Ms Ciara N? Raghallaigh:

The Senator and the Deputy asked us what our ask would be if meeting the HSE in the next session. For me the ask is that all professionals on the CDNT would train on this special needs programme. For me as a speech and language therapist, when I attend facilitation training, as Ms Kerrigan has, I am learning how to be a strength-based practitioner. I have a core job, as had Ms Kerrigan when she was delivering this programme. This is what Mr. Buttery also referred to. We are to empower the 14 families in the room to come up with solutions. Even if a health and social care professional on those teams never delivers the course, by coming on the training it influences our practice as clinicians so that when I meet a parent, like Ms Kerrigan, I am thinking more holistically rather than just down the lens as a speech and language therapist.

The responsibility under the UNCRPD is that professionals working with families with a disability are to think of the whole family, not just the young person with a disability. That is what our training does. It makes us think more holistically. As a speech and language therapist my practice as a clinician has improved so much because I am not just thinking of the speech and language lens. Also, these programmes allow me to work with families like Ms Kerrigan's on their communication in the context of the whole family. I achieve my speech and language objectives by getting Ms Kerrigan to come on a course with me but I am also giving her help. These courses are not a replacement for direct work with speech and language therapists and occupational therapists but as a clinician it gave me much more appreciation. I am humbled as a clinician when I hear the stories of families and what they are dealing with on their journey raising a young person with special needs. So my ask would be that we ask that all professionals on CDNTs should train in the special needs programme even if they never deliver it. They just become better clinicians by becoming solution-focused.