Your Voice Your Choice Conference

Your Voice your Choice took place on Tuesday 19 June 2012 in Royal Hospital Kilmainham from 11.30 to 15.30. It was a consultation event where people with all kinds of disabilities, parent/guardian/carers of a child or young person with disability and advocate for a people with a disability came together to voice their individual views on what is important to them. They also worked in small groups in the first session and attended workshops in the second session to share their experiences and ideas on their everyday life and what matters most to them.

The Minister for Disability, Older People, Equality and Mental Health was in attendance to launch Your Voice Your Choice.

She said "It is very important that we clearly hear the voice of people with disabilities in developing any policy or services that impact on their lives", the Minister said. "This event is about genuinely listening to the voices of people who often don't get an opportunity to have their voice heard and air their concerns and experiences". "This event today ensures that the perspective of service users can inform the development and implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy", she added.

This conference was organized by the National Disability Authority to facilitate people with disabilities to have their say on issues that matter most to them in living with a disability. The NDA is an independent state body that provides expert advice on disability policy and practice to the Minister and promotes universal design in the country. This is the first time an event like this is holding to include people of all ages, disability and mental health spectrum across the country.

The chairperson for NDA Mr Peter McKevitt said that this event was unique because it captured first hand and life experiences of individuals with disabilities. He believes that it will help to enrich understanding of what needs to be done and build on the progress. Mr McKevitt said it's an annual event from now onwards where citizens with disabilities are listened to and will participate in the event.

Morning Session

The morning session focused on everyday issues, challenges and supports for daily living.

I was assigned to table 17 with my PA together with six others. We started with brief introduction about ourselves. We had a facilitator who was asking us questions and a note taker who was writing down all the answers to the questions.

1. What's the most important support you have for daily living?

My family, PA & weekly paid allowance.

2. What's the biggest challenge that you face every day?

The totality of my life not addressed, trying to cope with the environment, buggies blocking spaces reserved for disabled passengers, worried about the future, lack of education, isolation, lack of understanding of what you need, access to services, mobility & environmental access.

3. What's good in your daily life but could be made better for you?

To increase my PA's weekly hours, more travelling hours, access to aids and appliances, entitlement to physiologist, Dietician & Occupational Therapist, have a great & good life, getting back to work, education developmental service centers, driving & better care.

4. If you are the minister and could fix just one thing-what would that be?

Have all services into one body, interconnection with the services & value for money, stop focusing on needless health & safety issues but on the main things, look at semi-state bodies & more disable people to provide the services.

Afternoon Session

The afternoon session was four workshops.

· Workshop 1- Becoming who I want to be
This workshop looks at what is important to people with disabilities in making the most of their potential. This would include things like education and learning; health and well being; the world of work.

· Workshop 2- Being treated equally
This workshop looks at what is important to people with disabilities in being treated equally. This would include such things like attitudes; having accessible public services, access to information and public buildings; protection from abuse; mental health legislation and other laws; the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

· Workshop 3- Living the life I choose
This workshop looks at what is important to people with disabilities in having choice and independence to live your life. This would include such things like advocacy; independent living; personalized budgets; having quality in services; moving from institutional settings to a place that suits individuals with disabilities

· Workshop 4- Participating in the community
This workshop looks at what is important to people with disabilities in being able to participate in the life of the community. This would include such things like accessible environments; transport; communications; inclusive communities; participating in sport and cultural life