ILMI Presentation to the Disability Matters Committee on Inadequate Personal Assistance Service (PAS)
On Thursday 23rd March, Shelly Gaynor, Des Kenny and Damien Walshe presented to the Disability Matters Committee on the Inadequate Personal Assistant Service Supports on behalf of ILMI. You can watch the video of the presentation and discussions, which also features the Economic Social Research Institute (ESRI) talk about their research on PAS, here and The Irish Times covered the discussion here
ILMI Opening statement here
The ESRI research, which was published in December 2022, reinforces the core demands of ILM’s PAS NOW campaign, which we began in 2018. Information from the HSE in this debate shows the collective impact of ILMI members lobbying their elected representatives around the need to invest in PAS to support independent living. Since 2019 there has been a 15% increase in PA hours since 2020 and a 30 million increase in budget since 2019. While there is a long way to go until disabled people have a PAS system that meets their need, we should recognise the impact of our campaign in seeing increased investment in PAS after over a decade of neglect of PA and that politicians and civil servants have responded to continued collective work by ILMI members to change the system. As ILMI finalises its new strategic plan for launch later in the summer, the PAS NOW campaign will continue, but will also inform that our strategic policy campaigns can have an impact.
ILMI Presentation to the Disability Matters Committee on climate crisis and disability.
On Thursday 30th March, Peter and Damien Walshe represented ILMI at the Disability Matters Committee on the impact of climate change and disabled people. As a national Disabled Persons Organisation, ILMI raised concerns that failure to treat climate change as a global emergency will have even greater consequences for people who are pushed to the edges of society, and precisely the lives of disabled people nationally and internationally.
Central to the ILMI submission and discussion is the urgent need for policy makers to engage with Disabled Persons Organisation to ensure that any public investment is fully inclusive and ensure that exchequer funds are designed to meet the needs of everyone. Climate change and environmentalism are as much about social justice as it is about correcting the damage we have done to our planet. But disabled people are often disregarded in discourses and decisions of this environmental social justice. We are frequently seen as an afterthought or an energy burden rather than being part of a whole societal transformative effect for our shared future.
The Irish Times have covered the input here
ILMI opening statement here
The importance of the Sustainable Development Goals to disabled people and DPOs will be discussed at ILMI’s online event 11am on April 4th via Zoom email info@ilmi.ie to register.
WE Are Hiring!
ILMI is seeking a dynamic, motivated and driven individual to join our staff team as Capacity Development Officer
Details Here
ILMI is seeking a dynamic, motivated and driven individual to join our staff team as Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) Development Officer
Details Here
ILMI’s Fiona Weldon attended an in person discussion looking at the New Digital Ireland Framework.
The overall goal of this roadmap is to make Ireland one of the most digital inclusive states in the EU. This will be done by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to use digital services, including digital public services, in a very meaningful way. A rising tide lifts all boats, the Irish government is ensuring digital inclusion for all, by addressing the 3 A’s of Affordability, Access and Ability.
More info on this link
The ILMI Youth Collective met for a catch up this week
It was great to see everyone and meet some new members!
ILMI are excited to have a Youth Collective meet up in person on the 27th April in Dublin.
The youth collective will be represented in many exciting spaces over the coming year to ensure the lived experiences of young disabled people are represented and reflected in consultation spaces and policy.
As the only cross-impairment national Youth Collective for disabled people, it is a very important space!
To get involved paulasoraghan@ilmi.ie or call Paula on 087 163 0433 if you are a young disabled person aged 16-30.
Digital Horizon – call-out for Masterclass Leaders closing date 10th May
University of Atypical for Arts and Disability is seeking artists and creative practitioners across a range of artforms, who identify as d/Deaf, Disabled or Neurodiverse to deliver Masterclasses as part of our Digital Horizon Programme.
Closing dates – 10th May 2023 and 22nd November 2023
Information session – Friday 14th April 2023.
Before you apply to can get in touch with us to discuss your idea or attend our Information session
Register for information session – click on the link below. You will be sent a zoom link to attend.
https://tinyurl.com/DHInformationSession
Download Application pack to be a Masterclass Leader click on link:
https://tinyurl.com/DHMasterclassLeaderApplication |
