A disability rights and equality organisation - which will be "upfront and uncompromising" in calling out matters impacting disabled people - has been launched.
Cothrom has been spearheaded by disability activist Dr Margaret Kennedy and advocate Michael O' Dowd.
A poster campaign highlighting what the group has described as the State's failure of disabled people through "systemic neglect, underfunding, and a lack of meaningful reform", will be rolled out nationally in the coming weeks.
The project was supported by the Department of Social Welfare under its programme for the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which is on Friday.
Speaking at the event, Dr Margaret Kennedy said attitudes towards disabled people - which she described as "Dickensian" - had not changed in 30 years, due to ableism.
Ultimately she said, priority was being given to non-disabled people and she questioned why society was designed that way.
"When I ask for services, I always feel like I'm being pushed subliminal messages that it's going to cost money - that it will take time," she told those gathered.
Dr Kennedy outlined the services she required including neurotherapy.
She described last week as "hell", after her Personal Assistant (PA) moved to Spain, which has left her without a PA for three days a week.
Dr Kennedy said she refused to be mistreated and would not go into a nursing home.
"Priority is multidimensional, we're not a burden", she said.
Gladys O'Neill also spoke at the launch and outlined the isolation experienced by disabled people, which she said meant they were "cut off" from participation in society.
"Access is an afterthought," she said.
Disabled women 'doubly marginalised'
Ms O'Neill was involved in a study that was published last year which centred on disabled women’s experiences of intimate partner abuse in Ireland - carried out in partnership with Women's Aid and the Disabled Gender Based Violence Taskforce.
She said disabled women were "doubly marginalised" and viewed "as a burden".
Ms O'Neill and Dr Kennedy highlighted sexual abuse of older women - the latter noting the case of 'Emily', who was raped in a nursing home in 2020, but was not believed due to dementia.
"I live in absolute terror of having to go into a nursing home. We’re all living in terror. It is a constant fear, and it is sucking the joy out of my life," Dr Kennedy said.
"However, conversely it is keeping me going as my fear of it is keeping me energised and giving me the impetus to keep going."
Jackie Hanley has 26-year old son who is autistic.
She explained the battle for help that she pursued throughout his childhood.
He was diagnosed two months prior to his 18th birthday, by which stage she said she was informed that it was "too late", because he was entering adult services she said there were none.
"My fella never had an SNA because he was overlooked," she said.
Expectation on parents to 'take on everything'
Ms Hanley pointed out that there was expectation on parents to "take on everything".
She spoke to a mother of two autistic children at the weekend who was offered an online course for parents to train in occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.
"They're expected to be the occupational therapist, carer and parent together," said Ms Hanley.
"Carers, personal assistants and everyone else is propping up this Government," she added.
Ms Hanley said she had to grieve her son and his life potential.
Without the correct interventions he did not receive the required skills to draw from as an adult she explained.
Michael O’Dowd said inclusion must mean access to real jobs, education, and independence.
"For decades, report after report from Leas Cross to the Farrelly Commission has exposed neglect and systemic failure," he said.
"Yet little changes.
"Behind every policy delay is a life on hold."
He said the Poverty of Exclusion shows what happens when disability is treated as charity rather than as citizenship and rights.
Mr. O'Dowd was particularly critical of the Government’s employment strategy for people with disabilities, saying it lacks both ambition and accountability, especially within the public sector, where the State should be leading by example.
"There is a strategy, but it is timid," he said.
"Public sector employment targets remain low and unenforced. Until government itself becomes a model of inclusion, private employers will not feel compelled to act.
"This is not inclusion; it is managed exclusion," he said.
Absence of safeguarding legislation
He also highlighted the absence of safeguarding legislation, the lack of a statutory right to personal assistance, and the fragmented nature of disability services, where duplication and bureaucracy persist while individuals go without support.
Cothrom is calling for a statutory right to personal assistance for independent living; an introduction of adult safeguarding legislation; a revised, ambitious employment strategy with clear public sector targets; transparency and accountability in disability funding and "genuine participation" of disabled people in decision making.
Dr Margaret Kennedy described as "a disgrace", not having all the opportunities others because of an impairment "in a supposedly enlightened and economically well-off country".
"My poverty (one of many issues) is the struggle to find those people to support me to live my life as I wish," she said.
The issue of carers and personal assistants was raised widely at the launch. It was noted that there were not enough carers due to inadequate pay.
In September, the Government launched a new Disability Strategy for the next five years.
The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled people aims to ensure disabled people can live with choice, dignity, autonomy and inclusion - on an equal basis with others.
The maximum rates of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit are due to increase by €10 per week in January.
