“Going back into the dark.”

DISABLED people have become prisoners in their own homes because of cuts in welfare payments and support services, the Centre for Independent Living has warned.

Government policy in relation to disability issues must prioritise supports for independent living, according to the Centre for Independent Living (CIL).

WHEELCHAIR users in Cork feel like prisoners in their own homes because they are finding it increasingly difficult to get accessible taxi’s to pick them up, it was claimed yesterday.

DISABILITY activists are to take their campaign for the rights of disabled people to live independently to the European Parliament, it emerged yesterday.

Irish director Damien O’Donnell has high hopes that, Inside I’m Dancing, will score with cinema-lovers on its release later this week.

STUDENTS and disability groups in Galway presented a petition to Minister Éamon Ó Cuív last night demanding the Government introduce rights-based legislation for people with disabilities.

DISABILITY campaigners yesterday threw down a post-Special Olympics challenge to the Government to get off the starting block in safeguarding services and supports for the 120,000 citizens with disabilities.

I REFER to the letter (Irish Examiner, Feb 18) from Lorraine Leake, who has multiple sclerosis, and the follow-up report in your issue the following day.

THE State’s treatment of a mother-of-two suffering from MS sparked a fierce political row in the Dáil yesterday over services for the disabled.

LORRAINE LEAKE gets embarrassed having to fight for her rights to home help and other support services.