Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 21 Jan, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Community

Period 1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019

Specific Details Request for support for the Make Way Day Campaign

Intended results Establishment of an official, national and locally based Make Way Day - where awareness is raised about how obstacles on foot paths can obstruct people with disabilities

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Clare Cronin, Deidre Fahey, Heidi Wright, John Dolan, Lisa Fenwick, Pierce Richardson. DFI orchestrated the campaign in association with: Enable Ireland, Central Remedial Clinic, Rehab Group, National Council for the Blind Ireland, Irish Wheelchair Association and Post Polio.

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? As per website www.makewayday.com people were encouraged to: 1) Take pictures of the obstacles you encounter (parked cars on footpaths, bikes chained to railings, sandwich boards and overhanging branches) and post your pictures to social media. Include #makewayday #makewayYOURCOUNTYNAME and tag @makewayday @disabilityfed in your post 2) Show your support by sharing and retweeting other people’s posts from the Make Way Day Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account and encourage friends and family to do the same. 3)Contact your local Councillors asking them to support Make Way Day 2019. We’ve prepared a draft motion to help with this – email info@disability-federation.ie and we’ll send it to you. 4) Contact others who might be interested in getting involved and form a local working group. 5)Let DFI know so we can support you to make the campaign happen in your area.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

1 Meeting held with Councillor Neasa Hourigan to discuss the Make Way Day Campaign 2019

Email (2-5)

1 Email was sent to all Mayo County Councillors asking them to commit to passing the Make Way Day motion for the establishment of an annual Make Way Day in County Mayo. 3 Emails were sent to Councillor Anthony Waldron asking for commitment to passing the Make Way Day motion for the establishment of an annual Make Way Day in County Roscommon. 1 Email was sent to all Galway City Councillors, 2 Emails were sent to Mayor Mike Cubbard, inviting them to the Make Way Day launch in Galway City.

Phone call (2-5)

3 Phone calls were made to Councillor Anthony Waldron following up on commitment to passing the Make Way Day motion for the establishment of an annual Make Way Day in County Roscommon.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Neasa Hourigan Councillor (Dublin City Council)

Anthony Waldron Councillor (Roscommon County Council)

Mike Cubbard Councillor (Galway City Council)