'What happens when the children turn 18?'

A man, living with cerebral palsy, is among those supporting families of children with additional needs who are staging regular protests about the lack of services and therapies for children in Cavan.

Attending the last protest, Kevin Bravender asked: “What happens when the children turn 18?”

Speaking from experience, the 37 year old says therapies like Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech and Language (S&L) and Physiotherapy should not end once a child leaves the school system or turns 18.

“The government needs to remember that we don’t just fall off a cliff when we become adults,” Kevin told the Celt on the day of the protest.

Since then, the government launched its five-year plan on disability.

Driven by people with disabilities and their representative organisations, the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 makes a raft of all-government commitments to improve the lives of disabled people in Ireland.

According to the strategy, Ireland will realise the commitments of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by delivering on five things including inclusive learning and education; employment; independent living and active participation in society; health and wellbeing and transport and mobility.

While welcoming the improvements to be introduced over the next five years, Kevin says not enough is being done to help adults like him live independently.

He would like to see a centre for independent living in every county in Ireland similar to those already in place in Longford, Kinnegad and Donegal. He also thinks anyone who needs it should be able to avail of a Personal Assistant (PA) service.

When he worked for the council for a year, Kevin, who has a level six qualification in information, advice and advocacy, had an assistant to drive him to work and help him around home with duties like cooking and light housework.

When he was working 35 hours a week, Kevin suffered fatigue and all his benefits were paused. “Adults with disabilities should be allowed to work between 17 and 19 hours a week,” he asserts.

The government’s five-year plan does not go far enough in Kevin’s opinion, especially in the area of independent living.

Despite attending main-stream schools all his life, attaining a qualification, living in his own accommodation and holding down employment at different stages in his life, Kevin says he would still benefit from the therapies he got when he was a child.

His advice to the parents protesting again in Cavan town this week is to “try to maintain services for your child once you get them. You’re going to need the services more and more after your child turns 18”.

The organisers welcomed Kevin’s input, which gave parents food for thought.

“After all, our children are going to be adults one day and we need to know that they will be able to live a good life after we’re gone,” Serena Dawson said.