The newly formed Donegal Disabled Persons’ Organisation is launching itself with two consultations: one in Letterkenny on Monday, May 26 and the other in Donegal Town on Thursday, June 5. The purpose of these consultations is to produce a submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“This is what a DPO is for,” explains Pippa Black, Donegal Community Worker for the Independent Living Movement of Ireland, who is supporting the establishment of the DPO.
“DPOs are organisations run by and for disabled people. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities gives us a mandate to be consulted in the development, implementation and monitoring of policies and practices that affect disabled people. A DPO provides that platform, where disabled people can make sure that our collective voices as citizens are being heard and represented.
“We are rushing our launch to get these consultations done now because Ireland is due to present itself before the UN Committee for its first periodic review. We have a chance between now and the end of next month to make a submission detailing the questions that we think our government should be asked.
“The purpose of these consultations is for Donegal disabled people to talk about how our lived experiences differs from what the Government has promised. Those experiences will be reflected in the submission that we will make. These consultations are open to any disabled adults in the County as we would like to include the experiences of as many people as possible. Without feedback like this from disabled people in each country, the UN Committee would have no way of knowing what the gaps are between our rights and our experiences.
“We would encourage disabled people to get in touch with us by email to DPO4Donegal@gmail.com or by calling Pippa Black on 087 477 0965. You can also find out more about us by following our Facebook page.”
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