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
A challenge was set down today to Local Authorities across the country to publish a list of actions each has taken to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities since signing up to the international Barcelona Agreement.
Speaking at a special one-day regional conference held in the Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny and attended by people with disabilities from Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow, Kildare and Waterford, Mr Michael Ringrose Chief Executive of People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI) said:
"Signing up internationally for high standards of equality locally is one thing. Implementing change is what determines whether the declaration made is genuine or simply designed to acquire kudos."
Mr Ringrose said that while the Declaration was launched in 1995 no concrete evidence exists, almost a decade later, to show that Local Authorities, through planning, building programmes and elsewhere, are taking the issues of equality seriously enough.
"The sad fact is that when it comes to disability we are still in the dark ages. Progress has been minimal," he said.
He went on to call on the Government to publish the long-awaited Disability Bill. "The Government cannot any longer hide behind the excuse of some technical legislative details or the drafting of amendments. Instead, the Bill should now be published, as a matter of urgency, so that we can hear the views of all political parties and those running for office."
The conference entitled Speak for Yourself looked at how people with disabilities can become better advocates for change and how those who are not in a position to advocate for themselves can ensure that someone else does so on their behalf.
Mr Ringrose said, "An independent advocacy service with legal powers to break down the social and bureaucratic barriers is our aim. This was recommended by the report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, the biggest study ever undertaken in the State on disability. Though published in 1996, most of its recommendations remain unimplemented, a damning indictment of all those in positions of power since then," he said.
Those who sign up agree to:
. Promote disability awareness and ensure the rights of people with disabilities to be different and their right to receive personal attention
. Develop policies and have an equality/disability proof decision-making process
. Consult people with disabilities
. Ensure that people with disabilities have access to the social and physical environments as well as services
. Provide training programmes dealing with equality/disability issues
. Develop monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment procedures for actions, projects, and policies regarding equality/disability issues.
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