Abby Smyth
Irish Wheelchair Association Member
Joan Carthy
Advocacy Manager, Irish Wheelchair Association
The festive season exposes the daily struggles of people with disabilities, highlighting the need for systemic change, inclusive infrastructure and empowering community efforts through public support and charity work.
The festive season is a time for connection and celebration. However, for people with disabilities, it can amplify the barriers they face daily. Inaccessible venues, pathways littered with barriers and poorly designed infrastructure can turn the season of joy into one of isolation and frustration.
Joan Carthy, Advocacy Manager at Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), explains the impact of these challenges. “People with disabilities may end up deciding to not brave the elements and instead choose to stay at home. It’s an enforced loneliness,” she says.
Daily accessibility challenges
For individuals like Abby Smyth, a 22-year-old wheelchair user from Galway City, these barriers are all too familiar. Navigating poorly designed streets often feels unsafe. To cross the road from the shops to get to her bus stop, she must leave the path, wheel onto a driveway and hope for a break in the traffic. “You’re literally hoping for the best that the cars will stop. It’s scary, to be honest,” she says.
Onboard public transport limitations add to the difficulty. Train travel requires advance notice, and wheelchair spaces on buses are limited. “It takes away the spontaneity because outings require additional planning,” Carthy notes. “It’s those small everyday things that are probably the most frustrating because someone with a disability isn’t afforded equal access to society, like everyone else.”
It’s those small everyday things that are
probably the most frustrating because
someone with a disability isn’t afforded
equal access to society, like everyone else.
Support fosters autonomy
Empowering people and advocating for systemic improvements are essential for fostering autonomy and reducing isolation — goals that charities can help achieve through their transformative support. Smyth, member of IWA’s School Leaver programme, has gained greater freedom and confidence, thanks to these efforts. “A few years ago, I never would have dreamed of using public transport. Now, I can travel across the city on my own,” she says.
Inclusion removes barriers
Accessibility issues remain, such as venues without lifts and inaccessible toilets, which prevent wheelchair users from fully participating in social activities. IWA is actively working to remove these barriers by advocating for better infrastructure and providing vital support services. During the festive season, their group outings help members like Smyth navigate busy streets and enjoy the holiday season atmosphere more safely.
Carthy emphasises the importance of community-based solutions and the power of giving back, no matter how small. “The magic happens at the community level,” she says. “Inclusion ensures that no one is left behind during the holidays.”
