Some families of adults with disabilities who avail of day and respite services are struggling to cope, as services which were severely curtailed or completely withdrawn due to the pandemic have not yet been fully restored. Today with Claire Byrne reporter Brian O'Connell met two families in Co Clare to hear their stories. In both cases, the adults with disabilities in the families were receiving care five days a week pre-Covid, but that care is currently only two to three days a week. The families say that their family members deserve what they had before and that the time away from services has had a huge impact on family members with disabilities. Brian spoke first to Jean Hanrahan, whose 21-year-old daughter Orla has Down syndrome and also has a physical disability. Before lockdown, Orla attended services five days a week. Then the first lockdown came and Orla had nothing for some weeks. Then she was offered some hours online, which she participated in, but it obviously wasn't the same in most ways.
"We saw our beautiful 21-year-old, full of life, young woman, at home on her own with no friends, no contact and no service."
This went on until midway through August until Orla got two days a week back in services, with additional online learning. Jean has continued to advocate for additional services and compares Orla's situation with schools and colleges, which have been fully reopened since the end of August. After mid-term in October, Orla got another day, bringing her to three days a week.
"We are advocating for five days because the service provider is receiving full funding. Orla's not reaping the benefits."
Jean has not been told when Orla is getting her five days back. Jean's husband hasn't been able to go back to work because one of them needs to be home two days a week.
Brian also met Claire and Martin Murphy, whose son James, 26, has a rare genetic disorder and needs full-time, 24-hour care. The service James was availing of shut down on 18 March and partially resumed on 19 August. Claire is at a loss to explain why services for people with disabilities have not been fully restored:
"We can't understand it. We have a daughter in Leaving Cert. Schools are able to work to full capacity, creches can work to full capacity. We just feel they're being completely forgotten about."
James's father Martin told Brian that his son has a right to have his service restored, but people with special needs are not seen as important:
"I think it's ridiculous, to be honest with you. I think this is the problem with special needs – they’re treated differently. Everybody in this country or any other country is born with the same rights. And let's have those rights."
Martin and Claire haven't been told when full services will be restored and meantime James is left not knowing when he'll be able to fully avail of the services he gets so much out of.
You can hear Brian's full report for Today with Claire Byrne by going here.
Niall Ó Sioradáin