'Rainbow of heroes who have protected most vulnerable'published at 17:04 British Summer Time 7 July 2020
Alliance’s Kellie Armstrong opens the debate on the motion and thanks those who signed it.
She says this has been a cross party effort and that members have “come together to recognise the significant impact Covid-19 has had on children and adults with a disability and the exceptional, amazing contribution of family carers throughout lockdown”.
Mrs Armstrong says it has been created in conjunction with Families Involved in NI (FINI).
They represent a regional network of families and carers.
She says carers are part of the “rainbow of heroes who have protected and looked after some of our most vulnerable family members”.
“One of the key issues with lockdown was the almost immediate withdrawal of statutory and non-statutory services,” says the Strangford MLA, adding that many families with disabilities rely upon these services.
Mrs Armstrong says she has personal experience of this as, she says, her “amazing brother needs such care”, adding that her father looks after him on a full-time basis.