After the Games, same old story

THE Galway Special Needs Parents Support Group, initiated through the National Parents Council (Primary), regularly holds meetings with the aim of getting the best possible care and educational support for children with special needs, both in and out of the school system.

At this time of year, we have to confront, with weary sadness, the fact that if special provisions are not put in place for our children by the end of a school year, then they will continue to be deprived of essential help and support for the following year.

The focus of the country is now on the Special Olympics, and rightly so.

The Irish people have shown the world how great their energy and commitment is for this event, and have put stupendous effort into organising and raising funds.

What concerns us is that when the joyful participants and spectators have left us and the grand speeches have been made by all the politicians, Ireland will be no nearer to effecting the relevant articles of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The articles to which we chiefly refer cover matters such as non-discrimination regardless of a citizen’s situation or capabilities, the rights of the child, and integration of persons with disabilities.

Now it seems the tenor of some of Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s recent addresses indicate that he is not in favour of rights-based legislation. So where do we stand?

Is the government only paying false homage to the rights of all individuals while patting itself on the back for hosting the Special Olympics and doing nothing to improve the lot of its own citizens with special needs?

What we see is continued cutbacks in funding, not a commitment to cutting through the iniquities of systems that deprive so many adults and children of the supports necessary to reach their full potential.

Susan Clarke,

Galway Special Needs Parents Support Group,

Killeenaran,

Kilcolgan,

Co Galway