We must change approach to intellectual disability

I WELCOME Deirdre Carroll’s call for an inspectorate of intellectual disability services (September 4), a call that has been made repeatedly in recent years by advocates for people with intellectual disabilities but which has unfortunately been greeted with repeated inaction on the part of the Government.

The State’s promise of “unannounced visits” must, however, be viewed sceptically, especially in consideration of their appalling record in honouring the human rights of these people, a record that can be traced back before the foundation of the State to the mid 19th century.

History reveals that throughout those years, people with intellectual disabilities were marginalised and excluded by society and exposed to subhuman conditions.