Readers blog: The view from the bottom of the pile is pretty dismal

It’s the year of realising what the bottom of the pile looks like, the view from down here is spectacular, what with the underskirts of society and the soles of the Government’s fancy shoes in full view, who wouldn’t be feeling dismal? It comes in threes for sure.

One: I wasn’t born with a physical disability, in fact, throughout my teenage years I held down two jobs and during college could be seen frequently practising my 10k around the running track. So, as you can imagine my official crowning as a person with a disability — a travel card being the only perk — came as a bit of a downer. I have no choice. Having your whole life shrink in front of your eyes more and more each day is pretty scary.

Two: It’s also the year that marks the 35th anniversary of the Eighth Amendment. I was under the illusion that up until now I could do as I pleased with my body and that a disabling diagnosis had taken that away. Wrong. When I was almost four the government, backed by the people of Ireland, cemented in the Irish Constitution that the potential being of another had equal status to me, that it was long before illness took root that I could certainly not do as I pleased with my own body. I was just coming up to my fourth birthday when that was decided. In the 38 years of my existence my country has never granted me the opportunity to vote on this, on the fact that someone whose life has yet to come to fruition has more rights than I do, that even with my disability will have better healthcare. But I have no choice.