Dear Minister Flanagan,

I am writing to you as a former constituent to express my deep concern at the news that The National Platform of Self Advocates is being forced to close due to lack of funding. I implore you to consider urgent action in this regard as the closure of this organisation would be a significant loss to Irish civil society.

As one of the last countries to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the momentum among the disability-rights sector in Ireland has never been higher. Organisations like the National Platform have worked tirelessly, both before the ratification, and in the time since, to highlight the many obstacles within our society for people with disabilities. However, there is still much work to be done if we are to be in line with our obligations under the Convention and therefore, organisations like the National Platform need public support and funding in order to be able to continue.

I have been proud to support the work of the National Platform on previous occasions, and look to their expertise within my own work as an academic. If their input is lost within the sector in Ireland, we are at an immediate disadvantage going forward. Their members – who give of their time voluntarily – have regularly met with Government Ministers, taken part in conferences and training events, produced research which has practical implications and made recommendations for reform, and engaged with the drafting of legislation such as the Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Act. We as academics have learned from the tireless commitment and work that has been produced by Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs), such as the National Platform, which is then fed into our research and teaching practices.

As a small country, we are fortunate to have access to a number of organisations who give of their time and expertise to attend events and speak at conferences (often without payment), engage in law and policy-making and participate in academic projects. The National Platform was Ireland’s first ever DPO and since that time, its members have been to the fore in all of the above engagements. As a DPO, their experience and participation cannot be understated. It is an organisation that is run by people with intellectual disabilities themselves. Too often, the voices of people with disabilities are side-lined and overshadowed by other groups with vested interests (including parents, caregivers, social care professionals, academics, politicians and medical professionals). We must not allow this to happen.

By providing funding to the National Platform, it will enable them to continue their vital work and play a part in the reporting process which Ireland is due to undergo as part of the UN CRPD. Indeed, the Convention itself was built on the framework of inclusion of people with disabilities and their representative groups throughout the entire drafting process. The motto “Nothing About Us, Without Us”,  has now become synonymous with the disability rights movement and the final text of the Convention, but such words will ring hollow in Ireland if we lose the National Platform due to a lack of funding.

The closure of this organisation has sparked widespread dismay, not just in Ireland, but across the disability sector worldwide, as is reflected by the outpouring of shock across social media following the news of their closure last week. I am concerned about what the closure of this organisation says about us as a country, and our commitment to the UN CRPD, to our international peers, and I genuinely think this will reflect badly on our political leaders if nothing is done to support organisations like the National Platform.

I call upon you to support the work of the National Platform by way of providing proper funding, to ensure that we do not lose the very valuable input that their members bring to Irish society.

Sincerely,
Dr Donna Marie McNamara

Lecturer in Law
The University of Newcastle, Australia

Dear Mr Flanagan

From its very beginning the National Platform of Self- Advocates has sought to be an independent voice for people with disabilities and is unique in what it offers in this country. The Platform have researched, campaigned and offered their experience on many issues that they see as vital and important.    They have worked voluntarily and tirelessly to create a more just and equal society – one that we will all benefit from. I cannot believe that  when it is more vital than every before to ensure that people with a disability have a voice that this organisation is being silenced in  through the lack of government support and funding. It is an absolutely shame.

I call on you to do all in your power to make sure that this does not happen.

Kind regards

Karen O’Shea

Dear Minister Flanagan,

I am writing to you with regard to the National Platform of Self Advocates. As I’m sure you are aware, the National Platform is having to make the decision to close in the New Year, due to a lack of funding.  It is essential that this does not happen.

Our citizens with intellectual disabilities use this this platform, which enables their voice to be heard. They need you’re support. We need to hear what they want, what matters to them most.  Everyone is equal and people with intellectual disabilities have theirs rights to be listened to and we need to listen.

It is imperative that our government supports our citizen. People with intellectual disabilities need to involved in all decisions in all aspects of their lives. “Nothing about us without us” is a statement our government needs to support.

Let our Irish government do our people with intellectual proud, and show the world how we respect and support this wonderful National Platform of self advocates by continuing funding this organisation.

I look forward to your reply,

Kind regards

Paula Brennan
Student Intellectual Disability Nurse

Dear Minster

I am writing to you in relation to closure of National advocacy Platform. As the Former chairperson of Independent Living Movement ILMI. I know firsthand of the importance of having a disabled persons organisation to hear the true authentic voice of disabled people and not people claiming to speak on our behalf. As a disabled campaigner for twenty plus years I cant express my deep anger and sadness at hearing of the platforms closure. I would strongly urge you to intervene and give disabled people with a intellectual disability have a real voice in their Lives

Yours Sincerely
Shelly Gaynor