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Click here for details of our planning meeting and AGM that are taking place in February and March, 2012
Welcome to the webpage of the Connect People Network.
This site aims to give you lots of information about the work that we do.
Our aims are to help everyone learn about ways that people with intellectual disabilities can be supported to learn about relationships and sexuality. We also want to make sure that the people who do this supporting do so in the safest and best way possible.
There are lots of pages on this site, and you can get to any of them from clicking on them words at the top of the page.
About Us 
Who are we?
The Connect People Network (CPN) was founded in September 2002 (as the Irish Sex Education Network) and is an independent, non denominational, nation wide, multidisciplinary group. Currently our members come from voluntary and statutory disability services, persons with disabilities and their families
We run training and information seminars and talks for different groups of people like:
-People with intellectual disabilities
-Parents and family members of people with disabilities
-Staff and supporters
Sometimes all these groups come together for bigger meetings, so we can all learn from each other.
We have a database of resources, lots of information about the things we talk about. We're working on a new version of this for 2012.
We organise some fun social activities, like Salsa Classes and Table Quizzes.
We do research and write up reports about relationships and sexuality.
We make presentations about what it's like for people with intellectual disabilities to have relationships
Click here to see who is on the CPN Committee
CPN Committee The CPN Committee 2011
The CPN has a hard-working bunch of people who do their best to keep the home fires burning and the group going strong in the different areas... We are supported by various different services to do this, and if you read this page you can find out who we all are, what we look like, and a bit more about us. This way if you want to get involved you’ll know what we’re like before you do!.
Chairperson- Helen Crowley
Helen works in St John of God Hospitaller Services and runs RUA, a service that offers staff training, and therapy for people who have difficulties in the area of sexuality. www.ruasjog.ie
Fundraising & Research- Grace Kelly
Grace is a PhD student in the Dept. of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork, where she is currently completing research on “Sexual Rights and Intellectual Disability”. Grace’s research has involved carrying out focus groups with people with intellectual disabilities, parents, frontline staff and management in a disability service in Ireland with a view to exploring what the experiences, needs and wishes of all stakeholders are, and what the challenges are in promoting positive support for people with intellectual disabilities in this area of their lives.
Website- Zoe Hughes
Hey guys, I’m Zoe and I’m a PhD student in The National Institute for Intellectual Disability, in Trinity College Dublin. I’m the nerd of the group, I get to play with the website, making sure it’s up to date, and taking photos at the different events we hold. I’ve worked and volunteered in the area of intellectual disability since I was about 16... and I love being part of the CPN committee!
Peer Group 
The CPN Peer Group
The CPN Peer Group are a group of self-advocates that work together to do projects around relationships and sexuality that they are interested in.
Here you will find information on what we, the CPN Peer Group, do.
Current Projects for 2012
The CPN peer group are working on 2 different projects at the moment- a drama project called The Inside Out project, and a legislation project to talk about the law on sexuality and capacity.
The aim of the Inside Out Project is to explore, through drama, what it's like to be a person with extra support needs in modern Irish society and to develop a piece of drama to present this experience to the wider community. There is an emphasis on relationships and sexuality.
Click this icon for more information.
The aim of the legislation project is to give people with extra support needs an opportunity to have their say on the laws around sexuality and intellectual disability. The group will be discussing Section 5 of the 1993 (sexual offences) act and the new Law Reform Commission consultation paper on sexual offences and capacity ( see here for this consultation paper ). At the end of this project, the group will be making a submission to the Law Reform Commission outlining their views on the legislation.
Click this icon for more information.
Both of these projects are currently underway and not taking new members, but if you are interested in becoming involved in projects like these in the future, sign up to become a CPN member and we will keep you informed...
CPN.insideout.flyer.docx
Legislation Flyer workshop Jan 2012 website.docx
Past projects
The Peer Group have completed some projects in the past, which you can read about here.
The first is a booklet on the work we did in 2008 and 2009.
The second is a booklet on what relationships and sexuality means to US. It’s very important that people read what WE have to say.
CPN Peer Group policy document.pdf
Peer support 09 booklet.pdf
Activities & Events 
Our Events
Click here for details of our planning meeting and AGM that are taking place in February and March, 2012
The CPN have run many events in the past, from days Celebrating Men and Women, to speaking to University students about what professionals need to do to help people with intellectual disabilities to enjoy succesfful relationships like everyone else.
We have also run information evenings for parents, supporters and staff, where like minded people can get together and talk about the topics that relate to their particular circumstances.
We're hoping to run more and more events in 2012, so check back often for updates of upcoming events.
Feb & March The CPN are holding two meetings in the next few months- a planning day for the CPN on the 17th of February (10am-1pm), and our AGM on the 9th of March (10am- 1pm).
If you are interested in getting involved in the CPN in any way, please come along to one or both of these meetings, and you can have a hand in organising our events for 2012!
These meetings will both take place in the Carmelite Centre on Augnier Street in Dublin.
Click this link to get directions on Google maps.
Map to Carmelite Centre.
We will be taking new members on both these days!!
Membership 
Becoming a member of the CPN
Right now (January 2012), the Connect People Network is just coming out of a 'year off'- we took 2011 out, as a group, to look at the kinds of things we liked to do, and what we should be doing.
Some of us were still quite active, but hopefully 2012 is going to be even beter than ever.
When the CPN is looking for members again, we'll let you know. But for now, you could email us using our "Contact Us" form. That way we'll know you're interested in being part of the new and improved CPN.
Photos Here are some photographs from some of our events- check back for new photos after events!
Celebrating Women Day 2010
Celebrating Men Day 2010
Sexuality and Learning Disability Conference, 2009
CPN Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2009
Contact Us There are a couple of ways to reach us- you can email us using this form, you can email us on cpnireland_gmail.com, or you can call us on 0871857578.
Please, don't hesistate to get in touch!
Contact us
