THE Charter of Rights for people with autism, which was initiated by the Irish Society for Autism, has recently been enacted by the European Parliament, and has since been sent to Strasbourg for final ratification.
The charter was instigated because of inadequate services for children and adults with autism, and also because of inappropriate placement of people with the illness.
The charter was originally drawn up here and sent to other autism organisations across the EU for approval. It was brought to the attention of the European Parliament with the help of lobbying from MEPs such as Mary Banotti.
The charter sets out 19 areas where the rights of people with autism need to be protected. These include independent living, education, treatment and diagnosis.
The declaration will now put pressure on member states to enact legislation within their own legal systems, where necessary, to ensure that these rights are protected.
The executive director of the Irish Society for Autism, Pat Matthews, called for the appropriate services to be implemented. "If this could be done without legislation, that would be fine," he said.
He urged the Department of Finance to make more money available for these services, with a specific allocation of funding for autism, rather than a general one for all mental handicap services.
FOCUS Point Ireland's fundraising week starts today, with activities centred on the Mary St entrance of the Ilac Centre in Dublin.
Punters can buy a brick for £1, which, with the sponsor's name land address, will become part of the walls of the house. Focus Point is hoping to sell 10,000 bricks, with all proceeds going towards its new housing development at George's Hill, off Capel St.
Due to open tkis autumn, the development will provide accommodation for more than 100 people who have special housing needs, or are currently homeless. Five units for wheelchair users have been specially constructed.
Entertainment will be provided at the Ilac Centre during the week from 10 a.m. to noon each day, with musicians, "Batman", a mime artist and a clown performing.
A public lecture and a work shop entitled Doorways into Distorted Realms in Ordinary People: Recognising the Clues that Lead to the Self", take place this week at the Marie Auxiliatrice, 19 Lower Mount Street in Dublin. The events are being organised by the Irish Association of Jungian Psychotherapists, (IAJP) and the speaker is Geraldine Fogarty.
The lecture is at 8 p.m. tomorrow night and admission is £5. The workshop takes place on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and admission is £15. Phone the IAJP at (01) 2886261 for further details.
THE results old a survey into Irish people's dental care routines, have just been released. Some 1,400 people aged 15 and over were interviewed in March for the survey.
The results showed that 62 per cent of respondents claim they brush their teeth twice a day, with a tendency for women and younger people (15 - 35 years) to be more conscious of the need for this.
Some 63 per cent of Irish people believe their teeth can be kept perfectly healthy by brushing once a day; 32 per cent say they change toothbrushes every three months, and 18 per cent admit to only changing brushes when the bristles become useless.
The survey was carried out by Lansdowne Market Research in conjunction with toothpaste makers Mentadent.
AS part of the All Hallows College's Summer School this year, artist Catherine Ryan is hosting a course entitled "Discovering the Inner Rainbow - Creativity and Imagination in the Discernment of the Truth", at the College at Gracepark Road, Dublin.
This course is running from today until Friday. The cost is £200 for residential, and £150 for non residential. The summer school features eight courses - two each week for the month of July - with subjects such as spiritual direction and theology. Contact the secretary of the summer school at (01) 8373745 for information.
A community directory has recently been published by the Dublin Corporation Public Libraries of the Northside Partnership Area, covering the localities of
Clonshaugh, Darndale, Priorswood, Beaumont, Artane, Coolock, Killester, Donnycarney, Raheny, Edenmore, Belcamp, Kilbarrack, Donaghmede, and Baldoyle.
The directory is a mine of information, with telephone numbers and addresses for groups such as voluntary organisations, parenting groups, fitness, religious and children's associations.