Ireland has a long history of systemic marginalisation of disabled people by the State. Chronic under-investment, institutionalisation, and outsourcing of services to religious organisations, charities and the family have marginalised disabled people and placed parents of children with additional needs under huge pressure.
100 years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael has meant 100 years of under-funding and neglect of disabled people and their rights. Disabled people who are women, LGBTQI+, immigrants, members of the Traveller community, or other ethnic groups face even more challenges accessing services and supports and experience even more marginalisation as a result.
But injustice always leads to a fightback! Forced by the state to fight for services and supports that should be theirs as a right, disabled people and their families have set up organisations and campaigns, they have protested outside the Dail, they have taken the State to court. They have won real victories against an uncaring Government. The scrapping of the Green Paper on Disability Reform was one such victory. Forcing the State to ratify the Optional Protocol is another. Disability Justice has been placed firmly on the agenda for the General Election in a way it never was before.
This Manifesto for Disability Justice seeks to incorporate the demands of disabled people, disabled people’s organisations and parents of children with additional needs - which People Before Profit believes must be central to any programme for a Left Government.