Over the past couple of months, we’ve marked the progress people with disabilities have made in a number of countries with regards to career training and job opportunities; from a new employment rights’ treaty in Israel to hiring increases in China, news across the globe indicates progress is being made toward inclusion of these people into the community.
But progress comes less swiftly to others; and, in Ireland, people with disabilities are struggling with societal perceptions and shrinking resources to help them find jobs and live their lives more independently. Back in January, the country’s National Disability Authority published results of a survey that showed attitudes toward people with disabilities were becoming less tolerant. This is especially apparent when it comes to including these children in the same classrooms, as Kitty Holland points out in her story for The Irish Times:
… [A]lmost one quarter of people (24 per cent) would object if children with mental health problems were in the same class as their child. Some 21 per cent said they would object if a child with intellectual disability or autism were in class with their child.
Holland speaks to officials from Inclusion Ireland, who refer to the survey results as a “wake-up call” to the Irish government that action needs to be taken to prevent further stalling of progress toward inclusion of people with disabilities. Meanwhile, the organization is also involved in efforts to stop cutbacks by a firm in the city of Galway that provides 44 people with disabilities with jobs in assembly and recycling.
In her February 8 story for the Galway Independent, Lorraine O’Hanlon says Inclusion Ireland has asked Rehab Enterprises to “fully communicate” all the available options for as many as 18 people who are expected to lose their jobs. For their part, Rehab Services says their transition plan “exceeds the specific industry norms.” O’Hanlon writes that:
… [E]ach person affected receives an individual service based on their skills, needs and capacity to support them to progress into further education, training or alternative employment.
O’Hanlon adds that the district’s senator has written to the Minister of State for Disability, Equality, and Mental Health for an immediate intervention on behalf of the people affected. Ireland’s government does seem to be taking note of the multiple appeals on behalf of people with disabilities. Yesterday, Irish Times reporter Pamela Duncan reported on a new program introduced by the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton that will allow thousands of people to work while receiving public assistance due to disability or illness.
Burton also used the occasion to announce a restructuring of its support for people with disabilities. Duncan writes that 24 separate programs will be consolidated under a single national EmployAbility Service, offering:
… a range of supports, including workplace adaptation grants and wage subsidies to employers and on-site job coaches and mentors to people with disability.
Perhaps this streamlining of resources will be Ireland’s first step toward turning around the perceptions of its citizens about the value of including people with disabilities into the community.
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Image by informatique (William Murphy), used under its Creative Commons license.