Newsletter October 2010

The basic reason for the existence of voluntary disability organisations is to support people with disabilities to reach their potential in life, as equal citizens in society. In pursuing this objective, disability organisations continually grapple with funding issues, which, in the current economic climate, means dealing with successive cuts in funding combined with growing demands for service, and anticipating changes that will come about as a consequence of the Value for Money and Policy Review. In negotiating this treacherous terrain, perhaps our most useful beacon is a focus on quality of service. Constant attention to the pursuit of excellence is what can sustain us through difficult times.

DFI is currently finalising preparations for a forthcoming conference, to be held on the 12th November in Dublin. This conference is designed to support organisations and the people with disabilities who use their services in this pursuit of excellence, to share best practice and innovative approaches, and to learn from experiences beyond our sector. The conference will consider the concept of “quality service” and its relevance to the goal of independence and equal citizenship for people with disabilities, in all areas of society.
This conference will explore how a focus on “quality of life” points to a fresh approach to ensuring the availability of appropriate disability-specific services. With the prospect of many difficult budgets in the coming years, these are the important questions that all disability organisations must now ask of themselves.

John Dolan
Chief Executive Officer