[CEUD-ICT] Accessible DVD released today by Office of Ombudsman on making a complaint under the Disability Act (2005)

[Donal J. Rice]

Apologies for cross posting.  Below please find a press release from the
Office of the Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, on the release of an accessible
DVD to address the issue identified by her office that the "number of
complaints made to her under the Disability Act about accessibility of
buildings, services and information is remarkably low - just a few to
date."

Regards,
Dónal.

Office of the Ombudsman
                               Media Release

 Minister of State John Moloney T.D launches fully accessible information
              DVD about the Office and role of the Ombudsman.

 Ombudsman Emily O´Reilly says number of complaints made to her under the
         Disability Act about accessibility of buildings, services and
information is remarkably low - just a few to date.

The Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability Issues and
Mental Health, Mr John Moloney T.D today ( Tuesday 30 March, 2010 )
launched a new and fully accessible information DVD  about the role of the
Ombudsman and the free, impartial and independent service her Office
provides. Bespoke designed for people with varying access needs, including
people who are blind, visually impaired, hard of hearing or functionally
deaf, the DVD design and structure includes facilities such as lip-reading,
sign language and subtitles to help more people and especially those with a
disability, who feel badly treated by public bodies, to make a complaint to
the Ombudsman.

Speaking at the launch in the National Disability Authority headquarters,
Dublin, Ombudsman O´Reilly said  "The level of complaints made to me under
the Disability Act about accessibility of buildings, services and
information is remarkably low - just a few to date. Given that since 2007,
my Office can accept complaints about the hundreds of voluntary bodies
providing services to disabled people on behalf of the HSE, or with
assistance from the HSE, there is clearly a deficit here to be addressed".

Citing a number of cases where complainants with a disability, were treated
badly by public bodies and where her Office made a real difference to their
lives in putting a wrong right and gaining redress for them, the Ombudsman
commented "My remit extends not only to the more high profile
investigations and reports but also to what one might regard as the bread
and butter issues of concern to people". In one example, Ms O´Reilly
resolved a complaint against a County Council which had refused to pay a
man a disabled persons grant.  Following an examination by her Office the
Council reversed its decision and the man got €17,000 to do the work on his
house.

The full text of the Ombudsman´s address, together with the DVD, can be
viewed on the Ombudsman's website ( www.ombudsman.ie ) from 12.00noon
today.

For media inquiries contact:
Dave Glynn - Head of Communications and Research
Tel: 01 639 5714  / 087 236 1884     email: david_glynn at ombudsman.gov.ie


Our  purpose  is  to  help  raise  public  service  standards. Individuals,
businesses  or  organisations  who feel they have been unfairly treated can
make  complaints  to  the  Ombudsman. Our service is free. We aim to ensure
that  people  are  treated  with  dignity, respect and sensitivity in their
dealings  with  the  public service. We will make every effort to deal with
your complaint properly, fairly and impartially.

                                   Ends
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