GenCare: Intergenerational Explorations of Care and Support for Disabled People In Ireland

Many disabled people will need access to care and support to live their lives including personal and intimate care, supported decision making, general healthcare and support to navigate community-based services. Until recently the concept of care was rejected by the disabled people’s movement due to its positioning of those requiring care as passive recipients and dependent. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities disabled people have a right to live in the community with access to care and support on an equal basis to others. States must also provide them with access to support to make decisions. In Ireland, a referendum on the family and care, legislative developments, and the impact of COVID-19 have re-ignited discussions on care. However, many disabled people, particularly young disabled people, have been marginalised in this debate. This research will take an innovative approach to address this working with young disabled co-researchers to complete an intergenerational, cross-disability exploration of care and support with disabled people in Ireland. It seeks to document disabled people's experience of care and support and develop guidance on how care and support can be defined and situated across law and policy frameworks to realise their human rights.