UNCRPD, Ireland’s ten-year moral outrage
Having a neurodegenerative illness that cannot be cured has given me the best gift I could ever ask for, strength and meeting the most inspirational and brightest people with disabilities in Ireland and abroad. Yes, they might "be different" in the eyes of many, but they showed me that not everything in life has a price or a tag. They taught me that disability is about misinterpreted ability because they help other people with or without disabilities within their communities in a time when their government shows signs of deliberate discrimination.
UNCRPD in Ireland – begging for change
Over the years, many extraordinary, inspiring people with disabilities have shown how they have rocked the world in their unique way. What the likes of Trump might regard as incompetence, I have seen extremely able, courageous people who have raised the bar not only for themselves but for others as well. They are living proof that having a disability is not the end of the road. There is, in fact, a whole world ahead of you. It might be good to remember these strong words from Michelle Obama, “When they go low, we go high.”
Disability rights in Ireland, 3 years later
"What’s even more bizarre, in November 2012, Ireland successfully campaigned for election to the Human Rights Council, yet it is still to ratify a convention that states that the rights of people with disabilities must be upheld. As a result, human rights are good for some in Ireland, but not for all. Oh, the irony of a health minister talking about inclusion."
Disable Inequality
It’s been rather quiet down here. The past four to five months, I’ve been involved in disability rights campaigns and had a long much-needed Christmas and New Year’s break. I’m now back to passive campaigning in some form or another while having the flu… it’s never boring in MS-land. With the Irish election campaign in full swing, it’s difficult combining high-powered fatigue issues and other MS symptoms with the amount of advocating I want to do. The first and second are, as most of you know, difficult to tackle, the latter not acted upon enough. I’m still dedicated to writing for my blog, though, and also for the Novartis and Irish MS Society blogs. There is one thing I would like to highlight. In my belief, disability rights are something…
Disability rights in Ireland
October 16th, 2013 is Blog Action Day, dedicated to human rights. Bloggers in 126 countries are writing about things that matter, like education for everyone, healthcare for each and every person on this planet and many, many more human right subjects. After yesterday’s announcement of Budget 2014 by the Irish government, I clearly see what I need and want to address with my post for Blog Action Day 2013.
Disability is never cured with one pill alone
So it seems I’m on the warpath. It also appears that if you want to change things, you have to work very hard to get it done. And hope your adversaries are willing to at least listen for one second to what you have to say. Is it worth it? Not if your voice is cut off before the first vowel leaves your lips. It is worth it, however, if or when your input is evaluated and rationalized as such that your opponent understands quite clearly what you mean. It’s true that we live in a society where politicians say all and citizens very little. The why and the wherefore of their actions often need to be repeatedly discussed on TV, in newspapers and in the salons of hairdressers, tea…
UNCRPD – The Right on Participation in Political and Public Life
It has been a great, uplifting two weeks. Busy, yes, but it was also about self-analysis and giving back. If I remember well – as you know my memories have a short lifespan – it was all about life with MS. I finally received meds for trigeminal neuralgia, aka the ‘suicide disease’ last week. As trigeminal goes, it is one of the most painful conditions according to medical staff. Over the past three to four months, many a thought went into on finding ways of eradicating the pain. It went as far as referring to it as ‘trigeminal blah blah blah’ because I started hating the word and all it stood for. Not often do I lose hope when I am in a lot of pain, and with a pain…
