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image showing iwa member emily at a bus stop

Will you support more people with disabilities to get out and about this Christmas?

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Everyone deserves to get out and about safely at Christmas.

This Christmas, with a gift of €40, you could help remove barriers that cause problems and heartache. Please don't wait — will you make that kind donation today? 

Many people with disabilities struggle to get around safely. And at Christmas, when busy areas are even busier, many people simply choose to stay at home.

People with disabilities know that shopping trips at Christmas are not fun when the aisles are blocked or they can't get safely from the exit to the bus stop. Twinkling lights are no help when you're waiting to cross a busy street with no dropped kerb or set of lights to slow the traffic.

Christmas is a busy time. But there are still so many significant barriers for people with disabilities that, instead of getting out and about in the way they want to, people like Abby decide that the effort and indignity of it all aren't worth it — and stay at home.

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€40

With a gift of €40

you could ensure we can answer a call from somebody needing expert advice and support at a difficult time.

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€70

With a gift of €70

you could support local Irish Wheelchair Association groups which bring people with disabilities together for activities, outings and campaigning.

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€120

With a gift of €120

you could support our advocacy and campaigning at a national level — calling on the government to put accessibility issues at the heart of their agenda and holding them to account.

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Accessibility issues are an everyday problem for people with disabilities in Ireland.

Irish Wheelchair Association continues to work to remove barriers in towns and cities across the country preventing young people like Eoin from living a life he chooses.

Eoin

Eoin is 20 and from Galway. He's a sociable man with a great group of friends. One of Eoin's great passions is films, so he was happy when his local cinema was recently refurbished.

But, when Eoin and his dad went along to the cinema recently, they phoned ahead and were let in through a delivery entrance at the back of the cinema, an all too common humiliation for a wheelchair user like Eoin.

“When it comes to accessing things with my chair, there is a sense of anger because these things shouldn't be happening.”

Eoin's determined not to let disappointment and a lack of accessibility deter him from leading an independent life - and he's found support with Irish Wheelchair Association.

Irish Wheelchair Association School Leavers Programmes bring young people like Eoin together to take part in a wide variety of activities, based on their interests and abilities. Being part of this group has been huge for Eoin's confidence.

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image of fionn being fed by clinical team staff member

“Since I started with IWA, I've been to places I've never even thought about. And now I say ‘Wow, now I know I can do that.”

Abby

Abby has limited mobility in her upper body so she uses a powerchair which she manoeuvres with a lot of skill. She enjoys going out and about in Galway City independently and loves to meet her friends for bowling and the cinema.

Abby's local shopping and leisure centre are divided by a busy road with no pedestrian crossing or dropped kerbs. To get from the shops to the cinema or even her bus home, Abby has to wheel away from the safety of the path and onto an unused driveway and look for a break in the traffic to cross the road.

"You could get lucky and the cars decide to stop or you could be there all day. But regardless of how long you're there, it's not safe anyway. You're literally hoping for the best that the cars will stop. It's scary to be honest.

“I shouldn't have to choose between being independent and being safe."

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image of fionn being fed by clinical team staff member

"I'm 23. I want to get out and live my life and be independent."

As Christmas approaches, both Eoin and Abby are looking forward to joining their local Irish Wheelchair Association groups for day trips and nights out.

Abby wouldn't usually go to the shops at such a busy time of year. They are not designed for lots of people and big powerchairs. However, she feels more confident with the group.

By supporting this appeal and the work of Irish Wheelchair Association, you are removing barriers and supporting people with disabilities to live the life they choose.

Thank you for being such a key part of the work of Irish Wheelchair Association.