ILMI eBulletin August 30th 2019
Welcome to the 46th ILMI eBulletin.
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Should you require a plain text version please get in touch with info@ilmi.ie
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ILMI Dates for Your Diary
- September 10th, 11am to 1pm, Westside Resource Centre, Galway Activism Exploratory Meeting
- September 13th, 11am to 1pm, Cois na hAbhana Ennis, Clare Leader Forum Meeting
Please call the office on 01 8730455 for more information or email info@ilmi.ie |
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ILMI Team News
Photo shows Raymond, Eliona and James with RTE Radio Host Ray D'arcy
Because we’re all human. Means we’re all equal.
On Wednesday 21st August our policy officer James, ILMI member Eliona Gjecaj and Raymond Grehan from Longford were on the Ray D’arcy show talking about the Because we’re all human. Means we’re all equal national awareness campaign.
The campaign was led by the Irish human rights and equality commission (IHREC) and aimed to inform attitudes towards disabled people across Irish Society.
The campaign was aired right across Cinema, National radio and Social media featuring thirteen people from across Ireland sharing their experiences of living with autism, an intellectual disability or complex needs; being visually-impaired or blind, hard of hearing or Deaf; and having a physical disability or being affected by mental ill-health.
Because we’re all human. Means we’re all equal was a simple yet an effective campaign and believed the hundreds of thousands of disabled people in Ireland have the right to participate with dignity and respect in everyday life—be it at home, school, work or out and about.
Listen back here
Photo shows the Department of Justice and Equality Logo
Department of Justice and Equality Transformation Programme
ILMI attended a Department of Justice and Equality briefing session with other Civil Society groups to explore the Department’s transformation process. Given the key role the Department of Justice and Equality plays in relation to equality, immigration, integration and access to justice, including the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, it is vital that ILMI are informed on these processes.
Leading the briefing session, Aidan O’Driscoll, Secretary General of the Department outlined their new vision of a “safe, fair and inclusive society”. The department will be divided into two sections- one on criminal justice, the other being Civil Justice and Equality. Each section will have five functions: policy, operations, legislation, governance and transparency.
The transformation process will allow specialist policy section to develop evidence-based policies both for strategic policy (long term, larger scale projects) and applied policy (such as UN and EU reports).
Over the course of the briefing session, the need for co-creation with Civil Society was stressed and that the Department’s vision could only be achieved with consultation with key stakeholder groups as active partners.
The vision and energy suggest a major shift in focus for the Department of Justice and Equality. It also could become a template for how Civil Society engages with other Government Departments. ILMI will continue to link in with the Department of Justice and Equality as part of this process and will keep our members informed in working group discussions and via the eBulletin.
ONSIDE Update
Photo of Orla Beirne
Orla Beirne ONSIDE Community Navigator
Orla joined ILMI in August 2019 and is the Community Navigator for the Donegal and Sligo region with the ONSIDE Project.
Orla graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Disability studies from St Angela’s College, Sligo in 2014 and was accredited a Certificate in Training Delivery and Evaluation from the Open College Dublin in 2016. Before her role with ILMI, Orla worked as a Personal Assistant, Community Support Worker and delivered training programmes to different groups.
Orla has experience of delivering a social model service to disabled people in the community. This service involved supporting individuals to enhance their health and wellbeing by developing a personal action plan supporting them to identify their options and/or opportunities. Personal action plans entailed the individual engaging with mainstream facilities/services to increase their participation in all aspects of their lives.
Orla is keen to hear from people who are interested in the ONSIDE Project. You can contact her at orlabeirne@ilmi.ie |
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Media
Photo shows Bernard Mulvany with his daughter Sophia and son Conor at Clontarf Road Station
Lack of Real Public Accessible Transport Across the Country
Transport issues continued to dominate the news over the last two weeks. In Cork campaigner Evie Nevin explained how her local 236 service is inaccessible as the stops along the route cannot be accessed by wheelchair users or people with mobility issues. Speaking to the Echo Ms. Nevin explained that “It's 2019, to not have accessible public transport is really unacceptable.” You can read more about this story here
Meanwhile in Dublin breakdowns in lifts at Dart stations are leaving disabled commuters stranded. Bernard Mulvany told the Journal “It’s fairly prevalent that lifts are not working…it’s vital that the information given to passengers by Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) is accurate. He is aware of some people ending up stranded at train stations or having to completely change their route because a lift is unexpectedly not working.” His sentiments were echoed by fellow activist Sean O’Kelly who explained “I refuse to use public transport, and I shouldn’t feel like that. I really, really should not feel like that. Feeling caged, feeling uncertain about public transport,” Read more about this ongoing story here. |
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Share Your Independent Living News
If you wish to get your campaign, key policy article, or any other piece directly relating to the philosophy of Independent Living featured in our next newsletter then please email it to info@ilmi.ie
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