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ELECTION 2007 - PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TEST POLITICIANS

Tuesday 30th January 2007.

All election candidates can expect to be quizzed very thoroughly on their commitment to equality for people with disabilities and their specific plans for reform over the next five years under a new initiative launched this week.

PwDI (People with Disabilities in Ireland), the national organisation representing all people with disabilities will, on Thursday, host the first in a series of nationwide seminars designed to assist all people with disabilities have maximum impact at the forthcoming election.

Extending an open invitation to people with disabilities, their families and carers to join in the process Michael Ringrose, Chief Executive of PwDI says:

“While much progress has been achieved in recent years with the advent of the Disability Act and the six Government Department plans for disability - the so called Sectoral plans - the challenge over the next five years will be to ensure that these plans actually filter down and make real improvements in the day-to-day lives of people with disabilities.”

“Achieving the kind of changes needed would mean radical overhaul of current systems of administration,” said Mr Ringrose.

“This is central to ensuring that the extra Government spending under the National Development Plan does not result in more of the same bad practices that currently exist where each element of a person’s needs is dealt with in isolation and in accordance with archaic systems built for a different era.

“We need to see a holistic approach developed where the comprehensive needs of the individual are examined and an appropriate individualised programme is developed to address the identified need/s.”

Mr Ringrose explained that the seminars, the first of which takes place on Thursday at the Great Southern Hotel, Dublin airport will cover all aspects of the electoral system and how best to influence it and when.

“Ultimately this is about people power. People need to be reminded of the importance of each and every vote. Politicians know the value of a single vote. We are impressing upon people with disabilities the power that is theirs to exercise in the interests of a better society for all,” he said.

Further information is available from PwDI national office at Jervis House, Jervis Street, Dublin 1. Tel. 01-8721744

Ends

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