April 2008

ATTITUDES SURVEY RESULTS UNVEILED AT INCLUSION IRELAND AGM

• 63% believe people with an intellectual disability are treated worse than others in society
• 97% believe they have a right to all health and education services recommended by an independent assessment of need;
• 88% believe they have the right to attend their local primary school;

 

Inclusion Ireland CEO Deirdre Carroll today unveiled findings from a national poll commissioned by Inclusion Ireland, which show overwhelming positive public attitudes towards people with an intellectual disability. On the second day of the Inclusion Ireland 2008 AGM in Tullamore, the theme of which is ‘Is it Getting Better for People with an Intellectual Disability?’, Deirdre Carroll presented findings that show the public believe people with an intellectual disability are not treated as well as others in society, but have a lot to contribute. It also shows that those polled want greater inclusion, as massive majorities believe people with an intellectual disability have the right to attend their local schools, should be given the opportunity to work and should be able to live as normal a life as possible. Speaking with regard to the dire lack of therapy services that was raised many times at the AGM, CEO Deirdre Carroll points to findings from the poll that show 97% of those polled believe people with an intellectual disability have the right to all health and education services recommended by an independent assessment of need:“The Disability Act 2005 was not the rights based piece of legislation people with disabilities and their families wanted, and the Government said granting such rights would put an unqualified duty on the State to provide services. It was argued that the disabled wanted ‘superior rights’ to other groups and that money would have to be taken from cancer services and services for the elderly if people with disabilities were granted rights to these services. The results from this poll show that the public do not believe these are rights which can be taken away, but are rather rights that should be automatic.

“These findings highlight the public’s support for people with an intellectual disability. The Government now needs to show their support by ensuring that people with an intellectual disability have the opportunity to contribute to society and have the right to live and participate in their community with equal rights as citizens to live the life of their choice to their fullest potential.”

That poll shows the following:

• Nearly two thirds of those polled (63%) believe people with an intellectual disability are treated worse than others in society;
• 94% believe people with an intellectual disability can contribute to society, with the majority (54%) saying they can contribute a lot;
• 98% believe they should have the opportunity to live as normal a life as possible;
• 87% agree people with an intellectual disability have the right to vote;
• 85% believe they have the right to live independently if they choose;
• 80% believe they have the right to marry;
• 76% believe they have the right to manage their own money;
• 97% believe they should have the opportunity to work;
• 96% believe they have the right to an independent assessment of need;
• 97% believe they have a right to all health and education services recommended by an independent assessment;
• 88% believe they have the right to attend their local primary school;
• 86% believe they have the right to attend their local secondary school;

 [The nationally representative poll of 1,000 adults aged 15+ was conducted by Behaviour & Attitudes Marketing Research via telephone in March 2008 and fully adhered to ESOMAR guidelines.]

CLICK HERE for Powerpoint Presentation of poll results

 

 

 

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