REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE BRAY CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE BRAY CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING ON FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER, 1998
Firstly, I’d like to say how delighted I am to have been invited to be with you today for this landmark occasion for the Bray Centre for independent Living. I am very grateful to you for the very warm welcome – and I’d particularly like to thank Luke Sterling for the lovely flowers presented to me as I arrived.
I know that today marks a major achievement for you – the realisation of a dream that you could have a centre in Bray that empowers people with disability to play a full part in the society and community in which they live. I know too that what you have achieved is as a result of a great deal of determination and self belief - a willingness and drive to get what you want on your terms rather than on somebody else’s. In doing that you have quite rightly called on the support and assistance of a number of organisations such as the Bray Partnership – the Bank of Ireland – Bray Lions Club – Lake Communications - FÁS – and Dell Computer Corporation. In that process you have worked in a constructive partnership which recognises that each has a specific role to play in the overall project – and that nobody involved in bringing this to fruition was expected to do everything.
That concept of partnership is in a sense a reflection of the Independent Living philosophy which is transforming the lives of many disabled people – in recognising that nobody is omnipotent – that nobody should be expected to do everything that everybody else does – and in giving them the confidence to accept that each of us has our unique limitations – but with our own talents and abilities – and that the way to address those constraints is to seek assistance. It recognises that just because we can’t do certain things so well that we should not be any less entitled or capable of participating fully in society – and that we should not have to fit somebody else’s ideal of how we should be.
That philosophy represents a totally different perspective on the way people with disabilities can and should be seen. It is predicated on the belief that those most qualified to determine what people need are ultimately the people themselves. But to make that realisation – that change in mindset from one of confirmed dependency to one of self-belief and confidence in what you can do – in what you need to do it – and how it should be done – requires encouragement and guidance. For many people that shift in thinking represents a major leap forward – opening the doors and windows to an enriched life with restored self-esteem and a healthy thirst for living. The Bray Centre for Independent Living – like the seventeen other Centres throughout the country – is now providing that very valuable service – and I want to pay a tribute to the commitment and drive of Directors of the Centre – and to Niall Lynch – who originally ran the Centre from his house.
I said earlier that today marks the achievement of a goal – and is the realisation of a dream. But today is also a stepping point for the future – from where the Independent Living philosophy can be further promoted to reach out to more and more disabled people – and to bring new light and opportunity to many others who can transform their lives in this approach. An achievement such as you have here in Bray is itself an encouragement to go on to greater achievements – and to continue with the mission of enablement and empowerment through the Personal Assistance programme - providing the means to people for living a self-determined and independent life. I know that you have ideas on how to extend the concept of consumer-controlled assistance and on what is required to provide a secure service. I have every confidence in your ability to pursue your goals vigorously and determinedly – and I wish you well in your future work in this area.
In launching the Centre – I also want to pay a special tribute to the people who work with and for the Centre – especially the twelve Personal Assistants who themselves have ‘bought in’ to the concept and will be important role models for others to work as PA’s for disabled people.
ENDS