Spina Bifida AGM targets disability equality

Equality for people with disabilities is the focus at today's AGM of the Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

The Association is eagerly awaiting the delivery of the Disability Bill, which it hopes will help its 1,400 members and their families.

The bill is designed to provide high-quality support services, but some disabled rights groups are disappointed at a lack of rights-based access to services.

The association's chief executive, Nick Killian says Ireland is lagging behind the rest of Europe but said he is hopeful improvement will come.

“We’re going to be in a catch-up situation up to about 2015, when many aspects of the Bill will have to be enforced,” he said.

He added that the current Bill is hoped to be law by June of this year and it will provide the facilities for people with disabilities to live “in equal opportunity with their able-bodied counterparts”.