Féach is a Support Group for Parents of Blind and visually impaired Children

Soccer Tester Session

 

Soccer Trial Session
 
Irish Blind Sports are organising a soccer trial session with a view to
planning 12 week programs across the country.
 
A venue will be confirmed once we have guaged the level of interest and we hope to begin in April of 2010.
 
And all are welcome young and old, male and female, blind or visually impaired.
 
Sessions will be divided up as follows. Age 6 to 11 B1 or B2\B3
                                                                   Age 12 to 16 B1 or B2\B3
                                                                   Age 16 + B1 or B2
 
Sessions will be run by FA I qualified coaches. For further information please contact Warren Mc Donald @ 087 919 4367
 
For any other sporting activies of interest please visit http://www.ibs.ie
 
Sailing:
Anyone interested in sailing (preferably living near to Kinsale but not essential) please contact Fintan O' Donnell by visiting the website http://www.ibs.ie .
 
Paraolmypic sailing boat is looking for a B2 crew member and the boat is based in Cork.
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Ski Trip to St. Johann in Austria January 2010

 

The Ski Trip was a fantastic success, even though we were snow bound in Dublin Airport on Saturday and didn’t leave until early Sunday morning, it didn’t dampen our spirits! We arrived in the beautiful village of St. Johann to a fresh fall of snow and after that we had clear blue skies for the rest of the week - in other words perfect skiing conditions. 
 
Elaine from the Ski Club of Ireland and Anneli (without whom this trip would never have taken place) were on hand early the first morning to help get everyone equipped with skies and boots and guide us to our instructors. Once all this was sorted it was up on the slopes to get moving. Lisa from Topflight was also on hand at all times to help with any queries we had.
 
All the children did extremely well and the earlier lessons in Kilternan definitely helped, and in a very short time were coming down from the top of the mountain. The children will tell their own stories of their holiday later on.
 
During the course of the week we all met at different restaurants up the mountain for lunch and again at Max’s Bar at 3pm for a very welcome hot chocolate each day. Then it was a snow ball fight or tobogganing with plastic shovels. (Some of us bought these plastic shovels to bring home hoping to get snow here again.) Adults and children had great fun on these – the plastic shovels really work! Other evenings we went swimming, ice skating and sleigh riding on horse-drawn sleigh through the village and into the forest – a wonderful experience.
 
Then back to our hotel for dinner and later a sing song with Alan Shortt who provided endless laughs and music with the children joining in the singing.
 
On our last night we had a Gala Dinner at the hotel and our instructors for the week came along to present prizes to all the children.  We also had prizes for the adults who braved the slopes but credit has to be given to the children, they won the day!
 
This was Féach’s first trip away and while we were apprehensive before we left we all feel it was well worth the effort. The children learned a sport which they will have forever, it gave them increased confidence and they had great fun and also made new friends.
 
A big thank you to everyone!

 

Below are some pictures from out trip:

 

AHEAD: Better Options

The Better Options Fair takes place in The Astra Hall in UCD, Belfield on 10th December 2009 at 11.00 am. Organised by UCD Disability Support Service together with AHEAD to provide students with a disability or specific learning difficulty with the information they need to make informed choices about their third level options.

 

Over 2,000 students with a disability or specific learning difficulty entered higher education in 2009 and over 12,000 students received accommodations in state examinations. Yet, students with a disability are still under-represented in higher education. The Higher Education Authority recognises this and is determined to double the number of students with a physical or sensory disability by 2013.

 

Better Options is an opportunity for guidance counsellors, teachers, parents and students with a disability to get information about the disability services and supports available to them in higher education. It will give them the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from staff and other students about what they can expect and what works in higher education for students with a disability.

 

This event will provide information on how to apply to college under the DARE scheme, a supplementary entry scheme for students with a disability or specific learning difficulty which operates in eleven higher education institutions. This scheme recognizes the impact of disability on educational attainment and progression and offers on average 5% of first year places on a reduced point basis across all academic areas. Students who secure one of these places will be offered a range of academic and personal supports while at college.

 

Higher education institutions are committed to widening participation and are introducing a culture of more flexible teaching and learning to ensure that all students are included in day to day learning activities. The benefits to the sector are clear; education will be richer by tapping into a more diverse pool of talent that brings different mindsets and intelligences to the academic table. Students with disabilities are graduating and going on to careers in all professions and are succeeding at the same rate as other students.

 

 

The ASTRA HALL,

The Student Centre UCD

Belfield

Thursday 10th December 2009

Time: 11am to 3pm

 

For further information contact:

Ann Heelan, Executive Director, AHEAD.

Tel: 01 716 4396

Or

Tina Lowe, Disability Officer, UCD.

Tel: 01 716 7564

 

Féach Family Information Day

Family Information Day

 

Saturday 7th November 2009 at 2pm

The Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise

 

 

We are delighted to have Caroline Casey as our Guest speaker this year. Caroline is the founding CEO of Kanchi (formerly The Aisling Foundation) and the O2 Ability Awards and is also an international speaker and adventurer. She is visually impaired and given us great support over the years.

 

A number of young blind and visually impaired adults will talk about their own experiences. Other relevant organisations including Irish Guide Dogs, NCBI and St. Josephs will also attend.

 

Our Family Day has really developed into a fun day for all the family and also an ideal opportunity for children who are blind and visually impaired and their siblings to meet other children. We’d ask that you please advise us of numbers of children attending to allow us to cater fully for them.

 

The Heritage Hotel Portlaoise is only 1 hour from Dublin and less than 5 minutes walk from the train station. Anyone who wishes to stay should contact the hotel directly on 057 867 8588 and quote Féach or E-mail (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Rates are €65pp sharing including breakfast.

 

Feach annual subscription of €20 per family will be collected at Registration.

 

Féach Inaugural Ski Trip

 

Great trip to St. Johann in Tirol, Austria

 

·       Stay at the 3* Hotel Fischer H/B (Free Welcome Drink on arrival)

·       Great special “Feach” group rate for Adults & Children (Sharing)

·       Free entry to Sports Centre, Rink & Pool

·       Special Awards / Prizegiving evening

·       Highly qualified Ski Instructors – specialised in disability skiing – Wilder Kaiser Ski School

·       Gala Dinner on Friday Night

·       Children’s Play area & Cinema

·       Free Ski Storage – Close to slopes for convenience

ADULTS

€699

+ SKI PACKS

CHILDREN

€349

+ SKI PACKS

 

Learn to ski pack Adults:  €275.00 p.p / Children: €229.00

 

Free Lift pass for children 5 years and under

Free ski & boot hire for children aged 14 and under when 2 adults book the same.

 

Insurance not included.

 

PRIVATE SKI TUITION, €95  MORNINGS / €160 FULL DAY

 

NCBI are covering the cost of the tuition for the children and Féach are hoping to do some fund raising to help cover the cost of the ski packs. This will make the ski holiday much more affordable, we appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone.

An Adult must accompany each child and a deposit must be paid by October 29th.

 

 

Skiing at Kilternan - September 26th!

Hi all,
 
Here's a great opportunity to get your child to try out skiing with qualified Austrian ski instructors on September 26th in Kilternan, Co Dublin. Its a good way to introduce them to the joys of skiing and maybe you might then want to join Féach on a planned ski trip to St Johann in Austria on January 10th, 2010? An information pack and booking details will be available in Kilternan on the 26th. If you are interested in the trip and cant make it please make sure to contact Chris Maxwell as below.  

Start Time                -      9.30 am

 

Gear Up                    -      9.30 -9.55 am
 

Lesson                      -      10.00 – 11.15 am

 

The visually impaired or blind child must be over 6 years of age. There is no charge for the instruction and we thank the ski instructors and the Ski Club of Ireland for their support.
 
Details on how to get to Kilternan are on this link: http://www.skiclub.ie/Location/Default.209.html
 
To book a place please contact Chris Maxwell 086 - 364 0233 or email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
      

Hope to see you there!

Women’s Mini-Marathon Completed!

June 2009


A big thank You!

A big thank you to all those who took part in the Womens Mini-Marathon and also to everyone who sponsored us. All the support and sponsorship is much appreciated and the money raised will help us to continue the work we do.

Thanks to everyone who returned their sponsorship cards and anyone who have not returned it, please return it ASAP to our new address

Féach
PO Box No. 11581
Dublin 18
 

 

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Soccer Tester Session

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