Disability Federation of Ireland

22/05/2026

Make Way Day 2026 is one week away! And we're asking everyone to get involved. 🙌

On the day, get out into your street, take a photo of anything blocking the way for people with disabilities, and share it using .

A car on the footpath. A bin in the middle of the path. An A-board. A branch. You know the ones.

Public space is for everyone. Let's make it work that way.

20/05/2026

We've had another deadline extension. You now have until 25 May to complete the IN-HABIT survey! ⏰

See below for the link that applies to you, and please share with your networks.

📢 We've extended our IN-HABIT survey deadline, and we need your help!

DFI is proud to be a partner in IN-HABIT (Inclusive Housing and Accessibility for Belonging, Independence, and Transformation), an EU-funded research project exploring inclusive social housing for disabled people in Ireland.

🏠 We want to hear from people working in and around housing, especially Housing Professionals and Local Authority staff. Your insights are invaluable to this research.

⏳ Deadline extended to: Friday, 15 May.

Take 5–10 minutes to complete the survey that applies to you:

☑️ Local Authorities: https://tinyurl.com/Local-Authorities
☑️ Disabled People: https://tinyurl.com/4pjyt3yw
☑️ Service Providers: https://tinyurl.com/mrhhz8ap
☑️ Housing Professionals: https://tinyurl.com/358enypr

Every response makes a difference. Please share with your networks.

15/05/2026

Following the launch of the Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment (ATA-C) Report for Ireland, we want to make sure you have a chance to engage with its findings!

The ATA-C is the most comprehensive review to date of how assistive technology is planned, funded, and delivered in Ireland, conducted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and packed with evidence to support advocacy and service planning across the disability sector.

📅 This Thursday 21 May, FreedomTech_IRL is hosting a CHAT event to reflect on the report and explore what its recommendations mean in practice. A great opportunity to join the conversation and help shape what comes next.

👉 Register here: https://rebrand.ly/cd5b82

14/05/2026

DFI CEO Elaine Teague has been elected to the Board of the European Disability Forum, and had the privilege of speaking on a panel on disability equality and hate crime.

Elaine has written up her full reflections. Ireland has made real progress, but there is still a significant gap between rights in law and rights in everyday life. That's the work ahead.

Read the full article here: https://rebrand.ly/vbz7ahx

13/05/2026

We're at the Cost of Disability Summit today to make sure that over two decades of advocacy alongside disabled people results in a payment that truly reflects their needs.
In our submission to the Government consultation on Cost of Disability, we called for:

✅ A weekly universal cash payment: for any disabled person facing extra costs, regardless of income, employment or age
✅ No household means-testing: assessed on individual need, not partner or family income
✅ Decoupled secondary supports: medical cards and free transport linked to disability need, not income thresholds
✅ A disability tax credit: to support disabled people in employment
✅ A three-year cross-Departmental Action Plan: with measurable commitments across Health, Housing, Transport and more
✅ Emergency interim supports now: to replace what Budget 2026 took away.

Read our Cost of Disability Payment Submission Summary here: https://rebrand.ly/44utb6p

08/05/2026

Join the HSE's live webinar on Adult Disability Day Services and find out what it's really like to support adults with a disability to live full and meaningful lives.

In a 45 minute session you'll learn:

✅ What a typical day looks like
✅ Team structure & support
✅ Career development opportunities.

📅 Sessions available across all regions, 12 – 21 May 2026 | 1pm – 1:45pm

📍 Dublin & the North East – 12 May. Register here: https://rebrand.ly/d6wzug3
📍 Midwest – 13 May. Register here: https://rebrand.ly/01d887
📍 Dublin and the South East – 14 May. Register here: https://rebrand.ly/xtybh3m
📍 West and the North West – 19 May. Register here: https://rebrand.ly/qygvt0x
📍 South West – 20 May. Register here: https://rebrand.ly/1mpbym0
📍 Dublin and the Midlands – 21 May. Register here: https://rebrand.ly/m7aybhq

Spaces are limited secure yours today.

07/05/2026

The Kildare Inclusivity Festival returns to The Curragh Racecourse on Sunday 10 May (11am–6pm). It’s a free and welcoming day out with something for everyone – family activities, service/provider stands, inclusive sport, food and craft market, entertainment and a live music stage. There will also be a special recognition ceremony at 3pm for athletes heading to the Special Olympics Road to Ireland Games 2026. Please share and help promote this great community event.

07/05/2026

📢 Join us for an important webinar on Ireland's upcoming EU Presidency!

The Community and Voluntary Pillar, a coalition of 17 national organisations working on poverty, social exclusion, unemployment, gender equality, and community development, will be sharing its key priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency (July–December 2026).

🗓 Thursday, 14 May | 11am – 12 noon

🎙 Speakers:

🔸Michelle Murphy, Social Justice Ireland – A Social Europe
🔸Guillaume Jacquinot, The Wheel – Civil Society & Participatory Democracy
🔸Oisín Coghlan, Environmental Pillar – A Just Transition.

🔗 Register here: https://rebrand.ly/fp7pqsc