Nem Kearns:

There are some other factors. Shifting from the mindset of charity to rights is hugely important. That is what all of us here, including committee members, are here to do - to implement the UNCRPD and move to a rights-based approach across all of society. Much of this language is really unhelpful. My sibling works with children in a gender-based violence refuge. When they get an intake form that states this child is special needs, that is very dehumanising and does not tell them how to support that child. They have no idea from that phrase what that child needs and struggles with. The language is also preventing people from being able to support and meet the needs of the individual so we want to see it move towards individualised supports.

Regarding assisted human reproduction, this is massively important and it is so great to see that the Senator is also really passionate about it. It is such an important and nuanced topic that I could not do it justice here. It is something on which we would very much like to follow up with the Senator. In case members did not see it, we provided the Reproductive Justice Project final report as an attachment to our submission for today. It is a fantastic report from a final project that looks at all aspects of parenting, reproduction and access to maternity services for everybody and is a very good starting point. I recommend that the Centre for Disability Law and Policy in NUIG is closely consulted with. Selina Bonnie is someone who is doing fantastic work-----