Rehab Services in Laois

In Laois, Rehab provides services to just under 105 people with disabilities at two locations in the county through its divisions RehabCare and National Learning Network.

Rehab provides high-quality health and social care, training and education, and rehabilitation, employment and commercial services in Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, the Netherlands and Poland. The people who currently use Rehab services include young people and adults with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities, people with mental health difficulties, people with autism and people with an acquired brain injury. A range of essential services is also provided to older people, carers and others who are marginalised. Every year, more than 50,000 people and their families benefit from the supports provided by Rehab in over 250 locations.

In partnership with the Health Service Executive, RehabCare provides a wide range of high-quality person-centred services. At the resource centre and day service on Main Street Portlaoise, the programmes offered to 33 people include independent living, personal development, positive mental health, computing, horticulture, history, art, current affairs and a variety of social and leisure activities. The centre also provides a range of education, training and employment opportunities according to individual wishes and abilities.

National Learning Network provides training funded by FÁS and the Health Service Executive for persons out-of-work through accident, illness or disability. The centre on the Dublin Road, Portlaoise currently caters for 70 students from throughout the county and provides vocational and rehabilitative training. Courses offered include the vocational courses Employer-Based Training, JobStart and Transitions, and the rehabilitative programmes Access and Choices.

Employer-Based Training combines on-the-job and in-centre training in a skill area of the student’s choice. JobStart is for those who wish to enter back into the area of work and education, while Transitions allows people to sample different vocational opportunities and helps them to develop the vocational personal and social skills necessary to progress onto further training and employment.

The Access rehabilitative programme provides participants with independent living, personal development and vocational skills, thereby enabling participants to make informed choices about further training and employment.  The Choices programme enables participants with experience of mental ill health to enhance their wellness, social interaction, community involvement and their general well being.

April 2012