Disabled people denied human rights

DISABLED people continue to be denied basic human rights such as health and education, a national agency warned yesterday.

In a new two-year strategic plan, the National Disability Authority (NDA) said breaking down barriers in society remained one of its major goals.

“Disability is more than a matter of equity,” said the authority’s chairperson Angela Kerins, “it’s a matter of human rights.”

The challenge facing the authority, she said, was to have a rights-based approach universally applied.

Ms Kerins said all barriers, physical and attitudinal, which continue to exclude people with disabilities from full participation in our communities, should be removed.

The authority’s key priorities over the next two years include effecting change in policy areas of health, education, transport, poverty, employment and training

Equally important is informing the public and challenging certain attitudes in Irish society about disability issues.

The NDA’s second strategic plan, which runs up to 2006, was based on consultation with people with disabilities, parents and carers as well as public and voluntary organisations.

“The authority is mindful of the considerable groundwork laid in its first three years and the significant challenges ahead,” said Ms Kerins.

“The authority has engendered a culture of participation, consultation and empowerment of people with disabilities, setting the issue of disability clearly in a human rights context.

“The agenda and challenge for the next three years is to build on that work and the work of all those in the disability sector to continue to effect real change in the lives of people with disabilities, their families and carers in Ireland.”

Since its establishment, the authority has been intensely involved intensely in issues of policy, legislation and core services for people with disabilities.

Its major Draft National Standards for Disability Services, in partnership with the Department of Health and Children, is now moving towards the final stages.

“There has been a significant improvement in relation to research on disability issues on a national level,” said Ms Kerins.

“The two-year period ahead is important.

“The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill, when passed, will provide for inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools in a planned and resourceful way.

“The Disabilities Bill and its accompanying sectoral plans are also eagerly awaited,” she said.