Inclusion Ireland

21/05/2026

👏A massive, heartfelt thank you to the over 1,500 people from every corner of Ireland who took the time to share their stories in our “Our Rights, Our Voices” Annual National Survey.

Because of you, this has officially been our largest national survey to date!

🌟 What Happens Next?

We are now diving into the data to ensure your experiences directly shape the future of disability rights in Ireland, and up first is our Budget Submission 2027!

We look forward to sharing the findings and working together to build an Ireland where everyone belongs. Thank you for making your voice heard!

20/05/2026

Today, Inclusion Ireland appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters.

We delivered an opening statement presenting the findings of our commissioned report: "Representative Advocacy for Children with Intellectual Disabilities."

Conducted independently by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the University of Galway, this research put children and young people firmly in the driving seat.

Right now, children and their families are under enormous pressure just to access fundamental rights - like a school place, timely therapies, and a normal family life.

💡 Our Call to Action: A National Advocacy Service for Children

Ireland already has an excellent National Advocacy Service for adults. We need the exact same service for children. An independent advocate standing alongside children and families would:

- Amplify children's voices and challenge discrimination.

- Intervene early to prevent family crises.

- Ensure no family has to walk this exhausting path alone.

Every child in Ireland deserves the right to live an ordinary, decent life.

20/05/2026

📣We're hiring: Senior Speech and Language Therapist (0.2 WTE – 18-Month Project)

Inclusion Ireland is looking for a part-time Senior SLT to join our core project team for the HSE CREATE III Accessible Information initiative!

If you have a minimum of 3 years post-graduate experience, are CORU registered, and have a background working with adults with intellectual disabilities, this is your chance to make a national impact.

What you’ll do:

- Contribute clinical communication expertise to develop National Standards for Accessible Information.

- Support the delivery of training co-designed with experts with lived experience.

- Help build a centralised National Resource Hub.

🔗 Learn more and apply here: https://www.inclusionireland.ie/news-events/job-opportunity-senior-speech-and-language-therapist-role-part-time/

Deadline for applications: 2nd June 2026

18/05/2026

90% of people with an intellectual disability and their families that we surveyed last year have no meaningful plan for their future housing.

This is leading to crisis-driven and at times inhumane situations.

‘We should never be in crisis-management mode when it comes to the provision of the most basic human rights like the right to a home. It’s about more than bricks and mortar, it infringes on how people feel about themselves’ - Derval McDonagh, CEO, Inclusion Ireland.

Read more through the link in our stories.

18/05/2026

90% of people with an intellectual disability and their families that we surveyed last year have no meaningful plan for their future housing.

This is leading to crisis-driven and at times inhumane situations.

'We should never be in crisis-management mode when it comes to the provision of the most basic human rights like the right to a home. It’s about more than bricks and mortar, it infringes on how people feel about themselves' - Derval McDonagh, CEO, Inclusion Ireland.

Read more here:

Close to 200 people with intellectual disabilities are sent to residential placements more than 100km from their home, something parents say is an added strain on an already traumatic situation

18/05/2026

The clock is ticking... our national survey closes at 12:00pm today!

Hundreds of you have already shared your stories, but to build an inclusive Ireland, we need to hear from everyone. What is working? What barriers still exist? What needs to change?

This is your final opportunity to tell us. It takes just 5 minutes, but your input will have a lasting impact on disability rights in Ireland.

Choose the survey that is relevant to you before the midday deadline:

💻 Survey 1: Adults with intellectual disabilities
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C2M7YCN

💻 Survey 2: Parents and guardians of children with an intellectual disability (up to age 18) https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q7WQF9R

💻 Survey 3: Families and supporters of adults with intellectual disabilities
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BZKBPZC

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported, shared, and filled out the survey so far. Let's make these last few hours count! 🙌

17/05/2026

⏰ Less than 24 hours left!

Time is running out to make your voice heard in our "Our Rights, Our Voices" national survey. The deadline is tomorrow - Monday, May 18th at 12:00pm.

Hundreds of you have already shared your stories, but to build a truly inclusive Ireland, we need to hear from everyone. This is your final chance to tell the country what is working, what barriers still exist, and what needs to change.

It takes just 5 minutes, but the impact will help us shape the future of disability rights in Ireland. Choose the survey that is relevant to you:

📋 Survey 1: Adults with intellectual disabilities
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C2M7YCN

📋 Survey 2: Parents and guardians of children with an intellectual disability (up to age 18) - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q7WQF9R

📋 Survey 3: Families and supporters of adults with intellectual disabilities.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BZKBPZC

Thank you for your suppport.

16/05/2026

🚨 Only 2 days left to take part in "Our Rights, Our Voices"! 🚨

Time is running out to complete our largest Annual National Survey to date. This isn’t just about collecting data or ticking boxes; it is a platform for collective empowerment. We are calling on people with intellectual disabilities, their families, and their supporters from every corner of the country to help us shape the future of disability rights in Ireland.

This survey is your chance to tell the country:

- What is working in your daily life.

- What isn’t working and creates barriers.

- What needs to change to ensure true inclusion.

There are 3 separate surveys, please choose the one that is relevant to you.

📋 Survey 1: Adults with intellectual disabilities
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C2M7YCN

📋 Survey 2: Parents and guardians of children with an intellectual disability (up to age 18) - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q7WQF9R

📋 Survey 3: Families and supporters of adults with intellectual disabilities.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BZKBPZC

⏱️ The final deadline to fill out the surveys is this Monday, 18th of May 2026.

14/05/2026

🔊 Inclusion Ireland and Asiam.ie welcome the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny report on the Disability (Amendment) Bill.

We are glad to see our key recommendations included, from protecting the right to a diagnosis to ending "deemed withdrawn" waiting list practices.

However, fixing processes is just a "sticking plaster" - we need deep, structural reform that aligns with the UNCRPD.

Standardising the Assessment of Need process cannot come at the expense of genuine rights. We are meeting Minister Higgins soon to demand clarity on how families and DPOs will be co-creating the next steps.

Read our full breakdown below.

Inclusion Ireland AsIAm welcome the publication of the Pre‑Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025. Many of the recommendations that both organisations put forward were included in the publication; these include:   A “Rights” Framework Without “Rig...

14/05/2026

We are honoured to announce that President Catherine Connolly has accepted the invitation to become Patron of Inclusion Ireland.

This recognition marks an important moment for our organisation and for the ongoing work to promote the rights, inclusion, and equal participation of people with intellectual disabilities and their families across Ireland.

We are deeply grateful for the President’s support and look forward to continuing our work towards a more inclusive society for all.