Disabled people’s rights campaigner calls for new social contract with disabled children, adults and families 

Ann Marie Flanagan, Disabled people’s rights campaigner, has today called on the new Government to ensure a rights-based approach to the outstanding and urgent needs of Disabled children, adults and their families which were promised during the recent election.  

She also says she is demanding that a new Programme for Government features the necessary resources enable young Disabled people incarcerated in nursing homes to live in their own home in their own community. 

 “As a Disabled person, I know the first had what needs to happen,” she said. 

 “I would like to remind the new Government as they talk about change, that nothing has changed in 103 years as the State grants funding to charities for services with no protective legislation.  

 “We are citizens of the State with rights and that is how we should be treated.   

 “When politicians talk about the housing crisis, the matter is utterly compounded for  

“Disabled people as we are never spoken about.  

 “22% of people in Ireland have a disability and their voices are never heard”. 

Ann Marie launched her campaign in December and hopes to be the first elected Disabled woman Senator to the next Seanad Éireann, with a lifetime of lived experience and to the forefront of transformative change with over 30 years of expertise.  

Ann Marie has been proudly nominated by Independent Living Movement Ireland and Irish Deaf Society under the Administrative Panel. 

“It is startling to realise that over 8000 disabled children are waiting for an Assessment of Need under the Disability Act,” Ann Marie said 

“Additionally, 102,581 children are waiting for critical services, including psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy.  

“These facts are incredibly distressing and have devastating human consequences for some of these people.”