Last week DCIL, celebrated The international Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd 2021.
This dedicated day aimed to help everyone get a greater awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and to strive to ensure that all people in the world have equal opportunities for work, play, health and success. People with disabilities can be and often are contributing and valued members of society.
DCIL urge everyone to become more aware of challenges faced by people with disabilities within our communities and how we can help highlight and hopefully resolve these.
About us
Donegal Centre for Independent Living (DCIL) was established on the 1st of October 1999. It is a company limited by guarantee, Number: 352126 and registered with the Irish Charity Regulator. Charity Number: 16580.
DCIL’s objectives are to promote, support and encourage Independent Living for people with disabilities living in Donegal by;
- Providing a self-directed Personal Assistant (PA) Service, which gives Leaders (service users) choice and control over their service enabling them to live a life of their choosing.
- Financing and administering a centre which provides premises for a range of services with disabilities in Donegal.
‘Independent Living’ means that people with a disability want the same life opportunities and choices as everyone else. That includes growing up with their families, attending the local school, using the same bus, gaining employment which is in line with their education and abilities, having equal access to the same services and establishments of social life, culture and leisure.
DCIL Scholarship Scheme
DCIL has introduced this scholarship as part of a project to support students with a disability by means of a financial bursary. The budget for this project is currently € 750.00 per annum per Student, awarded each year over the span of their chosen course. The Scholarship is to enable the student to achieve greater independence and empowerment through participation in college life and to enhance their confidence to live independently. The closing date is the 31/12/2021.
Please visit www.DonegalCIL.com for full details on Application and Conditions for the Scheme.
Conditions of Applications under this fund:
- The student must be accepted into their chosen course at LYIT.
- The chosen course must be of no less than two academic years duration and capped at a four-year honour’s degree.
- The Scholarship will cease should the course not be completed or the student fails to progress to the next year. If a repeat year is successively completed, the Scholarship will resume in the following year.
- This Scholarship is for a student with a disability accessing or due to access the support of an Educational Support Worker or Personal Assistant.
- The recipient must agree to promotional/acknowledgement photograph and article for DCIL website/social media and or Newspaper.
Application Process
- Application Form must be accompanied by a written essay, titled ‘Independent Living’. We want to hear what your understanding of Independent Living means to you personally. We would like you to reflect on your journey, the barriers you have had to overcome and share with us what you believe the obstacles and opportunities are to true Independent Living in Ireland at the present time as a person with a disability. Minimum 250 words, Maximum 500 words.
- Application form and Essay to be addressed to The Financial Controller either via post or email; jennifer.arenhold@donegalcil.com . Initial Approval in Principle will be granted/refused by the DCIL Finance Sub Committee.
- Final Decision will be made on recommendation from the Finance Sub Committee by the DCIL Board. If a Board meeting is not scheduled within a time frame to suit the application, DCIL Chairperson will have the authority to approve and report to Board at their earliest convenience.
