Neglect of the disabled is being institutionalised by the State, the rights campaigner, Ms Kathy Sinnott told a protest meeting outside Leinster House yesterday.
Ms Sinnott, who has taken the State to court for failing to provide an education for her autistic adult son, Jamie, said the situation for disabled people in the State was "at a crisis".
"It's not just about not enough money. People and families are suffering in ways that are quite astounding in a developed country," she said.
Ms Sinnott joined hundreds of families of people with intellectual disabilities in a Daíl protest against cuts in services yesterday organised by NAMHI, a national body representing people with intellectual disabilities.
A letter of protest was handed into the Taoiseach's Office calling for a publication of a rights-based disability bill. The demonstrators also want €35 million in urgent funding to meet shortfalls in services for people with intellectual disabilities this year.
The rally was attended by members of disability groups, along with a Special Olympics participant, Ms Deirdre Spain, who has autism.
Her mother, Ms Jean Spain, said the purpose of the demonstration was "to get more funding and a rights-based disability Bill".
"I feel that if people had rights that we wouldn't have to be out on the streets again. If the funding came with the person and they had the right to have the funding from the cradle to the grave, we wouldn't be here on these protests."
Ms Spain said that some 1,711 people with intellectual disabilities were currently waiting on residential care, with a further 452 people inappropriately placed with psychiatric services.
Several opposition TDs attended the demonstration, including the Dublin North-Central Independent TD, Mr Finian McGrath, whose daughter has a disability.
Mr McGrath challenged the Government to discuss discrimination against the disabled when ministers meet the former South African president, Mr Nelson Mandela, who will officially open the Special Olympics this month.