Disabled people ‘suffer negative attitudes’

HEALTH workers were accused yesterday of patronising and negative attitudes towards people with disabilities.

We need a “culture shift” both by individual health workers and within the organisations where the services are provided, according to a report published by the National Disability Authority (NDA).

“People with disabilities often talk to us of experiencing patronising and negative attitudes towards them,” said NDA director Iris Elliott. She described this as a major barrier to adopting a healthier attitude towards people with disabilities as she urged training and guidance for workers within the health sector.