Inclusion Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Inclusion Ireland

Date published 21 Jan, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Communications

Period 1 Sep, 2022 to 31 Dec, 2022

Specific Details Invitation to Inclusion Ireland Alternative and Augmentative Communication event on 19th October

Intended results that the minister would attend and speak at the event

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Derval McDonagh

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

Dear Minister Rabbitte, I would like to invite you to an Inclusion Ireland event on October 19th entitled ” Access to inclusive communication as a human right”. The seminar will run from 10am-1pm in the Spencer hotel, all going well with Covid guidelines at that time. We were hoping you might be able to give an opening address. The event will bring together individuals who use alternative and augmentative means of communication (including assistive technology), family members, human rights experts and policy makers as well as leaders in alternative communication. Our plan is to develop a “pathway” towards the recognition of AAC as a fundamental human right . We are seeing the direct impact on children and adults when they do not have access to a means of communication; the result can be devastating . The lack of access can also result in individuals seeking supports which are outdated and not focused on human rights. We also see the flip side; when people’s mode of communicatio

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Anne Rabbitte Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)