Disability Wales

08/10/2026

Disabled people's rights are human rights.

At the Human Rights Congress Wales, our Policy and Research Officer, Natalie, spoke about why incorporating the UNCRDP and developing a Human Rights Bill for Wales matter for disabled people.

It's about more than legislation. It's about creating accountability, making disabled people's rights harder to overlook and ensuring that those rights are recognised, respected and realised in everyday life.

Disabled people deserve more than survival. We deserve to truly thrive.

Video transcript: For generations, disabled people have been told that change takes time.
And while progress has been made, many disabled people are still understandably asking, when will my life actually get better?
When will equality move beyond strategy documents and move visible, become visible in our everyday lives?
When will accessibility stop being treated as an optional extra?
When will disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else?
Those are not unreasonable questions.
They are human rights questions.
And they are questions that incorporation of the UNCRDP can help us to answer.
Because incorporation is not simply about adding another piece of legislation.
It's about creating accountability.
It's about creating a framework against which decisions can be tested.
It's about making disabled people's rights harder to overlook and easier to uphold.
Perhaps most importantly, it sends a message.
The message that disabled people's rights are human rights.
The message that disabled people's lives matter and that disabled people belong in every part of Welsh society, and that inclusion should not depend on goodwill alone.
As we continue these discussions today, I want to encourage you to think about moving beyond the legal and constitutional implications.
Instead, just think about the people.
What difference would a rights based Wales make to them?
Because ultimately, a Human Rights Bill is not an end in itself, it's a tool.
It's a tool that can help us build Wales where disabled people are not merely surviving, but they are truly thriving.
A Wales where 'Nothing About Us Without Us' is more than a slogan.
A Wales where disabled people's rights are recognised, respected and realised.
An equal and equitable Wales.
And surely this is the kind of Wales that we should all want to build.
Thank you.

08/10/2026

Air travel remains inaccessible, inequitable and undignified for many disabled people.

This BBC article looks at the experiences of people facing distressing treatment at UK airports, and the wider barriers encountered when travelling.

Our Access to Politics Project Officer, Kat Watkins, contributed to the article, calling for change to the way disabled passengers are treated.

Read the full story:

Paul Scanlon says airport travel can be "degrading and humiliating" for people with stomas.

07/10/2026

Dim ond pythefnos i fynd tan ein Cynhadledd Flynyddol a'n Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol!

Byddwn yn rhannu'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ein gwaith a'n prosiectau, ac yn edrych ymlaen at beth sydd i ddod.

Rydym hefyd yn gyffrous i gael cwmni Cerys Davage, crëwr a chyflwynydd y podlediad poblogaidd *Unbalanced*, a'r Athro Debbie Foster, Cyd-gadeirydd y Bwrdd Cynghori Allanol ar gyfer Cynllun Hawliau Pobl Anabl.

🗓 Dydd Mercher 21 Hydref | 10yb–1yp.
📍Ar-lein trwy Zoom.

Archebwch eich lle: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/disability-wales-agm-and-annual-conference-2026-tickets-2001059073556?aff=oddtdtcreator

Disgrifiad llun: Testun gwyn ar gefndir glas tywyll yn darllen: Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol a Chynhadledd Flynyddol Anabledd Cymru 2026. 21 Hydref. 10yb-1yp. Ar-lein. Mae tri chylch oren wrth ymyl yr amser, y dyddiad a'r lleoliad, gyda symbolau calendr, cloc a sgrin ym mhob un. O dan y testun mae blwch oren gyda'r geiriau 'Archebwch nawr' a saeth yn pwyntio i'r dde. Ar yr ochr dde, mae troellau glas ac oren sy'n debyg i logo AC yn ymestyn i fyny'r graffig, ac mae'r logo ei hun yn y gornel dde isaf.

07/10/2026

Two weeks to go until our Annual Conference and AGM!

We'll be sharing all the latest updates about our work and projects, and looking ahead to what comes next.

We’re also excited to be joined by Cerys Davage, creator and host of the popular Unbalanced podcast, and Prof. Debbie Foster, Co-Chair of the External Advisory Board for the Disabled People’s Rights Plan.

🗓 Wednesday 21 October | 10am–1pm.
📍Online via Zoom.

Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/disability-wales-agm-and-annual-conference-2026-tickets-2001059073556?aff=oddtdtcreator

Image description: White text on a navy background reads: Disability Wales AGM and Annual Conference 2026. 21 October. 10am-1pm. Online. Three orange circles are beside the time, date and location with a calendar, clock and screen symbols in each. Below the text is an orange box with the words 'Book your place' with an arrow pointing right. On the right side, blue and orange swirls resembling the DW logo climb the graphic and the logo itself is in the bottom right corner.

05/10/2026

Mae Cynllun Prif Grant Gwirfoddoli Cymru ar agor ar gyfer ceisiadau!

Mae'r grant yn cefnogi sefydliadau ledled Cymru i greu a datblygu cyfleoedd gwirfoddoli, cael gwared ar rwystrau i gymryd rhan, a helpu i wreiddio gwirfoddoli yn eu diwylliant.

Gall sefydliadau wneud cais am hyd at £30,000 ar gyfer prosiectau sy'n para hyd at flwyddyn.

⏰ Dyddiad cau ar gyfer ceisiadau: 5yh ar 30 Tachwedd 2026.

Dysgwch fwy: https://wcva.cymru/cy/cyllid/cgg/

WCVA CGGC

Cynllun sy'n cael ei ariannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru i hyrwyddo a gwella gwirfoddoli yng Nghymru yw Grantiau Gwirfoddoli Cymru.

05/10/2026

The Volunteering Wales Main Grant is open for applications!

The grant supports organisations across Wales to create and develop volunteering opportunities, remove barriers to getting involved, and help embed volunteering into their culture.

Organisations can apply for up to £30,000 for projects lasting up to one year.

⏰ Deadline for applications: 5pm on 30 November 2026.

Find out more: https://wcva.cymru/funding/vwg/

WCVA CGGC

Volunteering Wales Grants is a scheme funded by the Welsh Government to promote and improve volunteering in Wales. Volunteering Wales is about ‘…the kind of country we want to be’.

05/10/2026

🕯️ Who can you trust to keep things accessible?

With The Traitors back on our screens, we’re bringing back our Social Media Accessibility Round Table.

These everyday actions can create or remove barriers online.

Choose your next move wisely… 👀

Image description: A graphic titled 'The Social Media Accessibility Round Table' with a candle on each side of the text. Below is a two-column table. The column on the right is titled 'Faithful actions' and the one on the left is titled 'Needs banishment'. In the faithful actions column are: Adding ALT text image descriptions. Captioning videos. Using CamelCase hashtags . Sticking to one or two emojis. Using good colour contrast. In the needs banishment column, we have: Images with no descriptions. Videos with unreadable or no captions. Lower case hashtags . Using emojis to convey a message. Poor colour contrast. There are two tall flaming torches on either side of the table and DW's logo is in the top right corner of the graphic.

01/10/2026

Today, we’re celebrating 25 years of our Chief Executive, Rhian Davies!

Rhian joined Disability Wales for the second time in 2001, beginning a quarter of a century of leadership, campaigning and dedication to the rights of disabled people in Wales.

During that time, Rhian has helped shape DW into the organisation it is today; a strong, respected voice for disabled people and Disabled People’s Organisations, campaigning for change, influencing policy and making sure that disabled people’s voices and lived experience are heard.

From the beginning, Rhian has been a tireless champion of the Social Model of Disability and of disabled people’s leadership. In 2003, DW formally adopted the Social Model and committed to being an organisation run and controlled by disabled people, a commitment that has guided and underpinned our work ever since.

Rhian’s leadership has taken DW into rooms where decisions are made, working with Welsh Government, contributing to the Disability Rights Taskforce, championing independent living and bringing the experiences and voices of disabled people into national and international forums.

Twenty-five years is an incredible milestone, and while so much has changed during that time, Rhian’s commitment has remained constant: to challenge inequality, to amplify disabled people’s voices and leadership, and to keep pushing for a Wales where disabled people can live with dignity, choice and autonomy.

Thank you, Rhian, for your leadership, mentorship, dedication and commitment.
Thank you for challenging the status quo.
And thank you for everything you have done — and continue to do — to make Wales a more equitable and inclusive place for disabled people.

Here’s to 25 years, and the next chapter. Llongyfarchiadau enfawr! 🎉

Image description: Rhian wearing a deep purple blouse with a subtle pattern with a lanyard around her neck. Her hand is slightly raised from the table, showing a white beaded bracelet that adorns her wrist. Her head is turned slightly to one side as if listening to someone speaking off camera.

01/10/2026

Beth sydd y tu fewn i Becyn Cymorth Mynediad at Wleidyddiaeth? 💭

Mae'r Pecyn Cymorth yn ymdrin â gwahanol gamau o ymwneud â gwleidyddiaeth, o benderfynu a ddylech gymryd rhan hyd at ymuno â phlaid wleidyddol, dod yn ymgeisydd, cael eich ethol neu sefyll fel ymgeisydd annibynnol.

Mae hefyd yn cynnwys gwybodaeth am addasiadau rhesymol, fframweithiau cyfreithiol, budd-daliadau a materion ariannol, datblygiad personol, a manylion cyswllt ar gyfer cyngor a chymorth pellach.

Mae'r Pecyn Cymorth wedi'i gynllunio i ddarparu man cychwyn ar gyfer eich taith wleidyddol a helpu i wneud bywyd gwleidyddol yn haws i'w lywio.

🔗 Lawrlwythwch y Pecyn Cymorth llawn: https://www.disabilitywales.org/yn-cyflwyno-pecyn-cymorth-mynediad-at-wleidyddiaeth/?lang=cy

Disgrifiad llun. Testun glas tywyll ac oren ar gefndir gwyn yn dweud: Pecyn Cymorth Mynediad at Wleidyddiaeth. Canllawiau cam wrth gam i bobl anabl ar wahanol gamau o'u taith wleidyddol. Lawrlwythwch! Mae amlinelliadau o wahanol siapiau geometrig ar ochr dde'r graffeg, yn cynnwys cylchoedd, trionglau a chroesau mewn glas, oren a gwyrdd-las. Mae tri logo dwyieithog ar y gwaelod: Anabledd Cymru, Rhwydwaith Llawr Gwlad Mynediad at Wleidyddiaeth, a Llywodraeth Cymru.

01/10/2026

What’s inside the Access to Politics Toolkit? 💭

The Toolkit covers different stages of political involvement, from deciding whether to get involved through to joining a political party, becoming a candidate, being elected or standing as an independent.

It also includes information on reasonable adjustments, legal frameworks, benefits and financial concerns, personal development, and contacts for further advice and support.

The Toolkit is designed to provide a starting point for your political journey and help make political life easier to navigate.

🔗 Download the full Toolkit: https://www.disabilitywales.org/introducing-the-access-to-politics-toolkit/

Image description: Bold text on a white background reads: Access to Politics Toolkit. Step-by-step guidance for disabled people at different stages of their political journey. Download today! Outlines of different geometrical shapes decorate the right side of the graphic, they include circles, triangles and crosses in blue, orange and teal. Three bilingual logos are at the bottom: Disability Wales, Access to Politics Grassroots Network and Welsh Government.