Tipperary Disabled Persons Organisation

22/10/2026

Footpaths and Local Infrastructure

​Did You Know? A Cracked Footpath Is a Blocked Route.

​Did you know that everyday street hazards—like missing drop kerbs, steep gradients, and poorly placed street furniture—can completely cut off access to a town center?

​Under the Social Model, someone using a mobility scooter or pushing a pram isn't stuck because of their equipment—they are stopped by poor infrastructure design and maintenance.

​The Issue: Uneven pavement, parking on footpaths, and absent dished kerbs turn simple errands into hazardous navigation courses.

​The Solution: Active travel routes planned with Universal Design principles. Dished kerbs, clear footpaths, and accessible crossings allow everyone to navigate their community safely and independently.

​

22/10/2026

We are very excited to be letting you all know that the ONSIDE digital Inclusion Programme is back as ONSIDE Evolution.

Our own Mo Farah and Pippa Black are working away to bring digital inclusion to hundreds of Disabled People in Donegal over the next three years.

ONSIDE Evolution is a cross-border project funded through the EU PEACEPLUS Programme, supporting disabled people aged 16 and over to reduce digital and social isolation, build confidence and skills, strengthen community connections, and become more active in their communities.

Participants can benefit from:

A free tablet, subject to programme participation requirements.

A six-week digital skills programme focused on digital confidence, independence, inclusion and online safety.

Disability Equality and Active Citizenship training to help participants understand their rights and participate more actively in community life.

Opportunities to connect with local Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPOs) and community activities.

If you want to get involved, please email [email protected] or [email protected] or call Mo (087 383 9796) or Pippa (087 477 0965)

Image of a poster advertising the project. It includes the Slogan "Nothing About Use Without Us". The headline reads: "Disabled People Connecting, Building Skills and Creating Change" It then says that Disabled People in the six border counties will; meet and connect with each other; Build digital skills and confidence; take part in training and peer activities; get involved in the local community; learn about our rights; share what matters to us; build a stronger collective voice for change. It also says "Come along and see where it leads" And gives the same contact details for Mo and Pippa listed above.

Donegal Intercultural Platform Donegal PPN Donegal Travellers Project Letterkenny Pride National Learning Network Letterkenny Donegal Online Independent Living Movement Ireland Disability Participation News Hub

22/10/2026

ILMI’s Boakai Nyhen Jr. addresses NDA Annual Conference 2026

ILMI’s Boakai Nyhen Jr. spoke at the National Disability Authority (NDA) Annual Conference 2026, held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday the 15th of October.

This year’s conference focused on disability inclusive responses to emergencies under Article 11 of the UNCRPD, bringing together disabled people, DPOs, policymakers and public officials to explore how the rights and safety of disabled people can be protected during emergencies and situations of risk.

Boakai, currently a Community Development Worker with ILMI’s ONSIDE Evolution project, spoke about ILMI’s work engaging disabled people living in Direct Provision.

Alongside his colleague Heylove Robert Mark Sr., Boakai led an eight month pilot project supporting 20 disabled people living in Direct Provision through peer support, Disability Equality Training, digital inclusion and connections with mainstream services and local DPOs.

The project achieved significant outcomes, with 100% of participants reporting increased knowledge of Irish systems, 94% feeling more confident accessing education and employment services, and 86% connecting with their local DPO.

Boakai also highlighted the serious barriers disabled people face within the international protection system, including inaccessible accommodation, delays accessing healthcare, a lack of Personal Assistance Services and social isolation.

The project demonstrated what can be achieved when disabled people are connected, supported and empowered through collective peer spaces and DPOs. It also reinforced the need for sustained investment in disabled people’s organisations to ensure this vital work can continue and reach those whose voices are too often excluded.

ILMI welcomes the opportunity to bring these experiences to a national audience and to reinforce a simple message: meaningful inclusion requires more than consultation. It requires action, investment and properly resourced DPOs led by disabled people ourselves.

Nothing About Us Without Us.

IMAGE: photo of the panel

22/10/2026

REMINDER

ILMI discussion space on Vehicle Adaptation Scheme Thursday 22nd October 11am (Zoom)

The Department of Transport is inviting submissions on the development of the Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS). The Transport Working Group of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Senior Officials Group on Disability and a Vehicle Adaptation Scheme sub-group put forward the need for a modern, fit-for-purpose, needs-based and grant-aided vehicle adaptation scheme, in line with international practice. It should provide direct financial support for drivers and passengers who need assistance to enter, exit or operate a vehicle.

The new Scheme is part of the commitments in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030 and supports the wider Government approach to delivering integrated transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities.

ILMI will be reviewing these proposals and creating a space for members to inform our response to these proposals. This discussion will take place on Zoom on Thursday 22nd October at 11am. The tight timeframe is based on the need for ILMI to generate a response before the Department's deadline of the end of October.

Disabled People who are interested in participating in this discussion can register by emailing [email protected]

IMAGE: colourful poster with text detailed in post

22/10/2026

Cost of disability payment falls way short of what is needed and cannot be claimed by those who work

22/10/2026

22/10/2026

A group of working disabled people has said that a cost of disability payment should be universal and non-means tested.

22/10/2026

At Wexford D.P.O. (Disabled Persons Organisation), we
believe in one core principle: NOTHING ABOUT US
WITHOUT US.
We are a group dedicated to collective advocacy,
ensuring that the voices of disabled people in Wexford
are at the heart of the decisions that affect our lives.
We are proud to work together towards a more
inclusive society.
Ready to make a difference? Join us today and make
your voice heard!
🔗 Click the link in our bio to sign up and become a
member. https://tinyurl.com/wexforddpo

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22/10/2026

Got a role related to advocacy, rights and participation that you’d like to share with our readers?

Head over to our Opportunities Hub for more details on role, tender and event advertisement offers - including discounts for small orgs and self employed.

Contact our team at [email protected] for information on advertising in our weekly newsletter.

More details on our Opportunities Hub here (link also in our bio): https://www.disabilityparticipation.ie/s/opportunities-hub

Feel free to share this post with your teams and networks to help us spread the word!



Image: a graphic with a green and grey background, the logo for the Disability Participation News Hub and the text contained in the post above.

22/10/2026

DRCDG launches new strategy to support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland for 2026-2030

On Tuesday 13th, the Department of Rural, Community Development and Gaeltacht launched Ar Scáth a Chéile: Promoting Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities (2026-2030).

The launch took place in St Andew's Resource Centre. The Strategy was officially launched by Minister Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht; Jerry Buttimer, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and at the Department of Transport and Marian Harkin, Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

This strategy's core values are very clearly informed by the principles of Community development. The Strategy's values of active participation, empowering communities, social justice, sustainable development, human rights, equalty and anti-discrimination and social inclusion speak to the work of ILMI as a DPO.

It is worth noting that the role of DPOs is referenced in this strategy, which is based on the work ILMI has developed in partnership with DRCDG through our participation in the Community Development Programme (CDP), which funds our VOICE project. It also represents the work ILMI has done through the Cross Sectoral Group (CSG) which oversaw the development of this strategy.

The Strategy has five pillars:

Pillar 1: Enhanced participation and partnership

Pillar 2: Training, Standards and Capacity Building

Pillar 3: Supportive Policy and Funding Environment

Pillar 4: Strengthened Structures for Engagement

Pillar 5: Community and Voluntary Sector at the centre of the response to Climate Change

All of these pillars have relevance for ILMI as a national DPO and for ILMI supported local DPOs. We will continue to engage with DRCDG and oversight committees on this strategy to ensure its impact on local and national structures.

The Strategy vision is " a sustainable, resilient, empowered and autonomous community and voluntary sector that supports inclusive and cohesive communities and enables social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being for all." That vision of inclusive, cohesive communities will require DPOs to be at the fore of how it is implemented locally and nationally.

"Ar Scáth a Chéile: Promoting Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: a five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2026 – 2030" can be downloaded here: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/6ac589ce/CV_Strategy_2026-2030_V7.pdf

IMAGE; Minister at podium Dara Calleary TD