Invitation to a Conference:
Providing Supports to People with Learning Disabilities Transitioning
into Older Age
Dear Sir / Madam,
Ulster University and Positive Futures cordially invite you to attend a joint conference.
THE FOCUS OF THE CONFERENCE
This conference will give you up-to-date evidence on the most effective supports for
people with learning disabilities and their family carers as they transition into older age
focusing on housing options, day/leisure opportunities, respite and domiciliary support.
In the morning session you will hear from Prof Mary McCarron (Trinity College Dublin) and
Prof Philip McCallion (University of Albany, New York) about the health of older people
with learning disabilities and the supports offered to their ageing family carers
internationally.
Dr Taggart and his team will then provide the results of their research project currently
being undertaken across N Ireland about how people with learning disabilities transition
into older age. You will also hear from Positive Futures about the evaluation of their Better
Futures Project: a Big Lottery funded project that has developed support options for older
family carers of people with learning disabilities in the South Eastern HSC Trust area.
Workshops will be held in the afternoon to create a forum for debate and discussion
around current issues facing this population, their family carers, housing/day/lesiure
opportunity providers and policy makers. This interactive session will focus on reaching a
consensus across all stakeholders as to what is considered to be the ‘way forward’ in
terms of appropriate service models for people with learning disabilities and their family
carers as they transition into older age.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The workshop attendees will include policymakers; commissioners of services; and
service providers who plan and deliver services to people with learning disabilities across
the statutory, independent and voluntary sectors.
TRAVEL
The workshops are taking place across N Ireland to facilitate access by a range of key
stakeholders and ensure that regional variations in service provision are at the forefront of
future planning. Workshops will be hosted at 9.30am-3.30pm on:
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Monday, 15 February 2016 at the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown
Tuesday, 16 February 2016 at the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick
Wednesday, 17 February 2016 at the City Hotel, Derry~Londonderry.
REGISTRATION
There is NO cost to participants as the conference is being funded by the HSC Research
& Development Office and Big Lottery.
As space is limited, we ask that people register their interest and confirm their preference
of workshop using the RSVP slip below. Please return this to Dr Lisa Hanna-Trainor at the
address indicated. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so please
return your response no later than 29 Jan 2016.
If you have any questions or queries about the workshop, contact Dr Lisa Hanna-Trainor
at [email protected] or 028 9036 6645.
Yours sincerely
Dr Lisa Hanna-Trainor
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Dr Laurence Taggart
Principal Investigator
REPLY SLIP
Providing Supports to People with
Learning Disabilities Transitioning into Older Age
Name (Print):
_____________________________________________
Organisation:
_____________________________________________
Work Address:
_____________________________________________
Telephone No:
_____________________________________________
E-mail address: _____________________________________________
I would like to attend the workshop on (please tick one):
15 February 2016 at the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown
16 February 2016 at the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick
17 February 2016 at the City Hotel, Derry
Please state if you have any special dietary requirements: _______________
_____________________________________________________________
Please return to:
Dr Lisa Hanna-Trainor
Room 12J05A
Institute of Nursing and Health Research
Ulster University
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
Co. Antrim
BT37 0QB