The Liskennett centre, run by St Joseph’s Foundation, was officially opened last September and the farm setting provides both residential and day-care facilities for people with autism spectrum. Getting this far is the culmination of eight years of research, planning and fundraising.

Eamon McCarthy, chair of St Joseph’s Foundation, outlines the inspiration behind the centre.

“Historically, St Joseph’s is a beneficiary of the JP McManus Pro-Am Golf Championship, held every five years. St Joseph’s was asked to submit a project for consideration, and it was important to identify our greatest need going forward,” Eamon explains.

According to David Doyle, adult services manager at the foundation, there has been a significant rise in the numbers of people attending St Joseph’s who have been diagnosed with autistic spectrum, many of whom exhibit high levels of challenging behaviour. These people require a significant amount of support and care. “Approximately 24% of our budget was being spent on 4% of our patients,” says David.

Challenging behaviour is indicative that a person is not happy – which David puts down to lack of stimulation – and thus the idea to build a centre specifically for those within the autistic spectrum was born.

Certainly the range of activities and therapies at Liskennett leaves little room for boredom. The centre boasts an equestrian centre, a four-lane running track, an all-weather soccer field, golf-putting area, indoor gym, playground, a sensory trail and a craft centre. Plans are in progress to extend the sensory trail to include a sensory garden, complete with water features.

Alternative therapies include music, art, hydro therapy (at a nearby purpose-built pool) and – somewhat uniquely – equine-assisted learning therapy using the “Horse Boy Method” as pioneered by Rupert Isaccson.

Rupert has visited Liskennett on a number of occasions to demonstrate this method. David recalls one such occasion when a young lad kept getting in the way of the horse. “Rupert said: ‘Leave him off,’ and by the end of the day this young lad was happily sitting on a horse. He had never been on a horse before.”

Why Liskennett?

As for what makes Liskennett farm a suitable location for the centre, Eamon explains that “it ticked all the boxes”.

“A peaceful rural setting with wide-open spaces is ideal for people within the autistic spectrum, it helps them to deal with sensory issues and provides a calming environment. People living in the community can essentially be prisoners in their own home, they are afraid to go out, too much noise and hustle and bustle, this can be very frightening,” he says.

Another important reason is its proximity to St Joseph’s “only a 20-minute bus journey for residents, which keeps travel time and costs to a minimum”.

Much of the infrastructure for the centre was already in place. The equestrian centre, for example, uses the original indoor school and stabling. The new buildings, constructed in timber and stone, blend tastefully in with the old and somehow add to the peaceful atmosphere.

These new buildings house 16 therapeutic apartments, service areas and therapy rooms. Each resident has their own apartment, which is very important, David says. “When taking in residents we are guided by the number of apartments, rather than how many people we can fit in.”

Therapeutic Apartments

This system of apartment-style living is derived from the system used by the Welsh Autistic Society. It fosters independence and provides people with their own space in which they feel comfortable.

A member of staff tells the story of Simon*, who would never sleep in a bed, always preferring the couch. However, on arriving at his apartment at Liskennett, he immediately took to sleeping in the bed and has done so ever since. At Liskennett, they use the “step in, step down, step out” method to encourage independent living, as David explains.

“They step in with high levels of support but, through training, education and therapies they then step down to less support, more independence, and eventually they are able to step out into the community.”

Challenges

The main challenge faced during the planning and building process for the Liskenett centre was funding. “We had a wonderful idea, a dream, but to bring that to fruition would take a lot of money.”

The McManus fund helped, but there are conditions to adhere to. The fund is for capital funding only, must be used for building and it must be matched with statutory funding to cover day-to-day running costs. LEADER funding was secured; Limerick Co Council, Ballyhoura Development and IRD Duhallow are also instrumental in funding the project.

Eamon pays tribute to the local community, whose tireless efforts at fundraising require a special mention. “Two groups in particular – Team Dave Riordan and Better Life Cycle for Mitchelstown – have raised over €90,000 between them.”

This money was used to build the playground and the sensory trail; it also bought the bus and the horse simulator. This community spirit prevails in Granagh; fundraising is on-going, many of the locals helped with the planting of the sensory trail and are always willing to lend a hand, directing traffic at the open day and acting as “security” during the construction process.

Looking forward

An issue Eamon feels strongly about is the importance of encouraging other service providers to adopt a similar strategy. “We like to imagine that Liskennett is the mother ship, but it is possible to have satellites – smaller set-ups nationwide. The process is quite simple and does not require a huge amount of expertise and funding. We are a people-motivated organisation doing this for the benefit of people with autism, we want to share that process.” CL

find out more

For further information, call 061-399-9111 or visit www.stjosephsfoundation.