Madam, – Carl O’Brien’s excellent reporting (Invisible Lives, Features, February 2nd 3rd) has opened the situation of many people with developmental disabilities to public discussion. But it is only a beginning.
The implementation of standards and inspection will bring some transparency to residential conditions, but the real question is how a genuinely better quality of life can be achieved for each individual.
This rests on the complex issues of social inclusion: the willingness of the public to create relationships, take responsibility, welcome engagement, and of the society/Government to invest in inclusive arrangements.
To understand and promote constructive change will be a much broader task than a two-day exposé and will need a discourse among many different voices. Will The Irish Times continue its initiative and provide a forum for a wide and continuing discussion? – Yours, etc,