Future of Donabate housing service for the visually impaired is secured

A service in Donabate which provides housing for people with visual impairment and intellectual disabilities will remain in place after being taken over by Positive Futures.

The National Association of Housing for Visually Impaired (NAHVI) in Donabate was established in 1999 as a housing body to cater for the needs of people with vision impairment and an intellectual disability. It currently supports 16 adults.

Positive Futures is a charity group which aims to provide “a wide range of innovative community based services to children, young people and adults with an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury or autistic spectrum condition and their families.”

Since 2018, in response to a request from the HSE, Positive Futures has been providing operational management and governance support to NAHVI.

“This has allowed NAHVI to offer the highest standards of care to the people it supports,” Positive Futures says.

“On August 31, NAHVI became part of the Positive Futures group.”

Under this arrangement, NAHVI is now controlled by Positive Futures, but remains as a separate legal entity.

Sebastian Baby, Service Manager of NAHVI, said: “Since 2018, the people we support have grown individually thanks to expertise and the person-centred values of Positive Futures.

“Now that our relationship with Positive Futures has been formalised, a great future awaits everyone.

“We also have the opportunity to expand this unique service across Ireland.”

Dr Agnes Lunny, Chief Executive of Positive Futures, said: “It’s been my privilege to be part of the development of NAHVI and to see the achievements of the people NAHVI supports over the last four years.

“As someone with a visual impairment myself, I know how important it is for people to have the right support in order to access choices and opportunities to live their best lives.

“It’s been wonderful to witness people graduating from college, obtaining good jobs and making other personal achievements that have enabled them to play a full role in society.

“In Positive Futures, we are committed to supporting more people across Ireland in our expanding range of services.”