Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1113. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure blind and vision impaired persons have access to Covid-19 health information in their preferred format, including braille, large print and audio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33642/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCOVID-19 has had a significant impact on every individual, especially those with additional needs.
Considerable efforts have been undertaken by the Department and by the relevant State bodies in putting in place measures to protect vulnerable groups. The Department is working closely with the HSE on engagement with representative organisations including the Irish Deaf Society and the National Council for the Blind (NCBI) on the development of public health information in braille and ISL formats.
Since March this year, my Department and the HSE have been working together to make the COVID-19 public health advice accessible to many groups of people, with different abilities and needs and from varied communities. Many of the results of these projects are available online, on hse.ie: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/
Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, met with Inclusion Ireland in August to discuss a number of issues, including Covid-19 and its impact on people with disabilities. This was also discussed at meeting with Family Carers Ireland in September attended by both Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, and Minister Rabbitte.
The #Inthistogether Wellbeing and Mental Health campaign delivered by the Department of Health featured radio advertising and social media activity to raise awareness about the need for social distancing in support of people who are visually impaired and people with disabilities.
The HSE has partnered with NCBI to produce audio, braille and Large Print versions of the public health information, including the information booklets sent to all homes. The partnership includes audio versions of the information available online, and also copied onto CDs and posted to people registered as visually impaired with NCBI. Likewise, Large Print or Braille versions are posted to those who use those formats.
I have also asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
