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
May I firstly wish each and everyone of you a very Happy and Peaceful New Year!
2003, the European Year of People with Disabilities is upon us and we must grasp the opportunity, not just to continue with awareness programmes, but to make every section of the community accept that people with disabilities are full members of our society and are prepared to fully partake in every level.
I believe a lot has been done over the last few years in the area of awareness, but we are still seen as a marginalised group. We have all seen the lists - colour, travellers, race, age, religion as well as disability. We all must now firstly accept every disability, come together and make it plain that across all sections of our community, regardless of colour, race, age, religion or traveller community, disability affects us all. We must rally together in the coming year to tell every level of society that we expect now to be fully accepted in society, given the tools to start as equals and to be fully included so we may all live to our full potential. We do not want anymore "special"
, "different"
or "marginalised"
tags but simply the tools to start as equals and the benefits other citizens expect as a right.
This year, 2003 EYPD, we must also look to our European partners for best practice in all fields and, through communication, we can learn at every level to make this country the European leader in fully accepting citizens with disabilities as full and inclusive members of society.
Whether it is in early learning, education and employment, medical, social or community living, access must be available to everybody. I do not use the word "access"
lightly. It is a huge area, not just physical but a right to use any service, in a format congruent with your needs, in an environment suitable for your needs, in the community where you live.
As people with disabilities, we must also accept the responsibilities that are associated with full inclusion, the 'ups'
as well as the 'downs'
of life. After listening to our members and especially at the recent Youth Beyond Disability seminars, I believe that the vast majority of people with disabilities are not just looking forward, but are shouting for the opportunity to live in a fully inclusive society.
I can assure all of you that I will do everything in my power to get our message across. So please enjoy this newsletter and enjoy the year ahead. Together, let us all make 2003 a year to remember, a year of change and Acceptance.
Nigel Brander
Chairperson
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