REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF DOWN SYNDROME IRELAND
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF DOWN SYNDROME IRELAND ROYAL HOSPITAL KILMAINHAM
Dia dhíbh go léir inniu. Tá an-áthas orm bheith anseo libh ar an ócáid speisialta seo. Míle bhuíochas díbh as an gcuireadh agus an fáilte a thug sibh dom. What a great pleasure to be here today for this very special celebration. I'd particularly like to thank your President, Clare Leonard for inviting me to join you as you mark the 40th Anniversary of Down Syndrome Ireland, which since its foundation in 1971 has been busy finding ways to improve the lives of our Down Syndrome citizens so that nothing stands in the way of them reaching the full potential that is their civil and human right.
The establishment of Down Syndrome Ireland forty years ago marked a watershed in Irish society. It was a statement of intent that past practices and attitudes which had focused on the disabilities of Down Syndrome citizens to the virtual exclusion of their abilities were no longer acceptable. Today Ireland has thankfully witnessed a hugely positive change in how people with disabilities are viewed, how they view themselves and how they experience the fullness of life.
When Phil Coulter wrote the beautiful haunting song, “Scorn not his simplicity” he was pointing up not just the hurt and exclusion that can be experienced by a child with an intellectual disability who is trying to and anxious to interact easily with other children, he was also pointing up the considerable societal loss that comes from that exclusion - for it blinds us to the wasted talents, the stunningly perceptive take on life and issues that our brothers and sisters with intellectual disability often frame so unself-consciously, the spontaneity of their gift for friendship, goodness without guile and joy in life.
These forty years have seen a patient but relentless process of public education and re-education. It was an obstacle course and it took serious determined advocacy to move the many obstacles out of the way. Today we have a well-organised and high achieving disability sector which is seeing to it Irish citizens with disability have the choice, opportunity, respect and support needed to ensure their lives are the best they can be.
A civic culture that fosters respect, acceptance, integration and meaningful opportunity for all its citizens is more than merely our ambition. It is our mission, our imperative as a nation and Down Syndrome Ireland with its focus, experience and insight has been our sure-footed guide on the still unfinished journey towards full social inclusion. You are entitled to look back on the accomplishments of these forty years with genuine pride. Life expectancy for people with Down Syndrome has increased dramatically.
Services have developed beyond recognition with education, training, employment, independent living, social, political and sporting opportunities enriching lives to a degree not experienced by past generations. Expectations have been revolutionised. Many Downs Syndrome citizens are themselves trained advocates who articulate their own vision for themselves with passion and skill. Many have national and international successes to their credit whether as Olympians on the sportsfield or as recipients of educational qualifications they have earned the hard way or as award winning employees and much more, including the leadership roles played today by many people with Down Syndrome in this organisation itself.
In families, home and communities there are stories to be told of the huge contribution made to our lives, our hearts, our emotional intelligence and our thinking by our citizens with Down Syndrome. There was the massive surge of national pride we felt when we hosted the Special Olympic World Summer Games and experienced the phenomenal power of the solidarity that social integration and inclusion can inspire. We saw our Down Syndrome brothers and sisters as athletes, competitors, achievers and above all, whether winners or losers, as generous, caring friends for whom the taking part really was the most important thing. They were simply terrific ambassadors. In our own family we have had to suffer the annual Christmas ritual humiliation of twelve of us, with enough academic qualifications to paper the walls being soundly trounced at Trivial Pursuits by our Down Syndrome member. He wisely refuses to have any of us on his team and is singularly unimpressed by our ignorance of Premier League Soccer and popular television programmes on both of which he is a fast-to-the draw whiz while the rest of us dither helplessly.
The positive changes our disabled citizens have witnessed these past forty years are no end or destination but rather simply a beginning, a start along the road on the way to where we wish to be and intend to be. But today unlike forty years ago their voices are in the mainstream of civic discourse and they are shaping the future with their words. They are an important constituency and they have behind them the strength of this organization with 25 nationwide branches that represent over 3,000 families. Down Syndrome Ireland exists because of the love those families have for their children with Downs Syndrome, their faith in them and their commitment to an Ireland that offers the best quality of life possible to its Down Syndrome citizens. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of those people, some of whom are here today, whose generosity with their time and skill is the heartland, the very founding core of this organization. They are part of a corps of volunteers who invest in the civic spirit of this country on a daily basis and whose championing of the vulnerable is a crucial balancing resource for our society. They are the makers and builders of this thing we call community, the space we occupy as good neighbours rather than as uncaring strangers.
As patron of Down Syndrome Ireland, I’ve seen the wonderful, tireless work you have undertaken and will keep on undertaking to ensure the momentum towards a better future is maintained even during these times of economic retrenchment. Thank you to all those who contribute to improving the lives of individuals with Down Syndrome. We have come a huge journey in the past forty years and I wish you all every continued success in the future.
Comghairdeas libh agus go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.