this program has in store for us!