Plea to take part in draft Sligo Disability Plan

The Chairman of Sligo County Council’s Disability Consultative Committee, Cllr Declan Bree, has issued an appeal to members of the public to participate in the consultative process relating to the draft Sligo Disability Implementation Plan 2019-2022 which goes out to public consultation this week.

Speaking to ‘ The Sligo Champion Cllr Bree said “The most recent census figures show that 9,577 people, or 13.50% of the population of county Sligo, indicated that they had a disability

“In the context of the recent ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the publication of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 – 2021, the County Council’s Disability Consultative Committee reviewed and updated the Disability Implementation Plan 2008 -2015.

“The draft was approved at the December meeting of the Council for the purpose of public consultation and submissions will be accepted from the public up until the 11 th of January 2019,” he said. He added: “Our Committee acknowledge the progress achieved in addressing access issues under the outgoing Plan, particularly physical access, however we are advocating a broader approach in the revised plan, reflecting the Social Model of disability.

“This model says that disability is caused by the way society is organised, rather than by a person’s impairment or difference. It looks at ways of removing barriers that restrict life choices for disabled people.”