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
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The Government set up the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities in November 1993.
The job of the Commission was to find out what life is like for people with disabilities in Ireland today, and to propose ways of making things better. The Commission took the unusual step of going out to meet people with disabilities, their families and carers throughout the country, to ask them to talk about their experience of living in Ireland, and to hear directly from them about the changes that would make a difference in their lives.
Public 'listening meetings' took place at thirty venues around Ireland. Special meetings took place with groups of people with disabilities who might meet extra problems, women with disabilities, travellers, young people with disabilities, people with head injuries, mental health difficulties and those with spinal injuries. Meetings also took place with people with learning difficulties and those in residential care.
The Commission arranged for reports to be prepared on all of the important aspects of Irish life. Some of these are being made available publicly because they helped to shape the Commission's recommendations. These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of Commission. Please look at the main text of the Commission's Report to find out about the Commission's recommendations on any particular matter.
People with disabilities and their families have contributed much to the work of the Commission at all stages; our deepest gratitude must go to all those who sent submissions, attended listening meetings, took part in Working Groups. They have showed, through their involvement that this work was worth doing. We trust that their efforts will show good fruit and will make a difference in their lives and in the lives of all people with disabilities and their families in Ireland.