OFFALY CIL - Key Persons

Alice Williams

One day I was at home doing some housework. The phone rang, and a lady called Aoife said 'hello'. We chatted for a while and she said she represented Offaly Centre for Independent Living, that there was a nice job coming up, and wondered if I'd be interested in doing it. I explained to her that at that point I was having chemo for cancer that I had had for a few years, I said that if she could ring me back in two months, the treatment would be finished and I'd see if I was well enough to do it. True to her word she rang me and we chatted some more. Eventually we arranged to meet and to go to see a couple who would like some help. That day has been the best day's work I've ever done. I met such a lovely couple. A few days later I began working with them, and I'm still there. They made me feel so welcome, as did their family when I met them. We have become very good friends. I do any job that needs doing; I don't mind what I'm asked to do. I also take them anywhere they need to go like to the doctor, hospital and to do the shopping. I also take them to the garden centre, and lots of other places besides! We have loads in common and often sit and chat about years ago when they were young; although I'm not as old as they are, I can identify with them. We have many a good laugh about things we got up to when we were young! I am so happy I took Aoife's advice and went to see this lovely couple. I look forward to going in to see them each day. I would recommend a job like this to anyone who has a few free hours a week. I feel that I get as much satisfaction from this job as the couple get from having me with them. I know that if there was any problem I could ring Aoife and she would have time to speak to me. I often tell her that she will never match a person to a job so well again!

Brian Cowen

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Ciaran Cushen

Job Titles:

Leader With Offaly Centre for Independent Living

Ciaran Cushen is a Leader with Offaly Centre for Independent Living. He grew up in the UK and moved to Ireland in 1996 with his family. After attending boarding school, he now lives independently in his own accommodation in Stradbally. He works closely with Portlaoise County Council fighting for advocacy for individuals with disabilities, trying to better the community and make it more accessible for them. He loves to get involved and play for his local wheelchair hurling and GAA teams. Since having his PA, he is able to be more confident in himself and he is happier around his home. He recently started a Transition Course with the National Network, which is a 2 year course included lots of different modules. He plans in the future to go on and complete his Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate in further education centres. If he has one message for Leaders' or people with disabilities it would be, "Don't be afraid to ask!" He believes that Offaly Centre for Independent Living gives Leader's a chance to better themselves and live life with confidence again.