Urgent action is required to tackle the social crisis which stems from the continued marginalisation of people with a disability. There should be no barriers to inclusion and it is a political and moral duty of the State to enable and encourage in every way possible independent living for everyone with a disability. At a minimum, the State should recognise the additional financial cost of a disability. A glaring injustice is where a carer is precluded from availing of the carer's allowance if he or she receives another State benefit. It beggars belief that the mother caring for her child with a disability is not entitled to the carer's allowance if she becomes a widow and receives a widow's pension.