Cavan Disability Network

27/10/2026

ILMI’s Boakai Nyhen Jr. addresses NDA Annual Conference 2026

ILMI’s Boakai Nyhen Jr. spoke at the National Disability Authority (NDA) Annual Conference 2026, held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday the 15th of October.

This year’s conference focused on disability inclusive responses to emergencies under Article 11 of the UNCRPD, bringing together disabled people, DPOs, policymakers and public officials to explore how the rights and safety of disabled people can be protected during emergencies and situations of risk.

Boakai, currently a Community Development Worker with ILMI’s ONSIDE Evolution project, spoke about ILMI’s work engaging disabled people living in Direct Provision.

Alongside his colleague Heylove Robert Mark Sr., Boakai led an eight month pilot project supporting 20 disabled people living in Direct Provision through peer support, Disability Equality Training, digital inclusion and connections with mainstream services and local DPOs.

The project achieved significant outcomes, with 100% of participants reporting increased knowledge of Irish systems, 94% feeling more confident accessing education and employment services, and 86% connecting with their local DPO.

Boakai also highlighted the serious barriers disabled people face within the international protection system, including inaccessible accommodation, delays accessing healthcare, a lack of Personal Assistance Services and social isolation.

The project demonstrated what can be achieved when disabled people are connected, supported and empowered through collective peer spaces and DPOs. It also reinforced the need for sustained investment in disabled people’s organisations to ensure this vital work can continue and reach those whose voices are too often excluded.

ILMI welcomes the opportunity to bring these experiences to a national audience and to reinforce a simple message: meaningful inclusion requires more than consultation. It requires action, investment and properly resourced DPOs led by disabled people ourselves.

Nothing About Us Without Us.

IMAGE: photo of the panel

20/10/2026

Vision Ireland research showed visually impaired people may avoid going out because of footpath obstacles

20/10/2026

19/10/2026

NLN Cavan this Wednesday are hosting an informative session by Bodywhys Youth Development Officer, Conor Nolan.
Everyone Welcome. 6pm to 8pm

National Learning Network Cavan

12/10/2026

Too many people with disabilities don't have jobs or are stuck in unstable jobs. Many jobs do not treat people with disabilities fairly.

When a disabled person applies for a job, they may face:

Complicated applications.
Risk of losing benefits like Medicaid.
Ableist tests that don’t measure job skills.

Once a disabled person gets a job, they often deal with:

Lack of support.
Ableism from coworkers, clients, or customers.
Being overlooked for promotions or special training.

We must make workplaces more accessible for people with disabilities.

10/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1567634528737515&set=a.375796554587991&__cft__[0]=AZjD4I666u_sOCeRYfR09WHe_JD2PaoTHYNTSFuzEdlu_vBcM_pRNcnfYhkcTRhfCS7ibySLdK3eM6xfSQETMMa0t8tfiYADKbBKGgtZKrmSqqccysOkXje7iGxzg_qlOFta6pG52Lk&__tn__=EH-R

To mark World Sight Day, Vision Ireland’s Book Bridge Project has converted another resource into accessible formats.

Alfie and the Magic White Stick by Julia & Sean Coupe, was created to help children explore sight loss and visual impairment through an engaging story. It is a heartwarming children's book that introduces young readers to visual impairment through the adventures of a young boy named Alfie.

Following their own experiences of sight loss and a rapid shift in their lives, the author and illustrator wanted to create something positive from the experience. They noticed how tools used for visual impairment, like the white stick, are often viewed solely through a medical lens. They wanted to reframe the white stick as a symbol of empowerment, adventure, and a new way of "seeing" for children.

The book focuses on friendship, building empathy, celebrating differences, and understanding that experiencing the world relies as much on feeling and intuition as it does on sight.

This work centres on a core philosophical question: What if seeing the world wasn't just about what you look at—but how you experience it? Reviews have highlighted its value in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Its gentle, heartfelt tone makes it a useful starting point for caregivers and teachers to spark early conversations about accessibility, disability, and the simple truth that "anything is possible" when children are given the right support.

We worked with the author and illustrator to convert this resource into braille and audio formats, to maximise the reach of this valuable resource.

The Book Bridge Project is a joint venture between Vision Ireland’s Counselling, Wellbeing & Emotional Support Service and Library Access Services. It has been made possible by generous funding from the Hospital Saturday Fund. For more information or to access the resources, visit www.vi.ie , email: [email protected] or call 1800 911 250

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

Multisport Inclusive Halloween Camp

From Tuesday October 27th to Thursday October 29th.

More info in Cavan Sports Partnership Facebook post.

🎃Multi-Sport Inclusive Halloween Camp🎃

Join us for a fun-filled Multisport Inclusive Halloween Camp, where children and teenagers with a disability can enjoy sport, games, and Halloween-themed activities in a welcoming and supportive environment.

This camp is designed to ensure everyone can participate, have fun, make friends, and develop new skills regardless of ability or experience.

🗓️Dates: Tuesday October 27th - Thursday October 29th
🕚Time: 11am - 1pm
📍Location: Cavan Leisure Centre
💰Cost: €20 per person
🔗Booking link: https://cavansportspartnership.ie/event/multi-sport-inclusive-halloween/

Please note:
• Cancellations made more than 48 hours before the programme start date/time are eligible for a full refund.
• Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the programme start date/time are non‑refundable.

This policy ensures fairness and allows us to manage scheduling, resources, and programme preparation effectively.

Cavan Swimming Pool & Leisure Complex Cavan Disability Network Cavan Autism Parents Support CLG

06/10/2026

In case you missed it: this one really matters.

The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has published General Comment 11 on Article 29 of the UNCRPD.

So what does that actually mean?

A General Comment explains what an article of the UNCRPD means in practice and what States are expected to do to meet their obligations.

Article 29 is about our right as disabled people to participate fully in political and public life. That means voting, standing for election and participating in political life. But crucially, it also means our right to organise collectively through Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) and to have those organisations meaningfully involved in decisions that affect our lives.

General Comment 11 makes some things very clear.

Consultation cannot simply happen after decisions have effectively been made. DPOs need to be involved from the beginning and throughout the development, implementation and monitoring of policy.

Having one disabled person at a table is not automatically representative participation. Organisations speaking on behalf of disabled people cannot replace organisations led, directed and governed by disabled people themselves.

And meaningful participation needs to be properly resourced. States have a responsibility to create the conditions that allow independent DPOs to organise, develop our own analysis and participate effectively at local, national and international levels.

That is hugely important for Ireland.

ILMI contributed directly to the development of General Comment 11 through our submission to the UN Committee, drawing on our experience as a national DPO and the development of local DPOs across Ireland.

For us, this is about more than having a seat at a table. It is about power, representation and who gets to shape the decisions that affect disabled people’s lives.

Nothing About Us Without Us is not just a slogan. Article 29 gives it substance.

Read our full analysis of General Comment 11 and why it matters below 👇
https://ilmi.ie/ilmi-welcomes-uncrpd-committee-publication-of-general-comment-11-on-article-29-of-the-convention/



IMAGE: Bold ILMI graphic highlighting UNCRPD General Comment 11 and Article 29, the right of disabled people to participate in political and public life.