29.09.2017
‘Work Together for the Ireland You Deserve’ – Joanne O’Riordan Tells Second Level Schools’ Service
“Enjoy your life, be enthusiastic, follow your dreams and strive for equality.” This was the message from inspirational youth advocate and ability rights campaigner, Joanne O’Riordan, to almost 600 second level students from all over Ireland who gathered in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, yesterday (Thursday October 28).
Joanne was speaking at the annual Second Level Schools’ Service, organised by the General Synod Board of Education to mark the beginning of the academic year. Archbishop Michael Jackson presided at the Service of Choral Evensong which was led by Dean William Morton. The service was attended by the Minister for Education and Skills, Mr Richard Bruton, TD.
A new awards scheme for Transition Year students, The Deans Award for Social Justice in Action was launched at the service. The scheme is designed to encourage students to reflect on what they heard during the service and experienced during worship and to carry that forward into their lives and relate it to the wider world. Students were asked in particular to pay attention to the two readings Isaiah 53: 1–5 and Luke 18: 1–8.
Joanne is one of seven people in the world living with Tetra–amelia syndrome. But the 21 year old told the packed cathedral that she has not allowed this to hold her back. She strives to campaign for people of all abilities. “I hate the word disability. I, like everybody else, have the ability to achieve anything in my life. Just because I have no limbs doesn’t mean that I don’t have a voice. Just because we are young people doesn’t mean we don’t have a voice,” she said.
On her 16th birthday Joanne addressed the United Nations on the use of technology. She got a standing ovation and challenged them to build a robot for her, a project which has been undertaken by Trinity College Dublin. She is a strong advocate of technology and says it has helped her to unlock her true independence.
“I have never shied away from the challenges I face. Every day I try to challenge myself to push forward… Remember to achieve the impossible you must first believe in the possible,” she stated. “Technology has played an enormous part in my life and opened up so many opportunities… Every day there are new developments in technology and I recommend that we do get excited about this because it will push our abilities further.”
Joanne admitted that she does get down in the dumps from time to time but then she reminds herself how important it is to be in her position and thinks of her great family and friends. She told the students that it was important to let go of stresses, enjoy the precious moments of their lives, be enthusiastic and keep their dreams alive no matter what.
“Each one of you is strong and smart and talented and together you will be unstoppable and achieve great things. You have before you a wealth of knowledge and ideas but most importantly you have each other to work for the Ireland that you deserve,” she concluded.
Currently Joanne is a columnist for the Irish Times while also studying criminology in University College Cork. She hopes to be a crime or sports journalist.
