Ms Selina Bonnie:

I have many different stories. I have heard from many different disabled parents stories of when their child was born how, for example, the public health nurse was overly protective and they would almost have to prove themselves to be capable of being a parent and to be a capable parent. There was a strong presumption there that because they were disabled persons they would be incapable of being an effective and safe parent. There is also a huge problem with the parental capacity assessments many disabled mothers, in particular, are expected to go through if there is any concern that there may be an issue around child welfare. Often this presumption is made by the authorities before the child is even born. There is an expectation the mother is going to fail as a parent. What happens is rather than being assessed in their usual environment or community, where they are going to actually raise their child, they are lifted out into an artificial situation where they must live somewhere they have never been before.

They are lifted into an artificial situation where they have to live somewhere they have never been before. They are monitored almost 24-7. As a disabled person, I am more able within my own environment, which has been designed to meet my abilities, than I am when I am away from my own environment. I can understand how one would be more likely to be considered to be failing in one's abilities when lifted out of one's usual environment. People face these difficulties. One colleague in the disabled people's movement is also a disabled mother and wheelchair user. The psychological trauma she went through as a young mother because of the oversolicitous attention of the local professionals took a long-term toll on her mental health and ability as a parent and mother, because of the stress that created. She is a wonderful mother, raising a wonderful daughter in a loving, stable relationship. This is not a unique situation. The "Re(al) Productive Justice" research project in NUI Galway has documented some of these issues. There is substantial information there if the committee would like to find out more or if it would like me to send more information.