Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-02-Speech-2-292"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-09-02"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:The rights and dignity of disabled people2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20030902.11.2-292"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-09-02-Speech-2-2932
lpv:speaker	lp:Patricia McKENNA2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, it is extremely important that we have a legally-binding convention on the issue of people with disabilities. Legislation is necessary which not only protects the rights of people with disabilities but also ensures that people with disabilities are provided with support and structures that will allow them to participate on an equal footing in all aspects of life. The best-placed people to do this and present what is needed are people with disabilities themselves. We have to be very careful about telling people with disabilities what they need and what we can do for them. Unless you are a person with a disability, you do not know what is necessary to allow you to participate in society on an equal footing. It is very good to see people here tonight providing sign language. This should not only be for tonight: it should be looked at on an ongoing basis. We also need to look at how people are educated. We need to ensure that education is fully integrated and allows people with disabilities not to be segregated, but to be educated along with everyone else. There is a tendency when we speak about disability to provide certain services for people with disabilities, but to segregate them. We should look at sign language, at Braille, at all these things that are necessary and allow them to be part of the educational curriculum in all the Member States. People should not have to go to special places to be educated or to participate. This is extremely important. Mr Howitt mentioned the Commission and its commitment to bringing forward a directive by the end of the year. In the year of disabilities, it is not enough to say we are going to do a lot and then at the end of this year forget all about it and go along as normal. We need to have something at the end that we can be proud of, to allow people to participate in society. We need a broad perspective, not one which focuses only on accessibility in education. This needs to be done in relation to disabled people themselves. On that final point, I would like to say that the Centre for Independent Living, which is based in Ireland, is bringing a delegation from all over Europe for the second part-session here in September. There is going to be a special intergroup which will be meeting with people with disabilities. They will be telling us exactly what they want and what they would like to see brought forward. This will be a great opportunity. Everybody interested in the issue should come along and listen to people outlining what they want. They are the people who are best-placed to do so. We have to listen and allow them to make the decisions, we should not make decisions for them."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member; G/EFA (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Green Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; PECH (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; Delegation for relations with the Member States of ASEAN, south-east Asia and the Republic of Korea (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"McKenna (Verts/ALE )."1

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