Celebrating the International Day for Persons with Disabilities 2011
On Friday 2nd December the four disability study and research centres on the island of Ireland came together to mark the International Day for Persons with Disabilities 2011. The UCD Centre for Disability Studies joined with the Centre for Disability Policy & Law at NUIG, the Centre for Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities at UU, and the National Institution for Intellectual Disability at TCD, to host an event that considered how research and academia could influence and be influenced by disability policy and practice and the lived experiences of people with disabilities.
The event was chaired by Martin Naughton, Áiseanna Tacaíochta and Co-Executive Director of the European Network of Independent Living. Martin welcomed the attendees and introduced the keynote speaker for the event, Dr Anna Lawson from the School of Law at the University of Leeds. Anna gave a very thoughtful presentation entitled The Ivory Tower and the Real World: Academia and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in which she reflected on the extent to which academics could play a role in the impact of the Convention.
Dr Lawson addressing the event in Trinity’s Long Room Hub
Dr Lawson’s talk was followed by equally thought provoking presentations by Professor Patricia Noonan Walsh Professor Emeritus of Disability Studies at University College Dublin on the opportunities for and of a career in disability research and Eithne Fitzgerald Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the National Disability Authority on the need for, and benefits of, research that informs policy in the disability area. The final speaker of the afternoon was Professor Gerard Quinn, Director the Centre of Disability Law and Policy at NUI Galway, who spoke of the potential contribution and nature of a Disability Studies Association of Ireland.
Representatives of the four disability centres pictured with the events Chair and speakers
The event was very well attended, filling the room in the Long Room Hub at TCD almost to capacity. Attendees included academics, practitioners, disability advocates, and representatives from many of the disability organisations in Ireland. The audience’s interest in and passion for the topic was evident during the final discussion, which was chaired by Martin Naughton once again.
Copies of the presentations are available below:
Prof. Noonan Walsh’s presentation
Eithne Fitzgerald’s presentation
National and International Activities
St Michael’s House - St Michael’s House is one of the largest providers of services for people with an intellectual disability in Ireland. A collaborative Teaching & Research Partnership exists between St Michael's House Research Department and the UCD Centre for Disability Studies at the UCD School of Psychology. This is the first time in Ireland an organisation providing services for people with disabilities has entered into an ongoing partnership with a university for research purposes.
National Federation of Voluntary Bodies in Ireland - The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies is an umbrella organisation for voluntary/non-statutory agencies that provide direct services to people with intellectual disability in Ireland. There are 62 Member Organisations providing services to 22,000 people with intellectual disability and their families in the Republic of Ireland. Staff and associates of the Centre for Disability studies work with the Federation in a number of key roles.
International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities - The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities is an international and interdisciplinary organization that promotes research and exchange of information on intellectual disabilities. The Centre for Disability Studies is formally associated with IASSID.