Coronation Street has cast its first ever actor with Down’s Syndrome, Liam Bairstow, to play Cathy Matthews’ nephew Alex. Producer Stuart Blackburn has revealed the 25-year-old star was discovered after the soap held a workshop for actors with disabilities, and he praised Liam’s “lovely sense of timing”. He said: “We ran a workshop for actors […]
Author: Allan Cuthbert
€4.8m deal for Irish autism research – By Eoin English Irish Examiner Reporter
Irish scientists have signed a €4.8m research deal with a British pharmaceutical company to develop new drugs which target the gut and treat symptoms of autism. The APC Microbiome Institute (APC) at University College Cork confirmed Friday that it will collaborate with 4D pharma on the four-year project. It will focus on the discovery and […]
GP Visit Card (Under 6) – By Allan
I have been working in the area of special needs since 2008 and this is the first time I felt excited about changes to legislation around health care (usually my heart sinks!). Parents who have a child with additional needs have higher and sometimes huge medical expenses. Now there is help for children under six […]
Special Needs Savings & Investments – By Allan
All parents who have a child with special needs knows the importance of saving for the future. In this article I am going to discuss your main options. Investments Products You can invest your money in an investment product which can have a mix of assets such as cash, bonds, equity and property. Most investment […]
The Assisted Decision Making (capacity) Bill 2013 & how it will impact your life – By Allan
The Assisted Decision Making (capacity) Bill 2013 & how it will impact your life The new Assisted Decision Making (capacity) Bill 2013 is a very complex piece of legislation which has yet to be passed, however, it will bring Ireland in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The aims […]
Home Based July Provision
More commonly known as July Provision or the July Education Programme is for children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and or severe to profound Learning Disability. They may be entitled to July Provision if the school in which they are attending is not providing this service for the month of July. The scheme provides funding […]
Water Charges 2015 – By Allan
Ok, so much has been said to date about the water charges, however I wonder do the Irish Water, really understand how much water a person with disabilities needs? I think not. Showering/bathing can be required more often, bed linen, sterilising, just to name a few. I don’t really feel this has been addressed and […]
Life Policies Not Sold Unfairly – By Allan
If you have never read one of my articles before, read this. This is something I am both passionate and anger about. Read on. I was reading the weekend papers when I came across an article titled “Life Policies Not Sold Unfairly”. The bases of the article is that in the last 5-years around 830 […]
Mobility Allowance Scheme & Motorised Transport Grant – By Allan
The Government has closed these schemes to all new applicants and are now seeking a different solution that remains within the available budget and satisfying all legal concerns. Pending this decision on a new scheme, monthly payments will continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to people who were in receipt of […]