This article is from page 14 of the 2007-11-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
THE experience of an autistic man who made a new life for himself in west Clare was highlighted as an example of how people with intel- lectual disability can live full and independent lives as active members of their local communities.
Larry O’ Bryan, who is supported by Brothers of Charity Services in Clare, was among the contributors to the Brothers of Charity National Advoca- ASO Noo OOM MO BEKMN ino .e
Larry, who has autism, used to live in big institutions in the UK, which he described as ‘sheer hell’, before moving to smaller residential care in the UK. After visiting Ireland on holiday, he decided he wanted to live in west Clare and moved into his house in Kilrush with the support of his former service provider and the Brothers of Charity.
Although he cannot communicate verbally, Larry is now happily liv- ing as part of the local community
in Kilrush and Kilkee, where he is a member of the church choir and the Clare Poets Circle.
As he spelled out on his keyboard to the conference delegates, “There is a light at the end of the tunnel for me when people listen.”
The conference, which had as its theme *Close the Institutions — A Life In The Community For Everyone’, heard from a number of people with intellectual disability who shared their experiences of living both in institutions and communities.
Clinical psychologist Brian Mc- Clean presented John Caslin, who is supported by Brothers of Charity Services in Roscommon, with a film John had made where he revisited the various institutions he lived in throughout his life.
During his introduction, Dr Mc- Clean highlighted the extent of the problem of institutionalising people in Ireland. According to a recent study, 49 per cent of Irish people with intellectual disability who cur-
rently live in residential services are in large residential centres while in England, Scotland, and Norway, all of these institutions have closed.
In England, people with intellectu- al disabilities and their families pre- fer residential care in small houses, as it allows them live within a com- munity and benefit from wider social networks. It was also found that more medication was used in large institu- tions, where the treatment is less per- sonal and more routine.
Advocacy and Evaluation Training Officer Cabrini de Barra said that ending institutional practices, struc- tures and supports in Ireland would create an opportunity for people with disabilities to live ordinary lives where they can contribute to the life of local communities.