Ms Finola Cassidy:

Ms Browne covered the overall issues but I would point to a specific one. Members of the committee would all be aware of the requirements to qualify for primary medical certificate to qualify as a disabled driver. The wording of the primary medical certificate is specific. To qualify for the certificate the applicant must not have the whole use of one hand, arm or leg. As a result of the variety of disability in the arms of our members, ridiculously, we cannot say their whole arm is missing, but given how catastrophically disabled their arms are, it would be ludicrous such an applicant would fail to qualify for the primary medical certificate to enable them qualify as a disabled driver. The simple provision of small adaptions or being able to purchase an automatic car, which our members could drive with their arms, is such a basic simple need. When I used to drive a manual car, my good arm had to cross over the my body to lift the parking brake, etc. It was a game changer to qualify to become a disabled driver. I have helped other members complete an application to qualify for the primary medical certificate and it is a simple process, but their applications have been refused because, technically, they have two arms and account is not taken of how disabled those arms are. The simple provision of that certificate would be a game changer for this small group of people.

The county councils award grants for house adaptions. Due to the lack of funding in county councils throughout the country, we have almost no evidence of any thalidomide survivor qualifying for some of those grants. In fairness to the Department of Health, there are attempts to help with certain provisions. Some of us have got a few items. However, there are ludicrous situations, for example, where somebody with virtually no arms or with little fingers from their shoulders are getting some house adaptions to use motorised aids similar to a television remote control which they could use with their teeth and some of their fingers, for example, to open and close curtains or blinds. We have a case where the blind was approved but the material in the blind was not. The silliness of the minutiae of the daily living in the applications to be made and the fights and struggles become really tiresome when our members are physically not well and in pain. Sometimes for our members it is easier just not to ask because the fear of refusal and being declined is wearying and we have experienced it for years. As Ms Browne said, if we were listened to, we have very simple solutions to many of our needs. They would be able to be taken off the list so simply.