My first interview in Ireland

When I was in Ireland, it wasn't for holidays, it was for a humanitarian mission in Cheeverstown House. I have discovered a new way to help and discuss with people. I have also meet nice people such as Anne D. who accepted to answer my questions. Here is her interview.

Are you a volunteer or a professional?

I am exercise instructor. I’ve worked in Cheevestown as a social key-worker. I’ve always felt that people sitting around in place like Cheeverstown House, needed to do activities and the majority of them didn’t do activities but ten years ago I did a passive exercise course and it’s very hard to explain we felt that people with special needs needed to do more activities and Cheeverstown House rents a room in the community to do the exercise, yes to do with the church and I am the instructor. The people with special needs, it’s inclusion with the community of St Jules and they mix very well. As you can see it’s to make people with special needs mix with regular people to include them which we have done and that’s what we do. So we do an hour here every Tuesday from 11 to 12 most of the participants are from Cheeverstown House are able to do exercise by themselves where in a few years back that would not be to happen.

What skills did you require?

I had to do a course: ( you’ve to be open minded, sociable) Absolutely and very good very good mix with people and very sociable because it’s not everybody… I did it with the same group When I’ve worked in Cheeverstown House. You need good management skills for being a boss: this is how is Francis: boss of ELM House in Cheeverstown House.

What do you know or would you like to say about Cheeverstown House?

This is actually what Cheeverstown House is: it is one of the best places to organize to make activities doing, in the southwest of Dublin: better place. We need more place like Cheeverstown House, they are never sitting down all days, there is lots of activities. They can get involved, they can play soccer…

Which problems you can foresee?

It’s a problem to allowed them to give them independence: let them have their own money, choice of clothes, where they want to live… they like having their own choice, own independence.The have to be included, included in church, in workshops.

How many times of sport do they need per week?

One hour per week that’s all I do here regularly.

Do you need to adapt music for different exercises through the rhythm, sounds…?

You have to adapt slow music and some fast music and some slow music. Some music that people with special need can relate to: do the rhythm, they keep to the rhythm out to the music: helps them to do the movement because they listening to the music they just automatically do the movement. And to see the regular people, it’s great encouragement from regular people to people with special needs. When they started here first, some were very shy, they wouldn’t they were conscious were looking at them but now they just automatically do it. And to tell you the truth that’s to do with me and the music.

Do you think music is a sort of therapy? Is music being helpful for them?

Music is one of the most important things (I’ve seen they love it, it’s a sort of relaxation for them) and they love the regularity of it and repetitive: they get to know the song, they get to sing them and they get to do the exercise. They do it them now in their own ability and its much better decision than doing nothing. They love old style music. They do the movement to improve their posture, to give them something to look forward to once a week, to look forward to come here to do every week.

Do you think the image of a person with disabilities is still unfair or it’s evolving with time and generation?

It’s improving, it’s definitely improving. It’s mean inclusion with regular people. Inclusion means "the act of including someone or something as part of a group"(Cambridge Dictionary). Oldest person are a little be behind with young people. They are not patient and they don’t have the skills. The younger people don’t give time, don’t have patience and skills. But we have to encourage them, people with special needs are more encouraged.

What are the worst stereotypes you have ever heard?

They think they can’t do the things but the actual fact they can do. Generally speaking, theyoung people are not really that interested in people with special needs, so I think they should be more open. But now people with special needs are more out of going and are more mixing with people.

What the message you would like to share with young teenagers who don’t really know a lot about people with disabilities? What do you think people really need to know about people with disabilities?

People with special needs are not sick people, they just have special needs and they need to be treated the same as same as everybody else. A lot of people are less the working out area DON’T understand. I know young people don’t do the exercises like that but I think it’s a very good idea to have young people come here to this sort of thing if they can and experience what it’s like with people. In Ireland people are afraid of people with special needs.

What the greatest experience and memory you ever had?

My experience is seeing the people with special needs doing it for themselves. And now they can do it without assistance they are more able to be independent.