€5 €20 €50 “Our Lives is Not, one Figure”
IMAGE: Text that reads €5 €20 €50 “Our Lives is Not, one Figure” #Budget23 #Budget2023 #CostOfLivingCrisis #CostOfDisability #Transport #FuelPoverty #EnergyCrisis #Poverty #Housing
Cost of Living and Cost of Disability: ILMI welcomed the cost of disability report (COD) however this Budget must address the extreme poverty and deprivation rates disabled people experience. The COD report did not provide for inflation, with many disabled people currently facing extreme financial pressure. This is on top of the dis-proportionate financial impact many disabled people experienced during the pandemic.
Recommendation: Our members believe that a “cost of living” or “equity payment” urgently needs to be introduced, in addition to an increase in core welfare rates. Such measures would allow many disabled people to exit the current economic poverty trap they find themselves in and to participate in society on a more equal basis to others.
Please write to your elected representative and ask them to attend -
Invest in Inclusion: ILMI's #Budget2023 Priorities AV room 20th September 1-2pm rsvp to info@ilmi.ie
If you need email addresses drop us a line on info@ilmi.ie and we will get them to you.
These are our priority asks:
1. Cost of Living and Cost of Disability
2. Investing and resourcing DPO’s
3. Independent Living Supports
4. Housing
5. Transport
6. Employment
ITA meets with Taoiseach call for State redress
Members of the Irish Thalidomide Association, including ILMI secretary Jacqui Browne, held a meeting with the Taoiseach as part of their long-running campaign to have their members’ rights realised by the State. The ITA’s meeting with the Taoiseach and officials called for fair and equitable compensation as well as detailing their members’ growing healthcare needs.
ILMI are fully supportive of ITA members’ calls for justice that has been denied to them over decades and their long-standing campaigning to have their rights vindicated.
ILMI “Education Equal to Others” Consultation
IMAGE: photo of autumnal leaves with one green leaf standing out from the other with text that reads “ILMI “Education Equal to Others” Consultation, Tuesday 18th October 11am to 1pm email info@ilmi.ie to register” and the ILMI logo.
Tuesday 18th October 11am to 1pm
#Article24 of the #UNCRPD guarantees a #right to disabled people to #education equal to others and calls on States to “ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning”.
In the last twelve months there has been an increasing call for “special” schools, “special classes” and reversal of hard fought gains that disabled people had campaigned for. Going hand-in-hand with this has been the transfer of Therapy services from the Children’s Disability networks to Special education locations.
ILMI is keen to explore this with disabled people to develop an analysis of how to practically implement the UNCRPD in relation to article 24 and key campaign asks to bring to the Department of Education and political parties.
This consultation will take place on Zoom on the 18th October from 11am to 1pm. To participate, email info@ilmi.ie
NTA Taxis
IMAGE: Screenshot of Zoom participants
Our strategies for change taxi working group met with our policy officer this morning to discuss the NTA’s consultation on the proposal of the introduction of a new fixed penalty (fine) for discrimination against disabled passengers. ILMI will be making a submission to the NTA on this issue. If you would like to feed into our submission please email your comments to our Policy Officer at jamescawley@ilmi.ie or call him on 0867744991 by Wednesday 21st September
Housing
Article in the Journal : As a disabled person if you don’t qualify for social housing, you don’t have enough income to get a mortgage, it’s pretty likely you won’t be able to find somewhere to live that’s anyway accessible, never mind affordable in the private rental market.
Our Policy Officer James Cawley is quoted in this article. Trigger warning as the subjects dealt with are #homelessness the #housingcrisis and again the massive barriers we all face as disabled people in a world not set up for us. Together as a Movement, a Collective of likeminded people we can change this. Remember your voice counts. If you would like to be involved in the ILMI Housing network please contact jamescawley@ilmi.ie
ILMI VOICE
IMAGE: Zoom screenshot of participants
On Thursday 15 September, ILMI’s Nicola Meacle & Paula Soraghan attended NALA’s ‘Literacy for Liberation’ webinar. It was very insightful and a great opportunity to hear more about the vital services NALA provide. The group also heard NALA member, Maurice, share his story. It was very impactful and highlighted the significance of NALA’s work.
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