Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Widen participation is right. This is probably the last time that the six Members of our Technical Group will all be present in the House to speak on legislation. I acknowledge Senator Grace O'Sullivan on this last occasion of us working as a team, in this House at least. I thank the Minister of State for his attendance.

I congratulate Senator Dolan, his office staff and the advocates involved on bringing the Bill forward. It is well drafted and thought-out cross-departmental legislation that will have a real impact on the lives of people with a disability and their families. Cross-departmental thinking and implementation of policy is key to ensuring our cities and society are universally accessible. We must move from the current situation whereby people with a disability must adapt to the environment around them to an inclusive mindset and design whereby our cities adapt to all citizens. Each section of the Bill makes a giant stride towards that accessibility.

As Senator Dolan outlined the Bill in detail, I will focus on two parts of it. One is the section which seeks to provide for changing places. Quite simply, toilets and changing facilities that meet the needs of our citizens are a basic human need. There is so much we take for granted, such as trips to the local shopping centre or the cinema. Most of us will never have to consider what we will do if we need to use the bathroom while we are out. However, access to what we consider normal everyday life is curbed by the lack of accessible changing places for many looking to enjoy a day out in their communities with their families. Imagine only being able to leave the house for as long as one - or one's child - can hold one's bladder, and the panic of trying to get home in time to use the bathroom or changing facilities. Everyone should and can be an active citizen and participate fully in their lives, society and community. We have the opportunity through this legislation to move from the mere promotion of participation to the reality of participation of all within a community. At a briefing in the audiovisual room yesterday, I was struck by the contribution of a person who stated that their only choice was to leave their child completely soiled or to change them on a bathroom floor. That is no choice at all.

As a mother, when my daughters were young many of our days were spent at the playground. Several times a week, especially during the summer months, we spent hours in a playground. Often, the playgrounds were covered with pebbles beneath our feet. At the time, I gave no thought to the impact that would have on others, but I remember the sweat and tears involved in dragging a light pram across the pebbles. I now think of the families who are expected to be able to bring their children into playgrounds that have wood chippings or pebbles. I hate to think of a situation whereby one of my girls would be completely excluded from play as a result of a lack of universal design in her surroundings. Play is a key part of a child’s development and that includes the falls and tears that happen, as kids learn on a day out at a playground. Most children progress from swings into which they are locked to big kids' swings where they have to hold on tight. Our play should only ever be impacted on by our age, but kids living with a disability have their play impacted by far more than that. Through the Bill, we have an opportunity to ensure as a society that we are not impacting on a child’s development and that relationships with other kids are not affected by not moving forward quickly with universally accessible design of our play areas.