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Why is it so important to listen to disabled people and disabled peoples' organisations? Why is it so problematic that the discourse in Ireland is led by service providers? Here is a smattering of some of what I have heard from service providers over the years...
"I don't like to use disabled, I like to call them differently abled" from a disability support worker at a public meeting
Othering all the disabled people in the room
Disabled people get to decide how they identify
Disability is not a dirty word
Othering all the disabled people in the roomDisabled people get to decide how they identifyDisability is not a dirty word
"You can't use the disabled toilet, that's for wheelchair users" from another disability support worker
Even Tesco seems to have a better understanding of invisible disabilities and the various access needs for toilets.
Even Tesco seems to have a better understanding of invisible disabilities and the various access needs for toilets.
"People like you won't get a place on our courses, as we can't trust you to complete the course" No introspection: "Oh I wonder what we could do to help you complete a course with us?" Or "What are we doing wrong that disabled people can't complete our courses?"
No it was the disabled people that were are at fault, not the structures in the institution that kept them out. This one really stung, considering the person's position of power in a disability service.
I would also like to give a shout out to the amazing people I have met who get it & fight to break down the barriers to access for disabled people and others. "Equality, Diversity & Inclusion" should not just be buzz words but the fundamental starting point of our policies...
Ask yourself "Who is not in the room?" & if you have any power at all ask "What am I doing, as a gatekeeper, to get them in the room?" Yes you, with the tiny bit of power you have, look around and see who isn't in the room and use your voice to draw attention to who isn't present
