Marianne O'Malley remembers how last year's Special Olympics brought the question of disability to the fore but asks where we have gone from there?
A year later and the very real and indisputable legacy of the Special Olympics World Games 2003 in Ireland is evident throughout the State.
Inspired and motivated by their peers - the national and international athletes - the number of people with an intellectual disability in Ireland becoming involved with Special Olympics Ireland has already nearly doubled. And, as part of its four-year strategy entitled A Place for Everyone! Special Olympics Ireland is working to ensure there is the support to sustain its services to these athletes, their families, their volunteers and in their local communities.
One of these local communities is Baltinglass in Co Wicklow and the Lalor Centre, a branch of the KARE network of service providers to people with an intellectual disability, is at the hub of community life. Ros Telford, national coach to the Irish equestrian team in the Special Olympic World Games 2003, is hard at work. As team-leader in the recently completed equestrian facilities at the centre, each week she and a brigade of dedicated volunteers coach more than 70 athletes to develop their riding skills. "Since the games the service-users are really keen to participate in the whole Special Olympic experience. And the support we receive from Special Olympics Ireland is absolutely phenomenal."
Sisters Julia and Patricia O'Neill are two of these athletes. These are busy women who take their work with Quinn's of Baltinglass very seriously. But the experience of being involved with the host town programme for Seychelles and supporting the Irish team in equestrian events during the games has spurred them to train and compete.
"We know we mightn't be good enough for the Irish team - although we did win medals at the Leinster trials last month. But it's great fun and we're meeting loads of people and it's important to learn to ride properly and have a good social life," they said.
The centre manager, Mary Keogh, appreciates all the benefits Special Olympics involvement offers her clients: "It's fantastic how it enriches their lives. Our centre tries to facilitate each client to plan their own future incorporating their hopes, talents and aspirations - this is called Person Centred Planning \. To achieve this, we have PCP meetings with each client and their individual support network. Usually that would include family, friends, staff, employers and volunteers. In fact, anyone the client wants to invite along is welcome to participate. Since the Special Olympics last year a large number of our clients in their PCP meetings have had the confidence to expand their lives and even dream of representing their country.
"We now have athletes training for 10-pin bowling, golf, swimming, athletics and, of course, equestrian events. It's wonderful, but it wouldn't be possible to do this without all the volunteers who came on board last year," Keogh says.
Mary Davis, national director of Special Olympics Ireland, verifies that the experience in Baltinglass is replicated throughout the State. She says: "I'm run off my feet visiting centres and communities around the country who want to start or extend their Special Olympic programme. They are determined to maintain and develop their participation."
But what of the criticisms levelled by a recent opinion poll that claims the Special Olympics last summer has had no lasting impact in terms of making disability a key political issue in Ireland?
Davis says: "I'm certainly disappointed that a rights-based Disability Bill was not passed during 2003 - it would have been the icing on the cake. But I'm hopeful that it won't be delayed for too much longer. However, I'm convinced that the Special Olympics in Ireland last summer contributed enormously to raising awareness of the issues surrounding disability in Ireland. And, as just one of the many organisations working towards achieving equality and integration for our disabled community, I'm satisfied that we have made a difference, and will continue to do so."
Angela Kerins, chairperson of the National Disability Authority, says: "As the single largest event in Europe throughout the European Year of People with Disability [EYPD\], the Special Olympics World Summer Games was seminal in helping to raise awareness and a positive attitude towards people with disabilities in Ireland.
"And it has been proved independently. The EU commissioned a European-wide survey on attitudes and awareness following the EYPD 2003. The Eurobarometer was published in February 2004 and Ireland achieved a staggering 73 per cent awareness rating compared with a European average of 33 per cent. That is a fantastic success for all of us and shows that when the various strands of the disability sector work together, it is a powerful force for change. The real challenge for the disability sector now is to keep society interested, aware and focused on these issues."
Many of those volunteers who became an integral part of the Special Olympics are still interested, aware and focused and have motivated others to participate.
Brian O'Donnell, chief executive of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, has seen an increase in the number of volunteers involved with the service-providers his organisation represents.
However, his is another of the many voices campaigning for change. He says: "What we urgently need is a long-term commitment by our Government to funding strategic service provision. Proper planning will prevent future crises. The expertise, personnel and motivation is there. All we need now is that commitment from our Government."
He is also concerned by the repeated delays in publishing the Disability Bill: "We were all delighted when the Government announced that they were actively considering a rights-based Disability Bill but with all the delays, that hope and expectation is diminishing and people are becoming disillusioned."
Along with the life-affirming stories and widespread jubilation surrounding the Special Olympic World Games, there were uncomfortable questions raised about our treatment of people with disabilities in Ireland. Briefly, we were forced to confront the hardship and inequality faced by many in the broad community of people. This led to a national outcry for the long-delayed rights-based Disability Bill. We are still awaiting its publication.
Marianne O'Malley is a freelance journalist, who specialises in disability issues and reported on the Special Olympics. She has a son with disabilities.