North Tipperary Disability Support Services provides people with disabilities with a Personal Assistant service. It also researches, trains and develops activities which address disability issues in the local community to enhance public awareness. We provide in theory and practice independent living for Leaders (people with disabilities) and Personal Assistants. We are affiliated to 26 Centres for Independent Living throughout Ireland. In 2003 we were honoured to have the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, officially launch this project.

How did it all begin?
In 1998 research was carried out by the local community development organisation and the findings of this research was a need for a Personal Assistant service in the rural area of North Tipperary. Through this a group formed a committee that set about forming this company. John Carroll inspired this group and he worked so hard before his untimely death towards its achievement.
Truly a man of independence, a beacon of light and an inspiration to so many people whose lives might otherwise have remained in darkness but for his research and determination to do all he could to promote independent living.

What is Independent Living?
Independent Living is:
The right of all persons regardless of age, type or extent of disability to live in the community…with all the duties and privileges that this entails.

Independent Living, as embraced by disabled people and their representing organisations, is based on four main assumptions; that each life is valuable; that regardless of a persons disability they have the ability to choose; that people have the right to practice control over their own lives regardless of the oppressive attitude and practice of society and finally, that each disabled person has the right to fully participate in society.

Board of Management
NTDSS is a small company. The Board of Management is made of people with disabilities and people with an interest in disability issues. There are 11 members on the Management Committee; this consists of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, finance sub committee and a fund raising committee. We are proud to have Shane Broderick as patron of our organisation.

Funding
This is a Community Employment Project and is sponsored by Fas to whom we are very grateful, for without this funding it would not be possible to continue to providing this valuable service to people with disabilities. However mainstream funding is required to maintain service provision and ensure that people with disability have access to Personal Assistants to achieve Independent Living.

Personal Assistants:
It is the job of a personal assistant to assist the leader who is directing their work in all aspects of daily living. This assistance is given at the direction and discretion of the leader such that they may engage in independent living gaining greater control over and choice in their own lives. Assistance in daily living includes assisting with personal and domestic care needs social, educational and work activities of the leader and as such, may vary from person to person. Personal Assistant provides assistance rather than care and is directed and controlled by the service user

The Service Catchment Area
North Tipperary Disability Support Service Ltd provides a service in the North Tipperary region. Tipperary is a large, rural mainly isolated area, with service needs differing from other catchment areas within the HSE. The capital infrastructure within North Tipperary is poorly developed in comparison with Limerick and Clare.