“Enable Ireland seemed like an extension of my own family”

Ger Mulvihill tells of his time with ‘Enable’

THE mention of the words “black-tie ball” will lead to thoughts, for most, of an event of a very formal nature. You can count me among that majority, and I am most certainly looking forward to donning the dickie-bow for an evening. However, I couldn’t help but notice the irony given that formal certainly wouldn’t be high on my list of words to describe life at Enable Ireland – I say that as a former service user. Of course there is a certain formulaic structure to appointments and, yes, specific routines are employed to ensure optimum results for the child – but I for one found the approach to be far more relaxed than it was clinical or formal.

As a child with Cerebral Palsy, I required a great deal of physiotherapy throughout my school life. That service came at no cost to my parents, nor did the hours of educational psychology that I was received. ‘Enable’ personnel liased with my schools at various junctures to ensure they were aware of my specific needs and that those needs were being met. The Enable support net didn’t stop at the door of the centre; it stretched far into the community.

That was of great benefit and reassurance to my parents in particular at the time. I, on the other hand, was more interested in what trip the event co-ordinators had organised for us services users in the months ahead. During my time in the service, we enjoyed a number of great days out. Among them was an overnight trip to Dublin to see Ireland take on the Netherlands at the Old Lansdowne Road, the last ever game at the iconic venue, if my memory serves me correctly. Those trips were special and in those particular cases afforded us the chance to say, “I was there”, if ever talk of the old Lansdowne road were to raise its head. The focus of those trips was not on disability but rather on laughter and enjoyment. I have never waned in my opinion that the whole person is looked after at Enable Ireland – not just the physical side of it. Even upon reflection some six years after leaving the service, the words Enable Ireland trigger memories of chat and laughter as much as they do physiotherapy and tedious excercise. In fact, I’d say the allure of tea, biscuits and a chat with Ross O’Connor or Grace Dukes about the weekend’s football action was often a huge help when I was less than enthusiastic about going in.

Both Ross and Grace are among many employees I was lucky enough to meet with, and they remain an integral part of Enable Ireland family unit. I use the word family, for that is what it was for me: an extension of my own family.

Ger Mulvihill is a former Enable Ireland service user.