We are individuals with significant disability who share one thing in common. We all live in the community with the assistance of Personal Assistance (PA). We call ourselves Leaders, because we are leading the way to a quality way of life in the community, as equal members of society. This is in contrast to what preceded us, which was institutional and residential care for disabled people. Some of
us were in institutional care as children and as adults. We are of all ages, single, married, parents, workers. We are from all parts of Ireland, from Cork to Donegal, from Waterford to Louth. When we say we have significant disability, that is to say that we need assistance in order to engage in the daily activities of living, getting out of bed, getting dressed, assistance with meals, mobility, shopping, working, looking after children etc. Some of us have impaired speech, visually impaired or hearing impaired. This is in addition to physical disability. Although we all live in the community, some quite remotely in rural locations, we have come together under the umbrella of a Leaders Alliance. We will not be silent victims of the government slash and burn of our frontline services.
