19 Stories of Social Inclusion Ireland: Stories of Belonging, Contributing and Connecting

Abstract

Irish disability policy, in line with international treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), aims to support people with intellectual disabilities to live included lives in their community. Despite this, people with intellectual disabilities are far more likely to experience social exclusion than non-disabled people. However, there are also people with intellectual disabilities taking part in their communities and living ordinary lives all over Ireland. The aim of this research is to let people hear their stories and to show that it is possible for people with intellectual disabilities to live socially included lives in communities. This research is inspired by the ’19 Stories of Social Inclusion’ project carried out in Australia. Its approach was to start with the ‘success stories’ and work backwards to find out how people have created socially included lives for themselves. This report is accompanied by an easy to read report of the research as well as a series of stories, some told through video, some through images and text, hosted on the Inclusion Ireland website. The dissemination of the participants’ stories by accessible means aims to support people with intellectual disabilities and families to contribute to bringing about greater levels of social inclusion. Taken together, the report and stories demonstrate what successful implementation of Article 19 of the UNCRPD looks like.