"We can't help the way we were born."
Protests to highlight the need for more services for children and adults with disabilities have been ongoing in Cavan Town, with the next one due to take place this Saturday.
Kevin Bravender, who has cerebral palsy and left-sided hemiplegia, has been in the adult disability service for 20 years now. He avails of a personal assistance service for 20 hours per week, which was originally supposed to be 35 hours.
The 38 year old is keen to highlight that disability "doesn't stop at 18".
Kevin explained his limbs on his left side "don't work the same" as his right, meaning his mobility is impaired while he has no use of his left wrist. Kevin attends appointments in Dublin, and requires help to get there; while he also needs assistance with things like shopping, cooking, and cleaning.
Kevin is also looking for employment, a search which has been unsuccessful to date. Speaking on his own experience, he said "there's not enough people in the service that understands your needs."
Looking at the parents standing with banners reading 'Waitlists are not services' and 'Failing our kids', the Cavan Town man said the protest is "something that shouldn't have to happen".
"Having a disability is nobody's fault, it just happens. Sometimes you're made to feel like it's your fault when you are looking for services and you have to fight for them.
"I hope the sector gets stronger for disabled people and that our needs are met.
"We can't help the way we were born and the services should reflect that."
Ciara Clarke was at one of the recent protests. She believes therapists should be meeting with children, instead of providing courses for parents.
"What is the point in me coming, when it's my child that needs the help?" she asked.
Her son Jayden, who has autism, has been waiting three years for Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), and psychology appointments. The six year old is under the care of Enable Ireland and Primary Care.
The mum of two said the process is "emotionally draining".
"We are not professionals; we don't know what we are doing," she said.
She said the situation causes her anxiety, and also guilt that her younger daughter "doesn't get a look in".
"I have to focus on Jayden all the time and it's sad too."
"This is what waiting lists do to families," Rachel Kearns, one of the protest organisers added.
Meanwhile, fellow organiser Serena Dawson criticised that "you're asked what your child's needs are" for Enable Ireland's Individual Family Support Plan.
"I have responded so many times that I do not know. I am not an occupational therapist; I'm not a speech and language therapist. I don't know what their needs are."
By going the private route, Serena's son was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and developmental coordination disorder, which the family did not know about before the diagnosis.
"This just shows that asking parents what your child's needs are doesn't work.
"My son should have had this diagnosis a lot sooner but didn't get it because he wasn't seen.
"I think parent courses have a place but they can't be everything.
"We don't know how to help because they never taught us," she said, describing how the courses are "so universal".
"You can’t have plans for children you have never met that have been diagnosed three years ago, they should be the ones telling us what help we can get, and what help they offer, not us asking for specific help when we don't know what we are looking for."
Over 200 on waitlists
Speaking on waitlists for the Cavan area, a spokesperson from Enable Ireland said that as of May 2026, there were 620 children assigned to the CDNT, with 394 children in the service and 226 are on the waitlist for this service.
"Children on the waitlist are offered and participate in individual and group intervention appointments while they are waiting to become active in the service. During May, we provided differing levels of intervention to 54 children on the waitlist. We anticipate that during the second half of this year we will further reduce the waitlist."
The spokesperson continued: "Waitlists for services result from a growing demand for children’s services linked to population growth combined with specific workforce shortages in key disciplines like speech and language therapy and psychology in the Cavan area.
"We are actively working on the waitlist and are endeavouring to give clearer timelines to families. We continue to work on recruitment campaigns to fill vacancies."
The HSE have also been contacted for comment, however did not respond within the timeframe given.
Another protest to highlight the lack of disability services in Cavan will take place this Saturday, July 11 at 10am at Cavan Courthouse. They will protest for timely access to assessments and therapies, adequate support for children and adults with disabilities, proper funding and staffing of services and equal access to care and support in Cavan.