By Irishexaminer.com
Copyright irishexaminer
As someone with a non-visible disability, with the ability to write a letter, and more, there’s a paternalism on show towards people like me, at best, and outright hostility for my situation in some cases. I’m a person who wants to give back, but who’s also in need of security.
I often struggle, occasionally hugely, and a large part of my life is focused on maintaining and hopefully improving my health. However, what I need, including the help I need to improve my life, is gated behind obtuse, scattered services, where telephone support lines from the State and other bodies, in my experience, have little understanding of their own practices or their own guidelines; if those guidelines even exist in the first place.
Eight years ago, I approached the Department of Social Protection about self-employment as ‘rehabilitative work’ as someone in receipt of a Disability Allowance; this is explicitly allowed by legislation and encouraged by my doctors. However the department insisted I show them a payslip from my employer. On the face of it this is absurd, and just plain impossible.
Eight years later, eight years of being stymied in my attempts to contribute to society in the way I am best capable of, given my situation, I know guidelines do exist.
However, again, precise details of anything are opaque and broadly unavailable, never mind the myriad other bodies I must deal with to start the process. Furthermore, I’ve been warned by some in my healthcare team should I begin into this, the monitoring from various organs of the State will be hostile and invasive, and a potential threat to my hard fought-for health.
There is a pride in working and giving back to the society which helped you. From years of engaging with my doctors, I know what it is I am able to contribute; to some degree, at least. People with disabilities know their situations best, and I know I want to try to offer back beyond how I already do so.
My focus will always be on my wellness, but when my health is good, and when my time, resolve, and abilities allow, I’d like to have the pride of some work as just another normal, valued member of society. This while still having the fallback of the State in maintaining my extremely valuable, at least to me, soundness in body and mind. Unfortunately this level of care and understanding seems like a step too far for many in power.
Niamh O’Donovan
Douglas, Cork
Justice for survivors of school systems
We are survivors of Ireland’s Industrial School and Reformatory School systems. Many of us endured forced labour, abuse, loss of childhood, and fragmentation of families and support networks. Decades later, we are still waiting for full justice.
On Monday next, September 22, we will begin a peaceful demonstration and a hunger strike to demand that the State finally act on its duty to us.
Our demands are clear and just:
1. HAA (Health Amendment Act) card: Survivors deserve access to comprehensive healthcare to deal with the lasting effects of the institutions;
2. Full State pension (contributory) for work done as children: We worked long hours, unpaid, saving the state and religious orders a significant amount of money. We are owed fair financial recognition for this forced labour. Children were boarded out while under the care of the State. Survivors who were in the Magdalene laundries are receiving an extra pension for the work they have done. While we survivors, who spent years in these hell holes, are getting nothing.
We will no longer be ignored.
A hunger strike is not something we take lightly, but we feel we have been left with no other option. We are asking your readers to listen, to support us, and to make sure our calls for dignity, recognition, and justice are heard.
On behalf of survivors of Ireland’s Industrial and Reformatory schools, we ask your readers to share our story across all social media platforms in solidarity.
Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Maurice O’Connell, Mary Smith, and Sheila O Byrne
PepsiCo planning
The people who objected to the plans for the expansion of PepsiCo’s manufacturing facility in Little Island, Co Cork, are probably the same people who wonder why their kids can’t get good paying local jobs.
PepsiCo who have given great employment in Cork for over 50 years must be pulling their hair out and even thinking of pulling out.
Liam Murphy
Kinsealy, Co Dublin
