Dempsey criticised on term 'impairment'

Dáil Committee: The term "impairment" is an outdated label and should not be used to define the disabilities of children, Fine Gael TDs told the Dáil Committee on the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill yesterday.

Mr David Stanton, said he was disappointed that the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, was using an "impairment model" for addressing the educational issues of people with disabilities under the Bill, rather than a needs-based model.

Mr Dempsey's definition of educational disability "focuses on the negative when we need to focus on the needs of people," Mr Stanton said. The use of the term "educational disability" in the Bill was in itself inappropriate, he added, as people with physical disabilities, "took umbrage" with it.

Mr Stanton, along with party colleague Ms Olwyn Enright and Green Party education spokesman, Mr Paul Gogarty, supported using the wording of the 1998 Education Act which gives a precise medical definition of disability. Mr Dempsey said he did not find the Education Act definition acceptable.

He said he intended to change the wording of the Act and would not use it in the forthcoming Bill. The idea that a disability was a child's fault, "went out with the Bible many years ago," he said. The Bill was geared towards people with disabilities who needed extra assistance in developing their full potential.

Labour Party education spokeswoman, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, proposed that the term "learning disability" be added to the definition, so children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, or attention deficit disorders were not excluded.

Mr Dempsey said he wanted to use the broadest definition, "to assist anyone who has needs". He said to accept the amendments could lead to an unacceptable dilution of the services available. He proposed amending the definition of educational disability to include, "any impairment of the capacity to learn that may be prescribed from time to time". This would allow any minister for education to include under the Act conditions which may arise in the future. The amendment was carried.