The President, Mrs McAleese, has arrived in New York for a four-day visit to the United States that includes an appearance at the United Nations to accept an award for Ireland's disability programmes and an honorary degree ceremony at an upstate New York college, writes Patrick Markey from New York.
On her third visit to America since she was elected in October 1997, Mrs McAleese appeared yesterday at the UN yesterday to accept the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award on Ireland's behalf. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and paralysed American actor Christopher Reeve were among those who joined Mrs McAleese.
The award is presented to countries which have made significant progress towards allowing people with disabilities to participate equally in society.