‘We feel we are invisible because of our disability. Please look at our ability’

The voiceless, on whose behalf many others speak, seized the moment yesterday to speak up for themselves, which they did with fervour and commitment, and were rewarded with an invitation to address the Oireachtas All-Party Committee on Health in the new year.

“Talk to us, not about us, and to our faces,” was the impassioned plea of Sam O’Connor (48), a member of Inclusion Ireland’s self-advocacy sub-committee. “We feel we are invisible because of our disability. Please look at our ability, not our disability.”

Members of the sub-committee marked International Day for People with Disability by holding a briefing at the offices of the European Parliament in Dublin for TDs and Senators.

At least three turned up: health chairman committee Jerry Buttimer; Mary Mitchell-O'Connor, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire; and Senator Mary Moran, also of Fine Gael.

Eight disability advocates, each with some degree of intellectual disability, spoke and common themes emerged early.

All wanted greater control over their own lives and rights equal to those enjoyed by other citizens.

"People living in large residential services have very few rights and control over their lives," said Marie Wolfe (39).

People want to choose “who they live with and where they live, and manage their own money, control what they do ... have a social life, go to college, get a job, fall in love.

“We have the right to have relationships . . . Because of the outdated law and the rules of disability services, [we] never get a chance to fall in love. So let’s break down the barriers.”

Phil Davy (55) spoke of the need for State funding for advocacy by people with disability, and not just groups speaking on their behalf, a point shared by Martin Rowan (59). Paul Alford (50) referred to people in care being fearful of speaking for their rights in case they annoy staff and suffer consequences.

Dermot Lowdes (53) said that disabled people in workshops got no employment pension. Adrian Noonan (42) urged TDs and Senators to rethink some of the cuts that had affected the disabled.

Brian Hayes (43) spoke passionately to be allowed run his own life. "We're not allowed to make decisions . . . we are not treated equally . . . We can make our own decisions; we don't need others making them."

Jerry Buttimer drew loud applause when he invited the group to Leinster House to address the Oireachtas health committee.

The meeting was moderated by TV personality Brendan O'Connor, who chastised RTÉ for having a corralled section of the recent Late Late Toy Show showing disabled children playing with toys.

“We saw this lovely little montage of children with disabilities playing with toys. None of them spoke; there was music played over . . . they clearly saw nothing wrong with saying that children with disabilities should be seen but not heard.”