"Make Way Day", which took place on Friday, 27th September, is a vital campaign aimed at fostering understanding and collaboration between the disability community and the wider public.
Highlighting issues facing people with disabilities - Make Way Day 2024
This initiative encourages everyone to reflect on the specific needs of individuals with disabilities as they navigate the shared public spaces in our communities.
Led by the Disability Federation of Ireland, this initiative has garnered support from all Local Authorities across the country. It represents a collective effort to ensure that individuals with disabilities are afforded optimum choice, control, and respect in their daily lives.
Mayor Councillor Tom MacSharry emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “Public representatives have a responsibility to highlight and promote these issues and to work to deliver meaningful change in our society. There are a range of issues, including equal access to information services, products, and programmes.”
Earlier this year, Sligo County Council further emphasised its ongoing commitment to disability inclusion with the official launch of its Disability Inclusion and Access Strategy 2024-2027. This strategy reaffirms the Council’s commitment to the social model of disability, which was first adopted by Sligo County Council in 2018. Sligo takes pride in being one of the pioneering councils to embrace this model, concentrating on dismantling barriers and promoting equality for individuals with disabilities.
In addition, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, published in 2017, aims to enhance the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all facets of Irish society. A key objective of this strategy is to legally ensure that mainstream public services are accessible to people with disabilities, enabling them to access the same opportunities as their fellow citizens.
Make Way Day aims to draw attention to the problems caused by things left on footpaths and other obstructions that create barriers for people with disabilities. The campaign encourages people to take pictures of everyday obstructions and share them on social media with the hashtag #MakeWayDay24.