tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570206044528788347.post7703144832104111880..comments2023-04-09T14:18:13.268+01:00Comments on Cathal's Big Adventure: A Bit of a Ramble....Forgive meCathal's Mammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09755001510595381520noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570206044528788347.post-52835706663190603942008-09-01T21:50:00.000+01:002008-09-01T21:50:00.000+01:00I am nodding in agreement with everything you are ...I am nodding in agreement with everything you are saying..If there's one thing I learned from Hammie & the RC's it's to apply for everything going..at worst it will be refused..at best backdated.<BR/>I was lucky enough in that regard that the support group I joined had a talk on entitlements the first night I went and an advocacy worker helped me fill out DCA. In my opinion there should be an advocacy worker in every county fighting the battles for the parents of these special little kids and informing parents of their entitlements..it's hard enough keeping up with hosp appts without having to fights with dept heads. I knew pretty much all about my entitlements before early intervention social worker told me and even some of the entitlements she hid from me. But then you've learned your lesson well..I note you have all the necessary links on your blogroll..good post Cathal's maSesamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07936393304802131213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570206044528788347.post-43329669373468047672008-08-31T10:13:00.000+01:002008-08-31T10:13:00.000+01:00I wrote a huge big comment at 6am (another bad nig...I wrote a huge big comment at 6am (another bad night)and zapped it as it was too epic. Yes, the citizen sector is way more effective than the public sector in informing of rights. There's a macro for you and Nick to put together when you are ready. <BR/>Don't be afraid to contact Jack and Jill foundation for help with information on your rights. They fought many a battle that has helped all of us with DCA etc.<BR/>keep applying for EVERTHING, regardless of what begrudgers tell you. I have a roof over my head thanks to a parent at a support group who told me to apply for carers, when everyone else said "don't bother"<BR/>The backdating got us our deposit and loans><BR/>Stay in there.<BR/>xx<BR/>ps. my pharmacist is a honey too!Lisamareehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18445509438246694219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570206044528788347.post-29677367601606690942008-08-31T00:23:00.000+01:002008-08-31T00:23:00.000+01:00times the rambling posts are the ones that do the ...times the rambling posts are the ones that do the good stuff. This one is great. I echo everything you say, and I expect to have to fight tooth and nail for everything. I don't ever expect any single altruistic resource out there to magically materialise to help us, and I thank God for bloggers, because what would we have done in 1976? Government is imperfect, state bodies are imperfect, all the faceless bureaucracy you have to square up to is imperfect... Having said that, you will find good people there too, if you can manage to connect at a human level. I've been heartened with a lot of my HSE dealings, I have to say, because I managed to connect at a first-name level. It's just too damn easy to fall between the cracks. We have to be ever-vigilant and share as much info as we can. You're doing a good job at that already, Mammy, so keep going. Great point about the chemist. Get them a box of chocs.Nick McGivneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603579300515543458noreply@blogger.com