-
Status
Received: on time
-
Income
£16.4K
-
Spending
£58.4K
Public benefits
The public benefit flowing from the purposes of DADS are that individuals suffering from learning disabilities but particularly Dyslexia and Dyspraxia are helped to understand their condition, to accept their condition and where possible to improve their condition. The parents and extended families of these individuals also benefit from being able
to access assessments, workshops, lectures and conferences delivered by experts in the field of learning disabilities. The schools benefits because the teachers have access to the conferences, courses and workshops delivered by DADS so that they can improve their own knowledge about these disabilities and therefore improve the way that they can understand and teach such pupils. The Education Authorities benefit because they can direct families to DADS for support and advice. The young people benefit in other ways in that they have a space where they can meet together and feel comfortable with each other and with DADS members. They can also participate in a variety of games, recreational activities where they will be valued and not judged as a result of their disability. The whole community benefit because there is an organisation which understands and proactively assists the individual and their families who suffer from a learning disability. These benefits are measured by the numbers of individuals attending the workshops, the training sessions, the lectures, the conferences, the recreational activities or the self help evenings. Feedback is gained in a variety of ways. Evaluation forms are distributed at all of the lectures and conferences. Feedback is also obtained from focus groups made up of both young people and their parents. Individuals with learning difficulties assist in planning the activities each year. Teachers also give feedback as to the performance of individuals that we have targeted for in-depth assistance and support. There is no harm flowing from the activities of DADS except that we are occasionally limited by lack of funding as to how much assistance we can offer individual families.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
DADS offers a non-threatening base where people with learning difficulties and their families can vent their difficulties and frustrations. It is primarily a self help group with one parent supporting another to better understand and be able to assist with the difficulties faced by young people with a learning disability. We liaise with local
schools, the education authorities, the psychology services, the PSNI to try and create a better understanding of special educational needs. We are a point of contact for parents who are bewildered by their child’s condition. We try to access funding so that we can provide activities which are not available through the statutory system. We offer training courses, lectures and seminars, personal development confidence building, anger management and at the same time recreational activities such as canoeing, wall climbing, outdoor pursuits, trampoline all of which are benefit to individuals with specific learning difficulties. We try to keep up with the latest research into these conditions and to access technological specialist equipment which is made available to our members. Mostly however, we exist to help break the taboos surrounding educational disability.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Learning disabilities
- Mental health
- Sensory disabilities
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Counselling/support
- Disability
