I read a letter yesterday, from a public servant to a parent. I cannot remember the last time I was so shocked by a letter of that sort — and I’ve seen a lot of them in my time. The public servant is a manager in the provision of disability services in a certain part of Ireland. The parent is the mother of an adult daughter with an intellectual disability and a range of behavioural issues. The letter was the system’s way of saying no to the mother.

Source: Irish Examiner February 17, 2026 10:00 UTC