Coming together to secure an equal future for people with disabilities Martin Naughton | Director of Áiseanna Tacaíochta

Reflecting on our learning Coming together to secure an equal future for people with disabilities | Martin Naughton2 It’s important to reflect on past and what we’ve learned from it, so that we can build on that into the future. Achieving on true equality and inclusion for people with disabilities rests on Securing the values of human rights Working by the philosophy of Independent Living Ensuring active citizenship for all Building understanding and solidarity across society. We’ve seen the difference that Independent Living and Direct Payments make in people’s lives, and we’ve witnessed how the innovation of people with disabilities has driven those massively important changes. We must now build on that determination together.

The future we want to build for ourselves Coming together to secure an equal future for people with disabilities | Martin Naughton3 68% of people who use disability services in Ireland are dissatisfied with the level of control they have over their own lives. 1 We have to overturn this together. ¹ Department of Health (2010) Report on Public Consultation: Efficiency and Effectiveness of Disability Services in Ireland. Dublin: Department of Health By giving people with disabilities more control, independence and responsibility, we can bring all of society together to create strong, inclusive communities anchored by equality and active citizenship.

The future for Áiseanna Tacaíochta (ÁT) Coming together to secure an equal future for people with disabilities | Martin Naughton4 It offers strong outcomes not just for the individual, but for the whole of society. This can grow in a sustainable and dynamic way into the future. We currently have 20 existing and incoming members, aiming to have 50 by the end of As our membership grows, so will our impact across society. ÁT plans to play an important role in shaping the future for people with disabilities. Our model offers: Real flexibility and choice Personal growth and development for our Leaders True cost-effectiveness and value for money.

Key pieces of work in 2015 Coming together to secure an equal future for people with disabilities | Martin Naughton5 Our Cost Benefit Analysis will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of our model of Direct Payments, in both monetary and social terms. Continuous Action Research will result in constant improvements to our model and generate a valuable store of information on our outcomes. ÁT Evaluators, coming on board in 2015, will see volunteers perform appraisals of Leaders’ companies. Our new Vice President Programme is building a new network of supporters to promote ÁT and its values, and raise funds to sustain our important work. Our Human Rights Ambassadors will challenge perceptions of disability by promoting a human rights perspective in the community, tackling physical, attitudinal and cultural barriers at grass-roots level.

Funding for a fairer future Coming together to secure an equal future for people with disabilities | Martin Naughton6 As a movement, we know and appreciate the value of the money we receive: we will not misuse or overspend it. Our expertise, our money and our determination can build a future that works for and includes everyone equally. People with disabilities have identified and initiated new models which secure strong outcomes for people and society in a hugely resourceful and cost-effective way: this must be supported by Government.

Seeing disability as a human rights issue Coming together to secure an equal future for people with disabilities | Martin Naughton7 Each of us has an important role to play in ensuring that people with disabilities enjoy access to the full set of rights that they are entitled to. Seeing disability as a human rights issue enables us to understand how people with disabilities are disabled and disempowered as a result of being excluded and prevented from participating fully in society. We will ask people across the country to “Stand Up For Our Rights” on May 4 th and 5 th 2015, uniting people with disabilities and wider society to achieve the rights and equality that we are all entitled to.

Changing perceptions of disability Coming together to secure an equal future for people with disabilities | Martin Naughton8 Describing ourselves in a certain way allows both us and other people to dilute our rights and to define ourselves by our disability alone, rather than recognising the full, vibrant and dynamic people we are. The future also involves changing attitudes and perceptions of disability, both within the disability movement and beyond it. By changing the language around and the visualisation of disability, we can all play a role in empowering people with disabilities as strong, active members of society with rich life experiences and valued rights.

Changing perceptions of disability Coming together to secure an equal future for people with disabilities | Martin Naughton9 We are not “vulnerable”. We do not have “special needs”. We are not “service users” - we access supports. We do not need to be “integrated” – we want to be included. We did not “lose” our medical cards – they were taken from us. People with disabilities can no longer be seen as an isolated, vulnerable group in society; we must no longer focus on the disability but the potential that every person has for the future and the impact that they can make.

Building this new future together 10 At ÁT, we see ourselves as leaders of a new vision of in Ireland, as Direct Payments change the way we think about disability and enable people with disabilities to re-write their roles. Each of us in society has a part to play in making independence and equality the reality for all; we must all take this next step together to make this happen. We have come this far together; now, we can dream bigger and better again.