DPCN Effective Engagement as a Tool for Self-Advocacy

AsIAm is delighted to host an online workshop series as a Grant-Funded member with the Disability Participation and Consultation Network. These workshops focus on the topic of self-advocacy and advocating your rights within the Autistic community and using effectively engaging with your community and with policymakers as a tool for advocating for your rights. These are four sessions which will cover the same content.

Our second session in this series will take place on Tuesday 5th September from 7:00pm – 8:30pm, online over Zoom. 

These workshops will be led by Dr. Vivian Rath and Dr. Mary Quirke and will cover: 

• An introduction to advocacy, activism and lobbying
• How tools such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities can support you or your loved one to advocate for your rights 
• How to organise campaigns 
• How to identify and include like-minded people and organisations in campaigns 
• Engaging with policymakers 
• Looking after yourself when taking part in campaigns 

Registration for this workshop is free. 

This workshop is part of AsIAm’s work as Grant-Funded Member of the Disability Participation and Consultation Network and is proudly supported by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

About our Facilitators

Dr Vivian Rath: Vivian is an Adjunct Teaching Fellow in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) School of Education and the Research Officer on the Reasonable Accommodations and Professional Placement project with the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD). His Ph.D, titled the “Social Engagement Experiences of Disabled students in Higher Education in Ireland”, focused on the areas of disabled student social engagement, transitions, voice, belonging and the management of the Equality Diversity and Inclusion agenda. He is an appointee to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Disability Advisory Committee and has a role in monitoring the implementation of the UNCRPD in Ireland and he is also a member of the board of the National Disability Authority. Vivian’s other research interests include ableism across the Higher Education system, supporting disabled people’s civic and political participation, and employment of disabled people.

Mary Quirke: Mary Quirke a qualified career guidance counsellor, currently engaged in private practice (www.careerconfidence.ie) and nearing completion of a PhD in Trinity College Dublin with a research interest in Career Guidance, Universal Design and Disability. Mary’s professional experience includes AHEAD, the HSE, the RehabGroup, and FETAC. Consequently, she has gained a depth of experience of advocacy, policy creation and inclusion which has been further complimented by her active engagement with learners in Ireland, Europe, Japan and Singapore and her work with employers on graduate recruitment and the diversity agenda over the years