Virtual Services: A win-win for disability inclusion
In an era of rapid technological change, we stand at a critical crossroads. Technology races ahead like an unstoppable train, with most of us clutching our smartphones while a significant portion of our population remains stranded at the station — particularly people with disabilities.
Consider this: 1.1 million people in Ireland report a chronic condition or disability, 80,000 of whom access traditional day services.The old model of disability support is crumbling, and continuing to pour resources into outdated infrastructure is not just inefficient — it’s potentially harmful.
To keep doing what we have always done, will mean we will get what we always got: budgetary black holes in disability services, and a dependent population sitting on the margins. It will not help people to adapt to rapidly changing world, or protect them from it. Instead, it will guarantee that they are left behind when the next disruptive event comes along.
Virtual disability services represent more than just a technological solution; they are a pathway to genuine social inclusion. These online platforms offer something traditional services cannot: flexibility, accessibility, and most importantly, choice.
During the pandemic, we witnessed remarkable adaptability in providing virtual supports. Innovation…
