ADEEAR-L Vice Chairperson

About ADEEAR-L:

ADEEAR-L (Accessibility by Default in Education and Economic Inclusion Advocacy Rights by Lukwago) is currently in the process of becoming formally established as a not-for-profit organisation in Ireland. As an emerging initiative with a broader European and international vision, ADEEAR-L is seeking founding/proposed Directors (Trustees), including a chairperson, to help establish its governance structure, guide its development and support the organisation in achieving its long-term mission.

ADEEAR-L is an advocacy, accessibility and inclusion initiative focused on advancing Sensory Accessibility by Default in education, employment, public services and wider society, while promoting economic inclusion, equality, human rights and meaningful participation.

ADEEAR-L seeks to shift responsibility for accessibility from the individual towards the design and delivery of accessible and inclusive systems and services, reducing unnecessary reliance on disclosure, discretionary support, mediated services and reactive accommodation.

General ADEEAR-L Trustee Duties

As a Trustee, the Marketing, Communications and Public Engagement Trustee will be expected to:

• Comply with ADEEAR-L's governing document.
• Ensure ADEEAR-L is pursuing its charitable purposes for the public benefit.
• Act in the best interests of ADEEAR-L.
• Act with reasonable care and skill.
• Manage and safeguard the assets of the charity.
• Contribute to collective Board decision-making.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional standards.
• Identify and appropriately manage conflicts of interest.
• Support effective governance, accountability and transparency.

The Responsibilities of the Vice Chairperson:

The Chairperson will provide strategic leadership and effective governance oversight to the Board while working collaboratively with fellow Trustees and any future Chief Executive/Executive leadership.

The Vice Chairperson's responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic leadership to the Board and helping communicate ADEEAR-L's vision, mission and purpose.
• Ensuring that the ADEEAR-L functions effectively and that all Trustees are encouraged and enabled to participate fully.
• Planning and chairing Board meetings in accordance with the governing document.
• Working constructively with the CEO, when appointed, and maintaining appropriate oversight of the organisation's affairs.
• Ensuring that Board discussions remain focused, balanced and relevant to ADEEAR-L's charitable purposes and strategic objectives.
• Bringing impartiality, fairness and objectivity to ADEEAR-L meetings and decision-making.
• Ensuring that decisions reached by ADEEAR-L are clearly recorded, appropriately communicated and followed up.
• Supporting constructive relationships between Trustees, staff, volunteers and other stakeholders.
• Being aware of current and emerging issues that may affect ADEEAR-L, its beneficiaries, its mission or the wider Community & Voluntary sector.
• Helping ensure that the ADEEAR-L provides appropriate oversight of organisational risks, finances, policies and strategic development.
• Advocating for and representing ADEEAR-L at external meetings, events, partnerships and stakeholder engagements where appropriate.
• Acting as an ambassador for ADEEAR-L and promoting its principles of default sensory accessibility in education, equality, inclusion, dignity and Economic inclusion.
• Supporting the development of ADEEAR-L's founding Board, governance arrangements, policies and organisational structures.
• Helping maintain a clear distinction between the governance responsibilities of the ADEEAR-L board and the day-to-day operational responsibilities of management.

The Chairperson has a strategic role to play by communicating effectively the vision and purpose of the organisation, to ensure the ADEEAR-L functions well, that there is full participation at meetings.

Qualities and skills required

The successful Chairperson should demonstrate:

• Strong leadership skills and the ability to provide effective and inclusive ADEEAR-L leadership.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Impartiality, fairness and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• The ability to facilitate constructive discussion and manage differing views diplomatically.
• The ability to ensure that ADEEAR-L decisions are appropriately followed up.
• Good organisation, preparation and time management.
• Tact, diplomacy and sound judgement.
• An understanding of the role and responsibilities of a governing body/ADEEAR-L of Trustees.
• The ability to work collaboratively while maintaining appropriate independence and objectivity.
• A strong commitment to default sensory accessibility in education, equality, economic inclusion, human rights and public benefit.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, the Community & Voluntary sector.
• A willingness to contribute professional knowledge, experience, networks and time to an emerging organisation.

Preferred Background

A background or significant experience in one or more of the following would be particularly valuable:

• Charity/board governance
• strategic planning
• Community and voluntary organisations
• Social sector and team leadership
• Law and legal policy
• Human rights, advocacy, external representation and equality.
• sensory disability inclusion and sensory accessibility
• Education and public services
• safeguarding, monitoring, evaluation and networking
• Public policy development, advocacy and campaigning
• Stakeholder engagement
• Fundraising, finance and financial oversight
• Risk management, conflict resolution and decision making
• Employment and economic inclusion
• Accessible communication and technology.
• Organisational and partnership development

Commitment

The Chairperson will be expected to make a meaningful contribution to the development of ADEEAR-L as it progresses towards formal establishment. This includes attending Board meetings, preparing appropriately, contributing to strategic discussions and undertaking reasonable Chairperson responsibilities between meetings.

The Chairperson will be expected to uphold the values and charitable purposes of ADEEAR-L and work collectively with the proposed Board of Trustees to establish a strong, accountable, inclusive and sustainable organisation.

ADEEAR-L Meetings:

There will be 6 ADEEAR-L board meetings per year.

Meetings will be held in person and online via virtual meeting platforms depending on flexiblility.

Additional communication or meetings may be required from time to time where necessary to support the effective governance and development of the organisation.