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Monday 2 October 2023 Dublin: 13°C

# accessibility

This year
2023
All Together Now to undertake 'full review' of disability access following criticism
A report by
Eoghan Dalton
Calls were made for a review of the festival’s accessibility after disabled people who bought tickets could not access the main arena.
Organisers are also facing questions over why they claimed to have partnered with the Irish Wheelchair Association for this year's event - the charity has denied any such involvement.
'I'm not looking to be chauffeured for the weekend but please don't make it that I'm struggling to get into the festival,' one attendee told reporter Eoghan Dalton.
The man has been offered a full refund having left Curraghmore without staying a night.
Vision-impaired woman: 'Please legislate to keep e-scooters off footpaths'
Anne Marie Kearney is vision impaired and uses a cane. She says e-scooters must never reach a footpath.
Complaints as steep temporary ramps at Dún Laoghaire Baths won't be upgraded until later in year
Access For All co-founder Sean O’Kelly told The Journal that the temporary ramps are too steep for independent access.
Last year
2022
'I don't know where to turn': Family carers call for reinstatement of funding for ceiling hoists
Guidance issued to local authorities in 2020 stated that ceiling hoists should not be included in the adaptation grant scheme.
The government has said discussions on the issue are ongoing but has provided no timeline for a solution, Michelle Hennessy reports.
One family told The Journal that they feel like they are being "fobbed off" about vital equipment for their six-year-old daughter.
'At this stage, it is a crisis': Children still left waiting for public disability services
None of the 91 community teams for children with disabilities are fully staffed
'My heart sank': Use of 'kissing' gates criticised over lack of accessibility for wheelchair users
Journalist Ellis Palmer Babe, who is a wheelchair user, was unable to get through a kissing gate in Dodder Valley Park earlier this week.
All time
Ombudsman: Personal transport supports for disabled people 'inadequate and unfair'
The Ombudsman has published his report on unequal access to transport schemes for disabled people, an issue first highlighted 20 years ago.
Opinion: The world should not fall into its old ableist habits as Covid re-openings continue
Matt McCann says despite the challenges of Covid, some welcome changes have come for those with disabilities and those changes should not be lost.
Opinion: 'Housing has been a crisis for disabled people for decades'
We have to change the way we think about housing for disabled people, writes James Cawley.
Cars, bins and sandwich boards on footpaths continue to cause issues for wheelchair users
Activists have said the situation deteriorated during the pandemic.
‘A significant challenge’: Unclear when public transport will be fully accessible
Despite some improvements in recent years, ongoing obstacles to accessibility are leading to isolation and anxiety for disabled people.
Despite improvements in recent years, ongoing obstacles to accessibility are leading to isolation and anxiety, reports Maria Delaney of Noteworthy, our investigative platform.
The NTA and Department of Transport could not give a date for a fully accessible public transport system.
Inaccessible infrastructure is preventing disabled people from travelling on accessible trains and buses.
'No plans to reinstate' transport schemes for disabled people that activists say are 'vital'
The Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance schemes remain closed after a review was recommended over eight years ago.
Stranded, refused and left waiting: Disabled people 'on tenterhooks' trying to access taxis
Most accessibility-related complaints involved taxi drivers refusing to take guide dogs or wheelchair users.
Advocates are concerned low availability of accessible taxis is leading to reduced independence, reports Maria Delaney of Noteworthy, our investigative platform.
Most accessibility-related complaints involved taxi drivers refusing to take guide dogs or wheelchair users.
Two-thirds of the current wheelchair accessible vehicles in the taxi fleet are based in the Greater Dublin area.
'White elephant': The €2.7m transport training centre causing conflict in disability community
Disabled people feel that once again they were not consulted about a major project that most affects them.
Disabled people feel that once again they were not consulted about a major decision that most affects them, reports Maria Delaney of Noteworthy, our investigative platform.
The NTA and Department of Transport (DOT) were aware of lack of consultation before funding decision.
Concerns were raised numerous times at the DOT Accessibility Consultative Committee.
Irish Rail planning to upgrade or replace lifts and escalators at 22 stations this year
Disability activists have in recent years highlighted that many lifts are out of service for long periods of time.
Campaign group concerned over increasing number of broken lifts at train stations
Over eight stations, on average, had lifts out of action over the past two weeks, according to Access for All campaign group.
Irish Rail says it plans to replace and upgrade all its lifts over the next five years
Disability activists have recently highlighted that many lifts are out of service for long periods of time,
Opinion: Stranded on platforms, crawling through faulty lifts: travelling with a disability on public transport
Sean O’Kelly tells of the “hit and miss” service that humiliates and distresses people with disabilities.
Irish Rail accused of 'just not caring' as scale of lift problems at train stations revealed
Over the last two years there have been multiple instances of lifts being out of order for more than 20 consecutive days.
Out-of-order lifts and communication breakdowns: Why taking the DART can be a hugely frustrating experience for wheelchair users
Recent issues with lifts not working have left many wheelchair users unable to access certain stations.
'The returns are huge if we can do this': The need for a world-class public transport system in Ireland
What needs to happen in Ireland to drastically improve our public transport?
'We aren't considered important': Wheelchair users dismayed over continued lift breakdowns on train line
‘If people were treated the same way because of their skin colour or religion, the country would shut down.’
Lynn Ruane: In Ireland we're forcing carers to change their children on toilet floors
The Community Participation Bill 2019 has made me think about what real access looks like, writes Lynn Ruane.
Parking Mad: Filmmaker Paddy Slattery on attempting to access accessible parking
Filmmaker and wheelchair user Paddy Slattery appeals to drivers to think before blocking accessible parking spaces.
This is why Sinead Burke and others are adding image descriptions to their Instagram posts
Let’s keep it accessible, people.
'Everyday bus users are refusing to fold up their buggies to allow wheelchair users on board'
The transport committee was told that new regulations are needed to force people to fold up their prams.
Column: 'We waited for three hours on the side of the road in the dark and cold. I'm sick of it'
This is an issue that wheelchair users face on a daily basis, writes Linda Byrne.
New system on the Dart to slash the notice needed for wheelchair users to access service
Campaigners had long called for a change to the system of giving 24 hours’ notice.
'Some kind of penalty may be necessary' - new campaign may mean fines for blocking footpaths
A new disabilities campaign launched yesterday will see increased efforts made to keep Dublin’s footpaths clear for those with disabilities.
There's a way to end calls on Android using only the power button
Handy if your phone takes ages to wake up when you’re finishing a call.
Your iPhone has a handy feature that lets you access anything with one hand
And it’s easy to forget about.
Soon you'll be able to control your Android phone without using your fingers
Google has quietly rolled out the beta version of its Voice Access app, allowing you to navigate using speech.
Lending your iPhone or iPad out to someone? Guided access is what you need
If you worry about someone going through your phone when they only need it for one task, activating this will help.
Find keyboard shortcuts a little difficult to do? Turn on Stickykeys
It’s handy if you find or someone else finds it difficult to hit combination keys like Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
There's a hidden 'low light' mode buried deep in your iPhone's settings
And it’s easy to activate (once you know how).
How this Lego-like electronics system allows anyone to build DIY hardware
littleBits allows both kids and adults to build their own DIY devices and prototypes using electronic blocks.
Is Twitter moving to a Facebook-style feed?
Say it ain’t so.
Midleton is a 'model town' for accessibility according to the EU
The town has received EU accreditation for accessibility after improving facilities and infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport services.
The town that proves accessibility IS for all (even with no budget)
Cashel is a heritage town that has seen the whole community come on board to improve accessibility.
Column: At 18, I felt invincible but a sudden accident left me paralysed from the neck down
Stephen Cluskey suffered an accident that left him paralysed from the neck down at the tender age of 18. Eleven years on, he explains how he learned to adapt to a new way of life and set up his own business.
Dublin nightclub apologises 'unreservedly' for treatment of wheelchair user
Madison nightclub in central Dublin says a doorman who refused entry to a wheelchair user has been dismissed.