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In this issue:
Joint Committee on Disability Matters report
ILMI Disability Employment Strategy
ILMI in TY
ILMI in MDI
NTA Mystery shoppers
ESRI Research
NDA NDS Consults Cork/Galway
Joint Committee on Disability Matters report on harmonisation of national legislation and the UNCRPD
On Wednesday 24th January, the Joint Committee on Disability Matters launched their report “Towards Harmonisation of national legislation with the UNCRPD”. This report reviews all articles of the UNCRPD and how they are progressing in an Irish context.
The progress review is based on information received from the Committee, including presentations and submissions made by DPOs such as ILMI. The Committee has judged progress has been made, and whether it is limited or good progress. It also notes whether there is no progress or where the situation has worsened.
Over the 33 articles reviewed, the Committee in its view feels good progress has been made on four articles with limited progress on twelve articles. It notes no progress on eleven articles and regression on two. Worryingly, the two articles that the Committee have noted a regression or worsening of circumstances are article 19 (Independent Living) and article 25 (Health).
The Committee report also makes a number of progressive recommendations to realise the UNCRPD, including a right to independent living and the need for legislation to a right to Personal Assistance, as per the ILMI PAS NOW campaign.
You can read a copy of the report here
Join the ILMI Disability Employment Strategy Online Discussion Series!
IMAGE: a cartoon book and laptop with text that reads “We invite you as a disabled person to be a part of our ILMI Disability Employment Strategy Online Discussion Series!. Navigating Education – Expectations for Disabled People. Tuesday, 30th January at 12 noon to 2 pm, via Zoom. To register email info@ilmi.ie
Your expertise is the driving force for change!
At ILMI, we believe in the power of collective empowerment.
We believe that real inclusion comes from disabled people bringing their lived experience to collective discussions. We believe that disabled people are the experts and know what real inclusion looks like. We know that in a DPO we can develop our own critical thinking about how systems and structures need to change to bring about real change.
This is what are going to do to develop solutions-focused employment strategy, one that is practical and designed to work to meet disabled people’s needs. That’s why we invite you as a disabled person to be a part of our participative online discussions, where your journey becomes the foundation for crafting an ILMI Disability Employment Strategy that truly works for everyone.
All the themes were Co-Created with the “Strategies for Change” (SFC) Employment Working Group:
Next Session: Navigating Education – Expectations for Disabled People Tuesday 30th Jan at 12 noon to 2pm .email info@ilmi.ie to register
As a disabled person, you are the expert in your own life. You know the barriers, the challenges, and most importantly, the solutions. Join us in this collaborative effort to tease out the nuances, explore themes in-depth, and create a disability employment strategy that leaves no one behind.
This is more than a consultation session; it’s a dynamic exchange of ideas, a convergence of experiences, and the genesis of a strategy that paves the way for inclusive and meaningful employment opportunities for all disabled people.
SOUTH DUBLIN CoCo ‘TY’ NOISE MUSIC COLLECTIVE and ILMI WORKSHOPS
IMAGE: South Dublin CoCo ILMI & Noise music Collective creative writing workshop for lyrics on lived experiences with TY students… a legacy of our work with Selina
Building on years of dedicated Disability Equality advocacy with South Dublin County Council, spearheaded by Selina Bonnie, ILMI is thrilled to return to Clondalkin post-primary schools for ‘TY’ programs, offering creative-writing workshops centred on the ‘Lived Experience’. These workshops, now a permanent fixture in South Dublin TY new year programs starting from 2024, are made possible through funding, a poignant legacy from our dearly departed Selina. Under the guidance of ILMI’s DPO Development Officer, Peter Kearns, these sessions aim to empower young people to craft their own lived experience lyrics. Partnering with NOISE Music Collective, the lyrics will be transformed into songs and ballads. Peter Kearns notes, “These engaging sessions with TY students in mainstream schools not only allow us to connect with disabled youth but also pave the way for them to consider joining our new Dublin DPO groups, particularly a Dublin Youth DPO gang.”
ILMI in MDI
On Wednesday Fiona was invited by Tania Quill (Project Officer of MDI) to speak at the Launch of Their Case Study Report. In Fiona’s presentation she talked about the importance of Independent Living as professed by the Disabled Peoples Movement. She explained that Independent Living is a philosophy, a “belief” and a particular way of living your life. Independent Living practitioners are Disabled People who are very aware that the world needs to change in order to accommodate/include them and not the other way round – it is embedded in social model “thinking”. Independent Living was born as a reaction against a tradition of institutional and/or family-based care and both “believers and thinkers” who require human support seek it in the form of Personal Assistance (PA).
A PA is an individual who is contracted by a Disabled Person to provide them with the support they need in different aspects of daily living including, personal support, domestic tasks, assistance at school, university, in the workplace, or when out and about.
Fiona told the audience that Home-Helps are NOT PA’s, Carer’s are not PA’s and Health Care Assistants are not PA’s. These people might be very nice and good at their job but if you do not choose them, or have the freedom to direct what needs doing then you are not in control.
Personal Assistant Users are very clear what Independent Living is and what it is not. They know that it is not about living on their own or doing things by yourself for yourself, it is being in control of how things are done. But moreover, having a PA supports us to life “self-determined lives”. PA’s is an interdependent relationship, PA supports us both inside and outside our homes and they get paid – it is a win win contractual agreement.
Disabled people need to be aware of large scale traditional disability service providers as these are in the business of providing specialised services that keep Disabled People from living like everyone else. Know that these services do not have any quality of life outcomes and will never relinquish their power even if they are doing a bad job.
Henceforward, Disabled People that need human support must demand Personal Assistance over any other service offered.
“We need to come together, using our lived experience “as a collective, and as a force not to be reckoned with” to dismantle the systems that “exert power over us”
Join our Movement and become “the Change Makers”.
NTA Mystery shoppers
Interested in carrying out some mystery shops on public transport? Then contact Sarah@banda.ie at the research company Behaviour and Attitudes (B and A). They are hoping to carry out the Mystery Shops by disabled people and older people in February/March and September/October of this year.
B and A would like a range of people on various types of transport nationwide and they will inform people if they are a suitable candidate and what the payment structure is.
ESRI Research
The recent research from the ESRI sheds light on the pervasive problem of ableism, uncovering how negative stereotypes surrounding certain impairments fuel prejudice and discrimination. The study, involving 2000 adults, emphasises that while society generally condemns prejudice against disabled people, higher levels of ableism are observed towards “mental health conditions”, “intellectual disabilities”, and autism compared to physical or sensory impairments. Notably, a connection between ableism and sexism was also revealed, indicating the complex interplay of biases. Ailbhe Conneely’s article for RTE further underscores the impact of ableism on disabled people’s lives, revealing that negative stereotypes can be employed to justify prejudice. The study shows that creating more inclusive communities and workplaces may be instrumental in combating ableism, with respondents familiar with disability exhibiting lower levels of prejudice. Dr Shane Timmons, the lead report author, highlights the importance of addressing subtle ableist beliefs to create a more inclusive and understanding society.
Investing in inclusion is the key to dismantling ableism. The report notes, “Having a close relationship with someone who has a disability predicted more positive attitudes across social contexts.” This insight highlights the transformative impact of personal connections in fostering understanding and breaking down prejudices. To effectively combat ableism, there needs to be a steadfast commitment to realising the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Investing in inclusion across various aspects of society, including health, education, and employment, is key. By removing societal barriers and creating conditions where disabled people can access mainstream services and spaces as equals, we pave the way for a more equitable and compassionate society. In essence, the path to eradicating ableism lies in actively fostering inclusion, embracing the principles of the CRPD, and integrating awareness of ableism into the everyday societal psyche and lexicon of the Irish population, where it can be recognised, acknowledged, and challenged, fostering empathy and dismantling discriminatory attitudes that impact on our lives on a day-to-day basis.
ESRI Press Release with links to the research on this link
RTE Report from Ailbhe Connelly on this link
NDA NDS in person Consultations Cork and Galway
All info on this link
Cork
A free public in-person Town Hall event will be held in Cork on Saturday February 17, 2024, to help inform the National Disability Strategy.
Town Hall Details
Time: 10.30am to 3pm including lunch
Location: Clayton Hotel Cork City, Lapp’s Quay, Cork T12 RD6E, Ireland.
Please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FTTF27R to register.
Galway
A free public in-person Town Hall event will be held in Galway on Monday February 12, 2024, to help inform the National Disability Strategy.
Town Hall Details
Time: 11am to 3pm including lunch
Location: The Galmont Hotel & Spa Lough Atalia Road, Galway, H91 CYN3
Please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YLDG69B to register.
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