11/04/2026
We are looking forward to this ILMI Disabled Womenâs Healthcare Masterclass Series:
Full details in the original post
The ILMI Disabled Womenâs Working Group is clear: there is no disabled woman the same.
We are not all wheelchair users.
We have different impairments and we have various lived experiences of societal barriers.
We can often live with inequality on several grounds. For example, sexism (inequality based on gender) or ableism (seeing disabled people as less than non-disabled people and structuring society in favour of non-disabled people).
But the system treats us as invisible.
Irelandâs women's healthcare system is not built for us.
It ignores our access needs.
It denies our right to equal and equitable healthcare.
Because of this, we face barriers at every level:
⢠A system that excludes us
⢠Environments we cannot access
⢠Information we cannot use
⢠Attitudes that devalue us
These are not accidents.
These are structural failures.
We will not accept this.
We are organising.
We are naming the barriers.
We are demanding change.
Nothing about us without us.
Change starts here. Join us.
Email fionaweldon@ilmi.ie for more information and to register for the upcoming masterclasses.
ILMI Disabled Womenâs Healthcare Masterclass Series
Give to Gain
Disabled women are coming together to build knowledge, confidence and collective power in how we navigate healthcare systems that were not built for us.
ILMIâs Disabled Womenâs Healthcare Working Group is hosting a series of online masterclasses focused on real experiences, real barriers and real change.
These sessions will explore key issues across our lives including:
⢠Navigating an ableist healthcare system
⢠Sexual health and relationships
⢠Menopause
⢠Access to screening services
⢠Digital healthcare tools and access
⢠Lived experience and resilience
Guest speakers include disabled women and leaders across healthcare, policy and advocacy, sharing knowledge grounded in lived experience.
This series is about moving from being seen as âpatientsâ to being recognised as experts in our own lives.
âGive to Gainâ means systems must learn from disabled women and change. It means access, equality and real participation. It means no woman left behind.
These online sessions will take place across April and May. Dates and times will be shared with those who register.
This is for disabled women who want to:
⢠Build confidence in navigating healthcare
⢠Share experiences and learn from others
⢠Be part of collective change
Nothing about us without us.
Join us.
To register and be part of this series email:
fionaweldon@ilmi.ie
IMAGE: This is a two-panel cartoon poster from ILMI (Independent Living Movement Ireland) about barriers in breast screening services for Disabled Women. The image criticises inaccessible healthcare systems and ableist attitudes. It shows how services are designed for ânormal bodiesâ and exclude disabled people.
Top panel
A woman who uses a wheelchair is positioned beside a tall breast screening machine. The machine is labelled: âNormal Machine for Normal Bodies (Made 1999)â.
She asks for the machine to be lowered so she can use it. A nurse refuses and says the machine is designed for ânormal people,â implying the woman does not fit that category. Another person stands beside the woman, witnessing the interaction.
This panel highlights inaccessible medical screening equipment and dismissive and discriminatory attitudes from healthcare staff.
Bottom panel
The woman in the wheelchair is now angry and frustrated. She points out that the system claims accessibility but clearly fails (âthey think theyâve ticked the accessibility box⌠they havenâtâ).
The nurse questions her impairment and makes patronising comments. The supporter challenges this, asking why there isnât a universal scanner in 2026.
This panel highlights tokenistic accessibility, ableism and disrespect, and the demand for inclusive, universal design in healthcare.
Key Message
The cartoon shows that Disabled Women can be excluded not just by physical barriers, but also by attitudes. It calls for real accessibility and equality in healthcare, not outdated systems or excuses.
