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LEAD AGENCY NEEDED TO ADVANCE EQUALITY AGENDA SAYS NATIONAL DISABILITY BODY

Wednesday 26th September 2007. .

The diverse nature of disabilities and the need for a coherent, public sector response are the key challenges facing the achievement of equal treatment for people with disabilities in Ireland, according to the national body representing all people with disabilities.

Speaking in advance of a special cross border conference on disability to be held today (Thursday) in the Slieve Russell Hotel, Cavan, Michael Ringrose, Chief Executive of PwDI (People with Disabilities in Ireland) said:

“Most people, if asked about the three things that come to mind when disability is mentioned, would most probably mention a wheelchair, a hospital or care setting and perhaps a person with an intellectual disability.

“However, these perceptions, while valid, ignore a whole plethora of realities in the lives of, and needs of, thousands of people with disabilities.

“This adversely affects how individuals react to people with disabilities and also, critically, how those in charge of public policy respond.

“While the quality of health policy will always be important in the lives of many people with disabilities, there are areas of public policy that require more critical analysis to see if they are measuring up to an equal treatment perspective,” he said.

Access to education and employment need to be addressed urgently, he said.

“An ESRI report on Disability and Social Exclusion in Ireland has found that in education people with disabilities aged 25 to 34 are four times less likely to have a qualification beyond primary level and are half as likely to reach third level as their peers. And only a minority of people with disabilities are in work.

“These statistics do not so much reflect the ability of people with disabilities but rather the inability of the public sector, primarily, to respond to the needs of people who are only too willing, and able, to play their part in the economic and social life of Ireland,” said Mr Ringrose.

“When all Government Departments are equally responsible for the disability agenda, then, in effect, no one is responsible. The tendency is to mind existing patches rather than challenge the accepted norms. The danger is that, unintentionally, the divide and conquer model may predominate over the co-operate and facilitate model which a lead agency would be compelled to apply,” he said.

Mr Ringrose welcomed the recent appointment of Minster of State Dr Jimmy Devins with responsibility for disability.

“We would hope that this appointment will be the catalyst to bring about the co-ordination of public services for people with disabilities.

“As the national body representing the end user of public services we offer him our full support in his efforts to implement the national disability strategy,” he said.

Tomorrow’s conference is being organised by PwDI and is supported by Border Exchange Action Network. Among the speakers will be Eithne Fitzgerald, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the National Disability Authority, Brian Henderson of the Equality Authority, Dr Damien O’Kane of Ulster University and Kenny McAdams, Disability Action Northern Ireland

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Further information: National Office PwDI Tel. 01-8721744

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