Cork's Joanne O’Riordan seeks transformation of care model for disability

A transformation of the care model for disabled people from the traditional medical model, which sees disability as a societal problem, to a social model which focuses on removing barriers and promoting inclusion.

That is the main message of a comprehensive manifesto prepared by Cork activist and journalist Joanne O’Riordan, and presented to Mary Lou McDonald during the Sinn Féin leader’s visit to Millstreet this week.

The 17-page document, prepared by Ms O’Riordan in co-operation with other legal and disability experts, outlines specific reforms to home-care systems, disability benefits, caregiver support, and employment opportunities.

According to its author, it draws inspiration from Scandivaian models and emphasises the importance of accessibility, autonomy, and financial security for people with disabilities — while promoting inclusive policies and practices across all sectors of society.

“Scandinavian countries have pioneered inclusive, high-quality home-care systems for people with disabilities,” said Ms O’Riordan in the introduction to the document, which sets as its first objective the introduction of individualised service plans. Based on what is in use in Denmark, these plans are tailored to each person’s unique needs, preferences, and goals.

The Norwegian approach of ‘user-controlled personal assistance’ means clients are given more control over their support.

The document proposes: “Clients can hire, train, and manage their caregivers, promoting autonomy and customised care.

“Governments can allocate funding directly to clients to ensure they have choice and flexibility in hiring personal care assistants.

“I would like to see a transformation in the living care situation,” said Ms O’Riordan. “Means-testing for care is a big one.

“Because I now have access to care independently, my mother’s carer’s allowance has been taken off her because she’s deemed to not care for me long enough.

“I wonder how, after 3pm, do I magically grow limbs and live an independent life.”

Ms O’Riordan said she would like to see an overall transformation in how disability is treated. “We’re obsessed with treating disability instead of looking at society and fixing society to get everyone involved,” she said.

The Sinn Féin leader described those views as “common sense” and said she would study the document in more detail. “We have made a commitment on ending the means test for carer’s allowance, so that’s long overdue,” she said. 

“We need a revolution in how we think about this and disabled people need to be at the heart of that.”