People with Disabilities in Ireland
4th Floor Jervis House
Jervis Street
Dublin 1
Telephone: 01 87 21 74 4
Fax: 01 87 21 77 1
Email: info@pwdi.ie
By Nigel Brander, National Chairman, PwDI
Welcome to the first Cumhacht of 2005. Firstly, I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Peaceful year ahead. I find this time of year a good time to reflect on what happened last year and what we want to achieve in the coming year.
Looking at PwDI, 2004 was a very busy year with the regional Advocacy Conferences, the negotiating and lobbying as a member of the Disability Legislation Consultation Group, the representation at the United Nations on the Human Right Convention for People with Disabilities, our continuous work with the European Disability Forum and our many representations at national, local and Network level.
I would like to thank my fellow Board Members, the CEO, all the staff and all our members who represented PwDI in whatever capacity because without all your efforts, we would not be in the position we are today.
What I mean by this is that PwDI starts 2005 not just the only fully cross-disability organisation but one of the largest, if not the largest, disability organisation in the country. That is down to all our effects not just in recruiting new members but also in the level and expert way we represent our organisation.
That does not mean we can be complacent in 2005 We must never forget all our membership and strive to make all our voices heard. Every person with a disability must be allowed to express their wishes and, with or without assistance, be allowed to make their own choices.
We must make sure our voice is heard now that the Disability Legislation is published and in the consultation phase. We must lobby our local politicians and we must continue to lobby our local Councils to make our living environment - not just our physical but our whole environment - accessible to all. With the new Health Service Executives now in place, we must make sure that we are represented at every level. Now is the time of great change and we must take our place as the experts on disability. 'Nothing About Us Without Us' as the saying goes. We must also continue at every Network to enable all persons with a disability to be aware of the services and facilities that are available, not just locally but also nationally. And we must listen to them so we can lobby on the issues that will really make a difference.
I will finish by addressing all those people who make the changes. To them I say we are looking for equality, to be treated on an equal basis as other citizen in this country. You cannot not say: "Sorry, you cannot have the health care you need", or "Sorry, there are too many children this year so you will not get an education", or "We do not have any housing to give to you". So, why do you say it to people with disabilities? Give us the stepping stones so that we can stand alongside everyone as equal citizens.
Next Article >> | List of Articles | Back To News Page