Ms Fiona Weldon:

I am worried that we are not addressing the issue that disability is a negative term. Being defined as disabled, whether by non-disabled people or disabled people, is very negative, which is not okay. Disabled people can disable their own self-belief. We grow up in Ireland with negative thinking about being different, not being the same and not being equal. We need to address that. We need to empower disabled people, including disabled women, because we are at the margins, being defined as disabled people.

The issue of sexual violence is stark. In my experience, many disabled women and some disabled men have experienced it, but it is not discussed or talked about. It is as if they say that they are disabled and this is part and parcel of life as a disabled person.

Some 80% of disabled people do not have any meaningful employment. Why is that okay? Why is it okay that they need to go to resource centres and day activation services? Why is it okay that they do not participate in the normal rhythms of life? That is not okay. We are talking about people without people.