Joanne to address UN technology conference

An inspiring Irish teenager who helped force the Government into a U-turn on plans to cut disability benefit is to address the UN in New York.

Joanne O’Riordan, 15, from Millstreet, Co Cork, will deliver a keynote speech to the UN’s International Telecommunication Union on how technology has helped to advance her life through education and social interaction with others.

Joanne, who was born without limbs due to a condition known as total Amelia syndrome, is the only person with a disability to be invited to Girls in Technology, a global conference featuring some of the worlds’ leading women in technology.

Joanne hopes her address on Apr 26 will empower others to realise the importance of technology in their lives.

Her mother, Ann, who acknowledges that she herself is not up to speed on technology, said Joanne was very excited about the trip.

“It was always her dream to go to America but it wasn’t a possibility up to now. I used to say to her ‘dream on’ whenever she would mention going, so this is a fantastic opportunity for her.”

Along with her mother, Joanne will be accompanied by her father, Joe, and brother Steven, who is a film director.

“We will be there from next Monday to the following Monday and the nice thing is that she will be 16 in between, so we will be celebrating her birthday in New York,” said Ann.

“She is so excited and can’t wait to go.”

Late last year, Joanne appeared on The Late Late Show to talk about her condition and revealed how she would love to host the programme. Her appearance led organisers to invite her to the UN conference.

Before her TV appearance, Joanne, a transition-year student at Millstreet Community School, was instrumental in forcing the Government to abandon plans to limit disability allowances for teenagers. The Government backtracked after she wrote to Enda Kenny, reminding him he had personally guaranteed her on the general election campaign trail there would be no cuts to disability benefit.

Meanwhile, the Irish Film Board will fund Joanne’s brother’s film about her life, the working title of which is No Limbs No Limits. It will be made by 2000AD Productions and will be produced by Adrian Devane. It is hoped it will have a lasting impact on the perception of people with disabilities.

Steven O’Riordan’s debut film was The Forgotten Maggies, a documentary charting the human rights issue surrounding the Magdalene Laundries.