Ms Maureen McGovern:

I do. I will give the members a mishmash because I am hearing lots of stuff. I would love to be among them having a cup of tea and a chat because the lived experience of disabled women is very important.

On the question of institutionalisation, please do not forget the disabled women who were institutionalised in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. I was one of those women. I was institutionalised for 12 years and it was very difficult to come into an open society. We need to look after those women also.

I would welcome the idea of disabled people being on every single board but it is very important that resources are put in because it is all about money. We live in a society that rejects us so we need to ensure that funding is put in place.

With regard to mental health, because of attitudinal reasons and our built environment it was very difficult for me as a disabled woman, and for other disabled women, to participate fully in any part of society. When one cannot participate perhaps due to access or attitudinal reasons, lack of resources or whatever the issue might be, that comes back on one like a mirror. I felt that I was really not wanted in my society and when that is coming back to one all the time, that is difficult to deal with at times. It is about ensuring that we build an environment that is fully accessible to every single person within our land. That is important. Universal access is very important.

I will make one more point around hoists. I experienced this issue quite recently. I was looking for a hoist to attend an appointment. Although I had telephoned the hospital to say that I needed a hoist there was no hoist to meet me. I had to leave the hospital to get another appointment when a hoist was available. I should not have to do that. No disabled woman should have to do that.