People with intellectual disabilities are to form their own advocacy group to promote their views to Government, charities and other service providers.
The proposed group will be the first national representative group of its kind to be comprised solely of people with intellectual disabilities.
It was announced at the first national conference of people with an intellectual disability in Ireland, which opened in Dublin yesterday.
Nearly 200 people with intellectual disabilities from around the country are attending the two-day conference, which is organised by Namhi, the intellectual disability rights group.
Namhi is also supporting the establishment of the national advocacy group, providing it with clerical and administrative support along with professional advocacy staff.
The group is expected to deal directly with Government Departments, health boards and charities, and is an attempt to bring the perspective of those with learning difficulties directly to those making decisions about services and supports for them.
Ms Deirdre Carroll, the general secretary of Namhi, said the aim of the conference was to provide an opportunity for those with intellectual disabilities "to tell us what help they need to support them".
She said: "People with intellectual disability in Ireland have traditionally been excluded from making decisions about where they live, work and socialise. This conference will begin to redress this imbalance, and help inform people with intellectual disability and the people who support them about their rights and choices."
The conference heard from a number of people with intellectual disabilities, including Ms Marie Wolfe, who told delegates about the various rights they should expect to enjoy, even when in residential care.
Ms Wolfe is in the Brothers of Charity service in Galway, and works for the charity which provides services to people with intellectual disabilities.
"The Government says that all people have rights. We people do have rights, but sometimes they aren't listened to."
She highlighted diet restrictions, bedtime regimes, privacy to send and receive mail, pay equality and access to people's own money as areas of concern.
She said many people did not enjoy the same freedom and rights she did despite the fact that it would be possible for them.
"People have so much ability. It upsets me. Look at the things I am doing; why can't other people do it."
Delegates also heard from a Kildare-based advocacy group which has met with the Taoiseach, Junior Ministers and MEPs in the last 12 months. Members of the group, which is part of the EU-funded Diversity in Dialogue self-advocacy project, have also visited Portugal and Brussels.