A Look at NCBI’s Training Centre

For many people, doing everyday tasks such as cooking, washing, travelling, accessing information and working are things that are taken for granted. We don’t stop to consider the many small parts that might be involved in something as simple as making a cup of tea, or boiling an egg, or sending that quick email to your aunt in Canada. What happens though, if things you have done for so long suddenly seem impossible due to sudden or gradual sight loss?

Since 1994 NCBI has run a rehabilitation training programme from its head office in Whitworth Road. Today, the purpose-built training centre at the back of the main building is home to a daily hive of activity.

Funded by the Rehabilitation Training and Guidance Service (RTGS) of the HSE, the course generally runs for a year, although trainees can have their places extended in order to have more time in learning skills.

Rehabilitation training takes many forms and is tailored, as much as possible, to the individual service user’s specific needs. Trainees attending the centre at Whitworth Road have the opportunity not only to learn new skills, but to obtain a FETAC qualification at the same time.

Stuart Lawler has been manager at the rehabilitation training centre since August 2008. Better known to many as NCBI’s technology advisor, Stuart sees the change in role for him as ‘growing with the organisation’. “It’s a real chance for me to direct and shape a service that from the first day I started working in NCBI, I was hugely impressed with”.

Stuart explains that people attend the centre for many reasons. “Not everyone who comes here has a specific learning goal. That’s something that we develop”, he explains. “In many cases, people are referred to the centre because it is felt that the centre can do something for them, but they don’t actually know what that something is. It is our job to work with each student, to identify what they require and help them to reach their own goal.”

Diverse Activities

The centre’s highly trained staff and tutors work with trainees on activities as diverse as computer literacy, customer care, crafts and textiles, daily living skills, literacy, numeracy, communications, Braille, pottery, mobility, career advice, job seeking and kitchen skills and for those feeling a little active, there’s a regular trip to our gym in the near-by Iona centre, and more lately, a visit to a swimming pool at St. Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Impaired.

Running such a varied programme brings with it obvious challenges for Stuart and his team but he constantly reminds people that the more diverse the programme the more the centre can react and respond to the needs of its users.

“One of our key goals”, continues Stuart “is independence. It is so important, in my view, that people can feel empowered to do something, no matter how big or small, but just that they know they can do something on their own, something that before coming to the centre, they were unable to do”.

For many who attend the centre, independent travel is a proud moment. Stuart comments, “I have literally seen people who could not go outside their own front door and after attending the centre and receiving the necessary training, they are happily navigating some of Dublin’s busiest streets, going to shops they want and even planning foreign trips. That gives me an immense sense of happiness, because the difference we make to people’s lives is so tangible”.

Fetac Certified Modules

The additional bonus of being able to offer Fetac certified modules is something that Stuart sees as hugely important. He comments that he has been very impressed with FETAC and their philosophy for many years, offering a stepping stone and allowing people to build their own pathway in education, which is really important for NCBI.

Outlook for 2009

The rehabilitation training centre has a busy 2009 ahead, with development of more FETAC modules on the way and greater collaboration with organisations running similar services in the area.

At present, places at the centre are restricted to those living in or near to Dublin, as accommodation in the area is not available. Stuart explains, “In an ideal world we want to have a purpose-built accommodation wing on campus, where newly acquired skills can be put into practice. With the current economic situation that idea is moving further from us every day but it is still my ultimate goal for the service”.

People wishing to find out more about the centre are very welcome to contact Stuart Lawler on 1850 334353 or email
stuart.lawler@ncbi.ie.