Advocates for Personal Potential (APP) Training Services was established to help individuals with an autism spectrum condition and mental health challenges to achieve their personal goals. Our community-based outreach support service, operating in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim, is for people aged 18 – 65 to help them achieve their personal goals, whatever they may be.
Through our programme, ‘Making Connections’ we provide a one-to-one strictly confidential service for individuals. The aim of our programme is to improve the quality of life of people and empowering them to make decisions and choices that help them to live more meaningful lives in their community.
APP also provides emotional and practical support to help people identify and develop their own personal identity. We liaise with a range of other services, professionals and communities to avail of additional supports for our members and we’re also actively engaged in representing and assisting our members in advocating for better services and resources in their area.
The Making Connections Programme is a comprehensive programme that helps people and their families with their future plans and is specific to the individual's needs and aspirations. The programme provides emotional and practical support for our members, identifying each individual's future plans - whether related to family, career, hobbies or personal development - and determining the supports and services needed to achieve these.
The length of the programme can last for two years or more, depending on the individual.
No. Our programme will work alongside other commitments you may have and further support you in areas you have an interest in. You will be given opportunities to develop your plans independently and/or with supports. As a result, the programme may be delivered in a variety of environments in community settings, at home or in APP premises.
It is important that you are committed to the programme and are in a position to make changes in areas of your life. You will work closely with APP staff on a one-to-one basis to identify goals and guide the development and delivery of your future plans.
The APP team commits to assisting and enhancing your capacity through developing a futures plan based on your hopes, dreams and preferences on how you envisage your life. Confidentiality will be upheld at all times.
This is up to the individual. You will have opportunities to meet up with other members on the programme if you wish, and in your own time. This may arise either through organised events or through meeting up with those who have similar interests to you, where you can organise and plan activities together.
Our outreach service covers Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo and in some cases, other counties. Once we have had the opportunity to meet up with and you are interested in getting involved, we will discuss this further.
To be eligible for the Making Connections Programme you need to be:
- Aged 18 – 65
- Have a diagnosis and feel you could benefit from this service
- Be ready and willing to participate and make changes
- Referrals from other services.
- To arrange referral process please contact APP Training Services or HSE Adult Day Support Services
