Advocacy service for people with disabilities launched

A NEW national advocacy service for people with disabilities is giving a voice to vulnerable people with disabilities.

The service, launched yesterday by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board.

Ms Burton said it was particularly important that an independent person was available to people with disabilities in situations where they were totally dependent on a single service provider.

“Essentially, the service will level the playing field and provide a voice for the more vulnerable of people with disabilities,” she said.

The board’s chief executive Tony McQuinn said many people with disabilities were well equipped to make their own decisions when they have access to the necessary information and advice.

There were, however, some vulnerable people with disabilities who were at a disadvantage when claiming their entitlements or making important decisions.

“The service will protect their rights, help them gain their entitlements and make positive changes in their quality of life,” he said.

The service follows the completion of a pilot advocacy programme for people with disabilities which supported 46 projects.

A report praised the achievements of the pilot programme for the work undertaken and the 6,000- plus cases it dealt with.

Trained advocates will be available to support people with disabilities in accessing social welfare, housing and improved living conditions.

The advocates can also help people reintegrate into the community after leaving a residential institution and link them with local support services.

Meanwhile, Inclusion Ireland is calling for modern capacity legislation must be introduced without delay.

The 1871 Lunacy Regulations Act legislates for decision-making and Inclusion Ireland said the reform of this antiquated law was urgently needed.

Inclusion Ireland chief executive, Deirdre Carroll, said the previous government said that Ireland could not ratify the UN convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities without modern capacity law.

She pointed out that Ireland was one of the first countries to sign the UN convention in March 2007 and that then Justice Minister Michael McDowell had said it would be ratified “as soon as possible”.

“Four years later we are still waiting and Irish people with an intellectual disability, mental health problems and dementia continue to be referred to as lunatics under Irish law,” she said.

There is a commitment in the 2011 Programme for Government to introduce a Mental Capacity Bill in line with the UN convention. Ms Carroll said a timeframe for bringing a bill before the Oireachtas was needed.

* citizensinformation.ie