Successful information day for parents of children transitioning from school to Disability Day Services held in Donegal

A successful information morning for parents of children transitioning from school to Disability Day Services in 2026/2027 and those whose adult children are already in Day Services in the Donegal Town area, was held in Donegal Town in early November 2025.

The event was the first of its kind in the county with most Donegal Town Day Service providers and multi-disciplinary team members in attendance to provide information. Donegal County Council’s Housing and Access officers also attended. Following on from the success of the morning, more such events will be organised across the county in 2026. The information event was aimed at parents and guardians of people with disabilities who currently attend HSE or HSE funded Disability Day Services in the Donegal Town area and those whose children are transferring from school to attend Disability Day Services in the next two years. The event was organised in response to parents and disability groups in the area who had expressed a need for more information on services available and a desire to meet senior HSE managers to discuss the needs of people with disabilities, and their families, in the Donegal Town area.

Patrick Brogan, a father of four children with autism, in attending the event said “It was great to see the first of it’s kind meeting in Donegal. It was a very positive event. Moving from school to Disability Day Services is a big change for both children and their parents and it was very beneficial to get so much information from all the speakers today. This event would be a great model for new parents to avail of every year. This will lessen anxieties for parents which then will have a positive impact on the new students. Also, parents who are using the services can share their positive experience at an event like this. As an advocate for my family I am very grateful that the HSE granted my wishes for this event to have taken place as there were so many organisations involved.”

The HSE Day Service Coordination Team support people with a disability to find a training option or day opportunity service that is suited to their needs. Each year this team works with a new cohort of young people who are due to leave school. Schools or parents can contact this service though the local HSE Disability Service. An adviser will meet the school leaver and their family or advocate and work closely with them and their school.

The HSE provides rehabilitative training and adult day opportunity services for adults with the following disabilities - intellectual, physical, sensory (deaf/hard of hearing or visual impairment) and autism.

Parents attending the event also received information on Respite and Residential Services available in Donegal. Residential Services support people with a disability to live in their own homes in the community with the person centred support they need. Respite Services support people with a disability to receive care in a setting which offers their families and carers a break from their caring responsibilities and affords them time to focus on their own personal interests and activities. Respite Services afford people with disabilities the opportunity to relax, have fun, mix with their peers, try out new activities and engage in social activities in the community.

Dermot Monaghan, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Donegal and Edel Quinn Head of Disabilities Services, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo were in attendance and spoke to many people supported by Disability Services and their families about their lived experiences throughout the morning.

Dermot Monaghan, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Donegal said “The programmes assist people to make choices and plans and to be an active, independent member of the community. It was great to meet so many parents and guardians at the information morning and I look forward to attending more of these events across the county next year.”

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