Ms Eliona Gjecaj:

I wish to add two points. Disability does not discriminate. It is me today; it could be you tomorrow. That way, we all have to put our strengths together to build an inclusive and accessible future, whether we are disabled or not.

On consultation, when I have engaged with different organisations or local or national government bodies, sometimes we are included at the very last stage of consultation or there is little window for change or our voice to be included and our highlighted changes be implemented in whatever is being reviewed or changed, such as an environmental change, a law or a policy.

As Nem Kearns said, we need to be included in every way in terms of consultation. For example, when there was a review of the domestic violence Act we needed to be included. We are women too and we are at higher risk of being subjected to violence. That is just one example. In reviews of health policies, we as disabled women and disabled people need to be at every table that is discussing policy change or change in practice. That was my other point. Again, it is in consultation; we are not a tick-box exercise. If we are to be included in discussions, we need to move beyond integration and have our voice included.

Finally, on resources, we disabled people know best what is best for us. Therefore, we are a resource of knowledge when people are changing policies, putting together laws or practices. Therefore our voices need to be included, to be heard and what we say integrated into the changes and not just seen as a tick-box or something that is to be included in the discussion to look good in the public eye.