'A slap in the face' - Carlow student (23) misses weeks of college due to carer no shows

23-year-old Dylan Walsh from Carlow has spoken out about certain issues that are making his life harder every day.

Dylan is a wheelchair user and faces many obstacles including missing weeks of college due to the lack of support for him at his course.

He is currently doing a QQI psychology course which he really enjoys but has sadly missed around four weeks of it so far. This is because he frequently turns up to his course only to find out there is no support carer for him.

He needs this support to help him get around the building and to and from classes, so without this support he is often forced to go home. 

Dylan starts off his story by describing who he is as a person, because his disability doesn't define him.

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"I have a broad range of hobbies really. I like to do what I can, I get out whenever I can when the weather's nice. I like to go into town, go to the cinema, I go out on Sunday with friends, family, I like to travel.

"Summer would be my favourite time, I like going out during the summer, going off in nature. I like nature, it's nice and calm and that's it really, I do pretty much everything really."

Unfortunately, due to the lack of accessibility and support for wheelchair users in Carlow, Dylan feels left out and pushed to the side. He said that Carlow is not very accessible for wheelchair users.

"It's not very accessible to be honest with you. Like one side of town, I'd go up trying to get to Tesco or something and I'd have to go around the other way to get to a footpath that's accessible.

"That's a bit irritating," he said.

Dylan said that a lot of the pathways are uneven as well which makes it hard for him to get around safely.

"There's a few shops, like restaurants or pubs that I can't even get into. There's no accessibility at all. Obviously I'm not the only one in a wheelchair, so yeah I feel a bit irritated and a bit let down.

"Because at this day and age, everything should be accessible. It makes you feel like you're put out to the side kind of thing".

Dylan expressed deep frustration over the lack of support for him when he goes to his course.

"I'd have to go in, I'd need someone to help me out a little bit, physical assistance like getting up elevators and sometimes they don't even have carers in and then I'm expected to just go home and then that puts me off my learning.

"It puts off me doing the best I can really, I'd say I missed about three, four weeks, probably even more, it happened at the start and then in the middle of the course, it happened again. They had to get someone else, a different company. I just showed up into college and no one was there.

"It takes too long because no one wants to do the job. And that's the truth of it and it shouldn't be like that. It makes me a little bit frustrated because I'm there showing the effort and then that happens, you know. So that's kind of a slap in the face a little bit. There's no transparency between these companies and the person they're caring for.

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"Once we talk to each other and raise awareness together I think that's where the real change can happen".

Dylan said that as a wheelchair user he is often undermined by other people and often feels like a burden or that it's his fault.

"They see the wheelchair first and they might assume that I can't speak up for myself or they might judge the wheelchair on your intelligence and that's nothing got to do with your intelligence.

"I think it's not their fault but some people, they do be a bit anxious around wheelchairs. They don't know what to say or they don't want to offend you or they don't know what to do.

"There needs to be more awareness that people with disabilities are the same as anyone else really. We just need extra help, that's all".

In some situations, Dylan said "I got a taxi and then they rock up and some of them could be a bit rude, like I'm inconveniencing them or something for asking them to help me get into the taxi, like open the ramp and all that. Some of them feel like they're being inconvenienced and that can happen, that happens most of the time.

"It's like they don't say it to your face but they do feel like you're inconveniencing them. And it can happen in restaurants and anywhere really. It just happens now and then but you just have to brush it off because that's their perception.

"That's the best thing you can do is just, you have a voice as well so don't let people put you down or make you think just because they're assisting you that you can't say anything. You have a right as anyone else to say whatever you feel needs to be said".

Dylan said that word 'disability' can feel negative to him and said it is simply a limitation.

"Yes, I have limits, but every day I find ways to overcome them in the ways I can. I don’t focus on what I can’t control — because what’s the point in worrying about that?

"I like to stick out from the crowd because life is too short not to. But in many ways, I’m just like everyone else. I live my life the same way most people do. The only real difference is that sometimes I need a bit of help along the way — and honestly, don’t we all?

"I believe people living with disabilities shouldn’t be afraid to speak up. We deserve fairness, respect, and equal treatment in society".