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Make Way Day highlights issues with mobility for Disability groups

Make Way Day – Councillor Abul Kalam Azad Talukder, Deputy Mayor of the City and County of Limerick pictured with wheelchair users Eileen Bourke and Beverly O’Connor, Irish Wheelchair Association Staff Margaret Quinn and Geraldine Cross and Kerry Blake from Headway at the launch of Make Way Day which takes place this Friday 25 September. Picture: Don Moloney

Make Way Day highlights issues with mobility for Disability groups

Make Way Day

“Make Way Day” is a public awareness campaign that brings the disability and wider community together to consider the needs of people with disabilities in the public spaces we all share. Picture: Don Moloney

 


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Make Way Day is a public awareness campaign that brings the disability and wider community together to consider the needs of people with disabilities in the public spaces we all share.

 

Groups working with the disabled or those with mobility issues in Limerick are calling on people to think about the needs of others when advertising their companies, parking on footpaths, parking cars or even not picking up after your dog. 

 

Make Way Day, organised by the Disability Federation of Ireland is taking place this Friday, September 25 in Limerick and across the country highlighting issues affecting those who have mobility issues such as using wheelchairs. 

 

For wheelchair users, the elderly, people with mobility issues, parents with buggies and children, having to navigate around a car or van blocking the footpath unnecessarily puts them on the road where they are being put in additional danger. 

 

The day will draw attention to the challenges posed by things left on the footpath. This includes sandwich boards along a city street, cars parked on the footpath, or a wheelie bin left out other than on collection day, which result in those in a wheelchair or a parent walking with a buggy, having to go onto the road or street to get around the obstacle. 

 

The scourge of dog poo on footpaths is also being highlighted by wheelchair users who are left with poo on the wheels and on their hands by the selfishness of certain dog owners who refuse to clean up after their dogs.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Michael Collins said: “It is very important that those who are less abled can travel along our footpaths unhindered and in a safe manner. Make Way Day is a great campaign to make people aware of their actions.” 

 

“These actions, which are often done without even thinking, can have adverse consequences for others. I am appealing to homeowners and businesses to make sure the footpaths outside their houses or premises are obstacle-free, and for motorists to park their vehicles on the road and not the footpath.” 

 

“These small changes will have a huge positive impact for people in wheelchairs and parents with buggies for example.” 

 

As part of Make Way Day 2020, Limerick City and County Council will be taking part in a virtual meeting with disability groups at 11am where people will highlight access issues from their lived experience of disability. To join the meeting click HERE and follow the instructions. 

 

Anyone who sees an obstacle on the footpath can tweet it to @MakeWayDay and by using the hashtag #MakeWayDay or #MakeWayLimerick 

 

For other stories about Disability, click HERE

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.