For most of his life, people assumed Martin Dooher wasn't capable of making decisions for himself.
Most of his life was spent in institutions or large group homes, isolated from society, stripped of autonomy and, sometimes, basic dignity.
At the age of eight he was sent to live in an institution in Cork for children with learning disabilities.
“We slept upstairs in the dormitory, there were lots of people sleeping there. In the institution everything was together in the one place. We didn’t have the opportunity to go into the community.
“We didn’t learn how to do lots of things because people were afraid to let us take risks.”
As a teenager he was moved to another institution in Galway and, later, a large group home.
“There were still too many people and staff made most of the decisions,” he says.
“When I lived in a group home, I wanted to watch football on Saturday afternoons. But instead we all had to go shopping together every Saturday. Everybody looks at us when we are in a group together, it made us look bad and made me upset.”
Apartment
Five years ago, life changed for Martin. He moved into his own apartment where, with supports, he is able to make decisions for himself.
“In the group home I was told when I had to take a shower. Now I decide. I like to make a cup of tea. When I lived in the group home you couldn’t have tea after 9pm.
“Now I can make tea whenever I want. And I can cook whenever I want and whatever I would like to eat.”
He has also branched out into advocacy work for others and has spoken at conferences on the importance of individualised supports.
He’s also involved in the “Next Steps”, a project involving the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies aimed at expanding access to individualised supports.
“I used to be scared to speak up, but I am not afraid anymore,” he says.
Everyone with an intellectual disability, Dooher maintains, should be given the same opportunity to reach their potential and make their own choices.
“For a long time I didn’t have the chance to do the things I wanted. But with good support I got a chance to learn how to do many more things and live my life the way I want to.”
