-----Original Message-----
From: Dermot M.J.Hayes
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 8:15 AM
To: Dpoc Reception ; DPOC ; socialmediaadministrator@dpoc.ie ;
transport@dpoc.ie ; accounts@dpoc.ie ; Martina Halpin ; Angela Meere ;
Thomas Connole ; thomaschambers@eircom.net ; Kilmurray, Tom ; Thomas Connole
; Thomas Connole ; Desiree Stevenson ; Patrick Lillis ; Ann Marie Flanagan ;
Ann Marie O'Connell ; Center for Independent Living ; cil galway ; cilk ;
corkcil@eircom.net ; Deirdre Fahey ; Eicil ; carlowcilc@eircom.net ; GDIL ;
info@limerickcil.com ; 'Nicola Meacle' ; Nina Byrne ; Sean Healy ;
southtippcil@eircom.net ; 'Susan OBrien' ; thurles@tippcil.com ; Mary mooney
; Joe Higgins
Subject: letter in today Irish Times.
What have we to say to this letter.Or comment.???????
Sir, – The Minister for Health says the State cannot afford to widen the
eligibility for the mobility allowance for people with disabilities
(Paul Cullen, Home News, February 7th). However, there are people with
disabilities who have significant costs associated with travel and this
payment is vital to support their independent living.
Money did not solve this problem in the past, so the lack of it in the
Department of Health has nothing to do with solving the issue now.
The fact that Ireland is in a bailout programme does not weaken the
State's obligation to provide essential services to people with
disabilities. If this Government wants people to access employment
through the upcoming employment strategy, to move people out of
congregated settings back into the community and to access mainstream
services that are essential for their quality of life, this payment has
to be maintained.
The implementation of this scheme requires Government departments to
communicate with each other and to work together. The Minister needs to
realise that the National Disability Strategy, a cross-departmental
strategy which this Government has committed to implementing, is the
solution to this issue.
It is disappointing that the Department of Health and the Minister are
not thinking outside the box on an issue that will only come back to
haunt them.
The excuse of not being able to afford it is not the easy way out on
this issue, as a country we simply cannot afford not to make these
investments. – Yours, etc,
JOHN DOLAN CEO,
Disability Federation of Ireland,
Fumbally Court,
Fumbally Lane,
Dublin 8.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Friday, February 01, 2013
Fw: ENIL, Independent News!
From: ENIL secretariat
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 6:10 PM
To: *|FNAME|*
Subject: ENIL, Independent News!
|
|
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Fw:
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 5:01 PM
Ballina continues to address disability issues.
The "fantastic Vision" of Bus Eireann in refurbishing its Ballina station was highlighted at Ballina Town Council on Thursday last during a discussion of the
Independent councilor and An Meara, Mary Kelly, stated that the 1m upgrade of Ballina Bus Station now makes it the 'best example in this town of a building facilitating people with disabilities' Cllr Kelly added that the extensive revamp unveiled recently by transport Minister martin Cullen, is a credit to Bus Eireann and possibly the finest of its kind in the country. She urged other businesses in Ballina to "follow suit".
Cllr Kelly made her comments at last Thursday Nights meeting of Ballina Town Council where Fianna Fail Councilor Johnnie O Malley and Sinn Fein councilor Peter Clarke were nominated to represent the council on the
The Council previously adopted the principles of the
The 1995 declaration stresses "the essential nature of the development of human resources, both as regards the education and training of young people in particular and in the area of culture " Staff at Bus Eireann in Ballina were given disability training as part of the refurbishment. Which also includes automatic doors, large toilets suitable for wheelchairs, Level and ramped footpaths, signage displays and extra lighting?
The Barcelona Declaration furthermore spotlights the need to "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and guarantees the effective, legitimate exercises of such rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression, freedom of association for peaceful purposes and freedom of thought, conscience and religion"
Under the principles of the convention, a committee is to conduct a traffic study around Ballina has been put in place, with a view to addressing the needs and rights of persons with disabilities.
"The remit of the committee is to look at the whole of the town, not just look at the buildings" stated Cllr O Malley, who was proposed and seconded by Frances Mc Andrew and Peter Clarke respectively." I would encourage people with disabilities to come to the committee. This is very important because these people see things in a different perspective"
Cllr O Malley proposed Cllr Peter Clarke for a position on the committee, and fine Gael councilor Mark Winters seconded this proposal. Accepting the position, Sinn Fein councilor asked Town Manager, Seamus Granahan, what specifically has been done for people with disabilities since the declaration adoption in2003.he also enquired if the council consults with people with disabilities when considering alterations?
Mr Granahan responded that the council has endeavored to make all new public buildings accessible, but that council architects' relied on building regulations in effecting changes aimed at making buildings user-friendly for people with disabilities' encouraged the committee now in place to form a brief and bring it to the council, adding that the council would do what it could to assist.
Thomas Chambers
Access Campaigner
The Billy Ranch
Newport
Mayo
086 3552047
098 41545
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Fw: Wheelchair Rugby Euro Qualifiers - Help Required!
From: Garrett Culliton
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 12:48 AM
To: Garrett Culliton
Subject: Wheelchair Rugby Euro Qualifiers - Help Required!
Dear Friends,
Your charisma and connections are hereby being called upon to elevate exposure and footfall for the upcoming Wheelchair Rugby European Qualifiers in Gormanstown College, Co. Meath on February 7th-9th . This promises to be the biggest Paralympic event on these shores in 2013 and with your help it will be talked about for many years to come.
Your mission should you choose to accept it
Is to raise the profile of this event and disability sport across all your available mediums, from work colleagues, friends, family and available web and social media. The main objective is to increase footfall over the 3 days with a particular focus on children to meet paralysis on a sporting platform. Nothing generates a cauldron or noise like a hall full of screaming kids and admission is free for everyone! The IRFU have given us a massive batch of flags and we will have drums, face painters and balloon artists etc on site with a huge focus on family fun. With that in mind anyone with any close connections in schools are invaluable, many schools are already sending out a cross section of classes and transition years.
Attached is the event poster with the schedule and fixtures. Even if it's not realistic for you to travel to the event due to your geographic location here in Ireland, it would be great if you could spread the word and print off some flyers to put up around your area to help raise the awareness of Wheelchair Rugby in Ireland.
This will be a very rewarding few days to get to know the stories behind the chairs of spinal injury athletes from across Europe.
I realise this is a big ask but any help you can give us will be vital to the overall success of the competition.
So C'mon and let's get behind our "Wheels in Green!"
All the best,
Garrett
Fw: brave deaf man --who took on a big disability group
From: Dermot M.J.Hayes
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 8:17 AM
To: DPOC ; Dpoc Reception ; Martina Halpin ; Angela Meere ; Donal & Cathy Cooper ; Michael Corbett ; rexlee@eircom.net ; mick keegan ; frank forgarty ; ShaneHogan ; Kirsi Hanifin ; Breda O'Sullivan ; gcil@eircom.net ; Joe Higgins ; 'Susan OBrien' ; Mary mooney ; Margaret Elomari ; M G ; Michael Gogarty ; thomaschambers@eircom.net ; Thomas Connole ; Anne Marie Healy ; Ann Marie O'Connell ; anncroninennis@gmail.com ; Patrick Lillis ; Pat Lillis ; Desiree Stevenson ; maureen hand ; jim ; corkcil@eircom.net ; 'Nicola Meacle' ; croke.margaret@gmail.com ; Sean McDonnell ; greg.duff@advocacy.ieanthony ; Josephine Keaveney - R5 Advocacy Service Manager ; jose.keaveney@gmail.com ; helenliddy1@eircom.net ; Ann Marie Flanagan ; malachy foots ; Malachy Foots ; Patrick.collins@cronans.ie ; helen.collins@advocacy.ie ; Marian Hayes
Subject: brave deaf man --who took on a big disability group
Hello.
Well done to this guy who took on the IWA and my guess is there is a lot of this silent discrimination against disabled people with in organization of disability.
Low level bullying and undocumented discrimination.
Slan
Dermot
Well done to this guy who took on the IWA and my guess is there is a lot of this silent discrimination against disabled people with in organization of disability.
Low level bullying and undocumented discrimination.
Slan
Dermot
Wheelchair body pays €10,000 for discrimination
134 84 38
A major advocate for the disabled has been ordered to pay a deaf man €10,000 in compensation after a tribunal found that it discriminated against him on the basis of disability.
The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) was found by the Equality Tribunal to have discriminated against Kevin Stanley on the grounds of disability contrary to the Employment Equality Acts by failing to provide "reasonable accommodation" for his disability when he was invited to a job interview.
Mr Stanley, former manager of the Irish Deaf Society, had claimed that he was discriminated against by the IWA by failing to allow him sufficient time to book an Irish sign language (ISL) interpreter to attend a job interview with him.
Mr Stanley, who is an assistant project researcher for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said he not only feels personally vindicated by the decision but believes it is a win for the entire deaf community in
He said last night: "I was disappointed and hurt by the refusal of the IWA to reasonably accommodate a difficulty that is no fault of mine."
Officials from the IWA did not comment on the matter last night.
Irish Independent
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Ballina town
My name is Tom Chambers from Newport, County Mayo. In 1981, I had a very severe accident that paralyzed me from chest down to my feet. Prior to that, I worked in the building and construction industry all over Europe. In 2005, I completed an audit course on access and audit of buildings which was ran by the University of Ulster. Presently, I am an independent access campaign officer who work and audit buildings and public offices and places in order to promote universal access for all. As a matter of fact my name came up for praise in Brussels on the 3rd of December 2012 for work and advice I gave to organisations when they were electing the most accessible city in Europe.
I felt I could put my experience to use when I saw a copy of the Plan for Peter Street in Ballina. Like everyone else, I was excited about the plan to make disabled parking bay and I put in my submissions for the work. When the work was completed, I called to have a look but was very disappointed to find out that the visually impaired and wheelchair drivers were not provided in the plan for the disable parking bay.
The work to my mind is a disgrace and I challenge everyone at the meeting tonight to prove me wrong. When I was asked to find the best place to locate a designated parking bay outside the Art Centre, I made my submission and was disappointed to find out that the bay is totally not accessible for wheelchair drivers. How can a disabled driver/passenger transfer from his/her car when the bay is just the width of the bay cutting off access to the footpath. It has not even got a sigh to identify the bay as one approach it?
A survey was carried out by the National Disability Authorities (NDA) for the government in 2011 and was launched by Minister Howlin at a presentation in Dublin last June to which I attended, regarding people with disabilities and the general public and this is what he had to say when it was put to him that the respect is almost 75% and this is what he had to say:
I was disheartened to learn that attitudes to people with disabilities have actually deteriorated, as indicated in the most recent report of the NDA. One would have thought that the natural progression is for people to have a greater understanding of disability issues and to be embracing citizenship in the fullest sense.
Public service bodies have a responsibility to be leaders in challenging negative attitudes by ensuring greater understanding and awareness of disability and how to deliver services better to customers with disabilities.
As I've already mentioned, by understanding the needs of as many customers as possible and the wide range of abilities; all of us are disabled in some way ‑‑ and by designing our services to be as accessible as possible, we can deliver better services that meet the needs of all citizens.
What really annoys me is the sign on the wall at the bus depot on the Castlebar to Ballina that says "this is the beginning of an accessible town" when there was no planning for the old and disabled when carrying out work at Peter Street. I had the chance to visit a few cities in Europe last year and amongst them were Vienna (winners for the most accessible city in Europe for 2011) and Salzburg winners in 2012 and this was done by NO tactile something we in Ireland feel is needed. How many people with disabilities have approached anyone here at this meeting requesting more tactile or have any of you tried to manoeuvre a wheelchair on them.
So as you prepare for your coming budget why not consider the true experts on access and listen to what they have to say and bring them aboard like they do in other countries that get it right and forget about your pride because some of us voted for you. We were born by illness or accident, but we are handicapped by the environment.
OUR MOTTO IS: "Nothing about us without us"
Kind regard
Thomas Chambers
Access Campaigner
The Billy Ranch
Newport
Mayo
Email: thomaschambers@eircom.net
www.thomaschambers.blogspot.com
086 35520407
0899674346
098 41545
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