Minister describes new video as 'possibly most powerful disability awareness video to date'

Louise Walsh

What if life gave you a choice of disability is the question which has stunned people in a powerful new short video released today.

The thought provoking short video -'20 people, two questions' -, by people with intellectual disabilities in Meath, has already been shared across social media platforms by local Minster of State for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee, who has described it as 'possibly the most powerful disability awareness video to date'

It has also expected to receive backing by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

A total of 20 people in Kells were stopped on the street and asked two questions - which left most stumped.

Most answered yes, when asked: 'Are we all the same' but it was the second poser that left them lost for words when asked: "Nobody chooses a disability, but if you had to pick one, what would you pick?"

One passer-by comments: "It depends on what you think is a disability.  Ignorance to be is a disability."

20 People 2 Questions from Prosper Group on Vimeo.

 

Minister McEntee remarked: "We all face challenges in life.  To one person, something may be a disabiliy and to another, it may not be. It's just something that they have to overcome

"It's how we approach things in life and make the best of what we have."

"I don't think anyone chooses a disability because that's what you're given in life and you just have to accept the disability and focus on the ability, not hte disability.  Look at what we can do, not what we can't do," said another Kells pedestrian.

The short video, filmed by videographer Shay Casserly,  was funded by the Lout Meath Education Training Board (LMETB) and created by voluntary organisation Prosper Meath, who provide day services to adults with intellectual disabilities across nine locations in the county, on behalf of the HSE.

The organisation aims to support individuals to live the life they choose in the same way and same places as everyone else.

"Despite huge transformations in day services for adults with disabilities over the years, barriers still exist to prevent full inclusion, and indeed, acceptances of people with disabilities in society," said Service Manager Shane Carolan.

"A perception remains that people with intellectual disabilities are 'disabled' and dependant' and we need to change this.

"The objective of creating the video was to provoke people to think, consider and open their minds to the capabilities of people with disabilities.

"One would imagine having a choice of a disability would make the answer easier to come by, but stunned silence was the response in most cases.

"In contrast, the interviewers and Prosper Meath staff believe this video highlights the capabilities, abilities, independence and ambitions of the people involved in making the video.

"The reality is that when we are born, we do not have a choice, we are what we are and life takes it from there.  We get what we are given in life and that's the luck of the draw.

"But we are all the same, are we not?"