“Independence looks different for everyone — our role is to support each person’s own definition of it.”
On Disability Matters, John Comiskey spoke with Ciara Heffernan, Senior Communications Officer with Rehab Group, about the organisation’s 75-year legacy, its nationwide reach, and its mission to empower people with disabilities to live, learn and work with confidence.
Founded in 1949 in a small house on Pleasant Street in Dublin, Rehab began by offering paid employment to 11 people recovering from tuberculosis — at a time when illness often meant lifelong exclusion from society. Today, Rehab Group operates from 260 locations across Ireland, supporting approximately 12,000 people each year and employing around 3,000 staff.
From a modest beginning to one of Ireland’s leading disability organisations, Rehab’s evolution reflects a simple but powerful principle: opportunity changes lives.
Three Divisions, One Mission
Ciara outlined the three core pillars of Rehab Group’s work:
Rehab Care delivers health and social care supports, including day services, respite, home support and residential accommodation across the country. Person-centred planning sits at the heart of every service, with individuals supported to pursue their own goals — whether that’s developing independent living skills, participating in advocacy, or engaging in creative and community activities.
National Learning Network (NLN) provides specialist education and training for people with disabilities, additional support needs or mental health challenges. With centres nationwide — including a newly opened state-of-the-art college in Ballyfermot — NLN offers tailored pathways ranging from QQI Level 3 to Level 6 qualifications. For some students, it means learning to travel independently or build confidence. For others, it’s about retraining after injury or illness and returning to the workforce.
“It’s a personalised journey,” Ciara explained. “We meet students where they are and help them move towards where they want to be.”
Rehab Enterprises, the organisation’s social enterprise division, operates supported employment services in locations including Tallaght and Ballyfermot. Staff with and without disabilities work side by side in areas such as electrical recycling, IT refurbishment and secure document shredding — delivering commercial services while modelling inclusive employment in action.
Advocacy in Action
Advocacy remains central to Rehab’s work. Ciara shared a powerful example involving her colleague Padraig Hannifin, who uses a wheelchair and works in public affairs. When travelling to speak at Leinster House, two pre-booked accessible taxis refused to assist him because drivers did not know how to operate their own vehicle ramps.
Instead of delivering his prepared speech, Padraig spoke about what had happened just hours earlier — highlighting the everyday barriers many disabled people face.
Accessible transport, housing shortages, pay equity for disability sector staff and the need for stronger home-care supports are among the issues Rehab continues to raise at Oireachtas committees and national forums.
The organisation is also part of the Section 39 campaign, advocating for fair pay for staff delivering state-funded disability services.
Housing and Independent Living
Through the Newgrove Housing Association, part of Rehab Care, the organisation provides supported accommodation in approximately 50 locations nationwide. These homes are designed to be accessible, adaptable and responsive to individual needs, with support available 24 hours a day where required.
The goal is clear: independence with support — not institutionalisation.
A Lifetime of Impact
With 12,000 people supported annually, Rehab’s reach extends far beyond the individual. Every service provided supports families, carers and communities.
Whether it’s a non-verbal student gradually gaining the confidence to attend college and eventually progress to university, or someone retraining after life-changing injury, the focus remains on empowerment.
“It’s about giving people the power to be whoever they want to be,” Ciara said.
Fundraising and Community Support
Rehab Group continues to fundraise to enhance local services — including accessible transport and specialist technology. An upcoming highlight is the Abseil for Rehab fundraising event at Croke Park on May 19th, inviting supporters to take on the challenge and raise funds for disability services across Ireland.
How to Connect
Ciara encouraged anyone seeking support — whether for education, care or employment — to make direct contact.
🌐 Website: https://www.rehab.ie
📧 Email: info@rehab.ie
From education to employment, housing to advocacy, Rehab Group’s message is consistent: disability inclusion is not a niche issue — it is a societal responsibility.
And, as Ciara reminded listeners, it is something that may touch any of us in the future.
This interview aired on Disability Matters on 92.5 Phoenix FM, a programme produced by Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living (BCIL).
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Read also: Changing Lives, Building Independence: Ciara Heffernan on the Work of Rehab Ireland