Disability Federation of Ireland

Rainbow background with text reading: "Mental Health in the Irish LGBTQI+ Population with Disabilities Findings from the Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland Study January 2025" below Trinity College and BelongTo logos

New report by @belong-to.bsky.social‬ and
@tcddublin.bsky.social highlights the intersection of disability, gender, and sexual orientation. 70% of LGBTQI+ individuals report a disability, with higher rates of mental distress.

Read more: bit.ly/3HiGzBk

21 people in a group photo outside the DFI offices in Dublin standing behind two people kneeling down holding a sign saying "#DisabilityBudget"

📢 Our July newsletter is out now!

Spotlight on:

✅ Pre-Budget Submission 26
✅ Alternative UN CRPD review
✅ Oireachtas Committee input
✅ Diversity and inclusion

Stay informed 👉 bit.ly/4ff5F0u
Subscribe 👉 bit.ly/432FeXP

Ireland must not follow the US backward on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion A recent survey by the Irish Management Institute found that nearly two-thirds of Irish business leaders believe Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has made their organisations better places to wo...

Two-thirds of Irish leaders say diversity efforts improve workplaces.

But with US pressure mounting, including warnings from the US Embassy in Dublin, Ireland must not roll back on diversity programmes.

Read our article here: bit.ly/4m7ZBch

Pre-Budget Submission 2026 From promises to progress: Deliver the step change for people with disabilities   Budget 2026 is the first test of a promise. Let’s make sure it's delivered One in five people in Ireland is …

Our call for action in #Budget2026 is featured in today’s @irishexaminer 👇

We’re demanding real investment in services, income and supports.

🔗 Read our pre-Budget submission: bit.ly/4ly5Cze

📖 Read the Examiner article: bit.ly/44G7HTO

We’ve launched our Pre-Budget Submission 2026.

The new Programme for Government promised a new era for disabled people. 2026 must be the moment they Deliver the Step Change.

Read our pre-Budget submission: bit.ly/4ly5Cze

#DeliverTheStepChange #DisabilityBudget26

We were were honoured to facilitate this 'Media Training for Advocates' workshop here at DFI towers!

There was so much energy in the room for this session on uplifting the voices and lived experience of people with disabilities to campaign for important issues that impact them.

Animated image of a tree with hands as branches and people including families, children playing soccer and people with disabilities in the foreground.

Help shape our sector.

The government is developing a new strategy for our sector.

Let’s make sure it delivers:

✅ Sustainable funding
✅ Cross-government collaboration
✅ Integrated working
✅ Stronger social cohesion.

Deadline: 15 Aug
Take part: bit.ly/46oaq5m

Poster for job: https://bit.ly/4l6ckvR

Make a real difference in a young person’s life.

@YAPIreland
is hiring advocates in Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Limerick and more.

€16.52/hr | Flexible, meaningful work.

Apply by 6 July 👉 bit.ly/4l6ckvR

A white digital accessibility logo with white text reading 'European Accessibility Act 2025 on a dark blue background.

From tomorrow, key products and services in the EU must be accessible under the European Accessibility Act.

This is a big step, but not the finish line.
We’re improving our own digital services to align with standards and best practices.

Read more: bit.ly/4lxcixc

Workplace Wellbeing: Breaking the barriers that block disabled people's careers Many disabled people in Ireland are willing and able to work, but with our disability employment rate the lowest in the EU, more must be done to support them

Our CEO Elaine Teague joins Dara Ryder from Ahead Ireland, Karen Chadwick and Siobhán Mungovan in the @irishexaminer.bsky.social to highlight real barriers and pathways for disabled people in work.

Read more: bit.ly/40ptgoR

A photo of the late disability activist Jacqui Browne.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jacqui Browne, a fearless advocate and lifelong champion for disability rights.

Her voice inspired change and her legacy will live on.

Rest in peace Jacqui.

A social media tile with test saying "Happy Pride Month 2025 rom DFI above a DFI logo and a rainbow on the upper left and lower right corners.

🏳️‍🌈 As Pride Month draws to a close, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the visibility, dignity and rights of all disabled LGBTQIA+ people and the wider LGBTQIA+ community. Happy Pride.

Text reads "UN CRPD An Alternative Report for Ireland" in front of a UN logo and above 6 logos of the disability organisations involved - DFI , Chime, Enable Ireland, IWA, MHR and Rehab Group.

A UN CRPD Alternative Report for Ireland was compiled by six leading disability organisations

Findings:
Housing crisis is locking people out
PA supports stretched
Poverty & Cost of Disability rising
Lowest disability employment rate in the EU

Read more: bit.ly/3HWML1N

A speaker at a podium holding the 2024 DFI Annual Report in front of a DFI banner.

DFI's June Newsletter is here!

Spotlight on:

🔹 CRPD panel at our AGM
🔹 DFI at UN COSP & Economic Dialogue
🔹 Member milestones and media impact
🔹 Local to global advocacy

📰 Read: bit.ly/3G1Eau8
📩 Subscribe: bit.ly/432FeXP

A wheelchair user with two other people in an event room.

DFI members Westmeath CIL marked 25 years of supporting independent living.

They’ve delivered 1,000+ hours of personal support weekly, empowering disabled people to live with dignity and choice.

Read more: bit.ly/4leL6D6

A panel of three speakers in front of a projector screen and a DFI banner.

Our AGM, looked back on a year of momentum and action.

7 yrs post-ratification, our panel discussion called for urgent UNCRPD implementation and leadership by disabled people.

Disability is on the agenda, let’s keep it there.

Read our annual report: bit.ly/4jYURo0

A quote box saying "This is not just a healthcare issue; it is a human rights issue." attributed to Joe Condon

Today in Ireland, 1,249 people under 65 years live in nursing homes

Joe Condon of Early Onset Parkinson's Disease Ireland, a DFI member, highlights the crisis of younger people with #EOPD in nursing homes.

Read more here: bit.ly/4l5grIe

Taoiseach Micheal Martin addressing NED25

Good to hear @micheal-martin.bsky.social
acknowledge that while people are working hard to support disabled people, the system is not delivering.

“We can and we will do better”. He promises the soon to be published National Disability Strategy will deliver change. #NED25

A young wheelchair user with a slogan that reads 'Be part of our team. Be part of our lives.'

🌟 The Virtual Career Fair: Working in Disability Services is accessible until 14 June.

Take a few minutes to explore a world of rewarding career opportunities across the HSE Ireland and partner organisations on your schedule.

Login here: hsedisabilityservice.vfairs.com

📢 Join us for a webinar on Financial Autonomy & Safeguarding
🗓️28 May, 10am–12:30pm
💻Online

Hear from experts on how to support people with disabilities to manage their finances with the right safeguards.

🔗 Register: bit.ly/3ZqFfSx

Letters to the Editor: System fails people with disabilities 'At the heart of the problem is means-testing that assesses household income, rather than focusing on the individual'

Too many disabled people are forced to choose between independence and income.

DFI Policy Advocacy Manager Fleachta Phelan in the Letters page of the Irish Examiner highlighting how means-testing denies people with disabilities their supports.

Read more: bit.ly/4dydi1e

New Member Spotlight: Usher Syndrome Ireland We are very pleased to welcome Usher Syndrome Ireland as the newest  member of DFI. Founded in 2021, Usher Syndrome Ireland is a dedicated charitable organisation working to support individuals and &#...

Welcome Usher Syndrome Ireland!

We’re proud to spotlight @usherireland.org. This organisation supports people with a rare genetic condition that causes combined hearing and vision loss.

We're thrilled to have them in the DFI network.

Read more: bit.ly/4iVfdxF

📢 Help shape the future of inclusive entrepreneurship in Ireland.

Enterprise Ireland is gathering insights from under-represented communities to better understand barriers to accessing business supports.

📝 Anonymous and confidential.

👉 Take the questionnaire: www.alojo.ie/barriers

New Member Spotlight: Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, DSiDC We are very proud to welcome the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, DSiDC as the newest Associate member of DFI. Based at St James’s Hospital, DSiDC is a national centre for …

🎉We're delighted to welcome Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSiDC) as a DFI Member.

Based at St James’s Hospital, DSiDC is leading the way in dementia care, education and advocacy. We're proud to have them on board.

🔗 Read more: bit.ly/43oDCqY

🎧 New podcast

We follow how people with lived experience of disability are shaping adult day services.

Hear from lived experience advocate, Robin Wynne, Martina Lanigan (HSE), & Bernadette Frain (Western Care) on co-production in action.

Listen here: bit.ly/44Y78F6

'They have to pay to vote': GP cert cost slammed as unjust by Electoral Commission Under current requirements, an individual with a disability seeking a postal vote is required to get a GP's sign-off on the request

🗳️ “There should not be a barrier to exercising your right as a citizen to vote.”

Our Director of Advocacy Emer Begley welcomes the Electoral Commission's call to scrap the cost of doctor’s certs for disabled voters applying for a postal vote.

📖 Read more: bit.ly/430OPg9

A man in a motorised wheelchair on a rural road.

“What we need is inclusion at the design stage and real reform on all fronts.”

In the Irish Farmers Journal, DFI's Director of Advocacy, Emer Begley, highlights how inaccessible systems, from transport to recycling, penalise disabled people.

Read more: bit.ly/4iDZfb5

8 people in front of a DFI pop-up banner holding copies of DFI's Self-Advocacy Toolkit.

📢 DFI's April Newsletter is here.

We’re spotlighting:
🔹 Self-Advocacy Member's Toolkit
🔹 DFI's SGM - HSE Health Regions update
🔹 Celebrating new and existing members

📰 Read the full newsletter: bit.ly/42K6wk0
📩 Subscribe to our newsletter: bit.ly/432FeXP

Poster for Mayo Autism Camp's Autism Resource and Education Fair. Contact mayoautismcamp@gmail.com for more.

Mayo Autism Camp is hosting their Annual Resource and Education Fair as part of Autism Awareness Month!

📍 McWilliam Park Hotel
📅 Tuesday, 29 April
⌚6pm to 8pm

Discover a wide range of supports, services, and resources, plus, some amazing new exhibitors joining us this year.

Disability service providers facing funding and governance challenges Department of Disability says there is a need to better understand and ultimately address the systemic sustainability and stability issues in sector

🚨With 70% of specialist disability services in Ireland provided by the voluntary sector, the sustainability of these services is essential to ensure communities across Ireland have access to the supports they need.

🔗 Read more: bit.ly/3EoD0b8