Commission Appears as Amicus Curiae in Disability Rights Case
The way the HSE applies the 2005 Disability Act undermines rather than upholds disability rights in Ireland, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) has told the Court of Appeal. Appearing as amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’), the Commission stated that the manner in which the HSE carries out the Assessment of Need, which is required by the Disability Act 2005 is incomplete, as it determines that a person has a disability, but does not provide a diagnosis of the disability. The case of ‘OB’ concerns a boy referred to the HSE for an Assessment of Needs under the Disability Act 2005. The HSE assessed him as having a disability, but stopped short of diagnosing it. OB’s parents are concerned that their son has Autism Spectrum Disorder (' ASD'), and that a lack of a formal diagnosis will see him unable to access vital services, with a potential knock-on effect on his education and social life, and delaying treatment and possible early intervention. The HSE’s approach in this case is in line with its new Standard Operating Procedure (“SOP”) in operation since January 2020 that treats the question of whether a person has a disability under the 2005 Act as separate to the question of whether their presenting behaviours meet the criteria for a particular diagnosis. This case is expected to determine whether the HSE’s SOP meets the full disability assessment requirements of the Disability Act 2005. The Commission’s legal arguments just published state that the HSE’s current interpretation of disability under the Disability Act potentially deprives people of their fundamental rights and is contrary to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Article 42A of the Constitution. The Commission brings significant experience to this case, acting as it does as the Independent Monitor for Ireland’s obligations under the CRPD. Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission stated:“We’re very concerned that the HSE’s Standard Operating Procedure sidesteps the need for a formal diagnosis in needs assessments. The SOP risks becoming the exact type of societal barrier that the UNCRPD sets out to avoid, with real impacts on people’s lives in terms of access to essential services. “How we view and engage disabled people’s rights cannot, and must not, be reduced to a standalone medical definition. However, an initial formal diagnosis is crucial in providing necessary and life changing supports for a person's health, educational, workplace, social and other needs.”ENDS/ For further information, please contact: Brian Dawson, IHREC Communications Manager, 01 8589601 / 087 0697095 bdawson@ihrec.ie Follow us on twitter @_IHREC