Sir, - It was very pleasing to, see that Kevin Myers saw fit to write about the report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities on December 7th, as it is extremely important that the work of the commission becomes widely known across all areas of our society. I feel, however, that Mr Myers's contribution to the debate was flawed in that he made that very common error among able-bodied people of putting himself forward as knowing what people with disabilities need.
As a researcher who had responsibility for analysing the hundreds, of submissions made to the commission, and as the author of people with significant physical, disabilities, I would argue strongly that we must listen to what people with disabilities are saying about their various requirements and aspirations. The Commission of the Status of People with Disabilities has sought out the views of people with disabilities in a very systematic way, and its recommendations must be viewed in this most laudable light. - Yours, etc.,
Tramore, Co Waterford.