Make Way Day returns to County Clare on 24th September

This year, DFI has developed an online tool that campaigners can use to test and rate their local area or 5k.

The online tool is mobile friendly and can be used to draw attention to anything that is a barrier for people, meaning every corner of Ireland can be put to the test for basic access issues.

The Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan, said: “Clare County Council is happy to work with DFI in supporting the roll-out of Make Way Day in County Clare. Make Way Day is an important campaign to increase public awareness of the obstacles and access issues experienced by people with disabilities in public spaces.”

Make Way Day focuses on individual responsibility, and the things we can all do to help our fellow citizens get from A to B.

The online tool empowers people with disabilities to survey their area for obstacles and rate its accessibility. It will give people the chance to share their frustrations by posting photos of obstacles to social platforms with the hashtag, #MakeWayDay21.

Martin Tobin, Chairperson, Clare Leader Forum, said: “Clare Leader Forum would like to work towards a more inclusive society where barriers are gone and where people with disabilities can live our lives to our fullest, on an equal basis.”

Members of Clare Leader Forum sit on Clare County Council’s Physical Development Strategic Policy Committee to input into policy development, while members of Clare Older People’s Council sit on the Clare Age Friendly Alliance Board to give focus to priority areas of the Clare Age Friendly Strategy.

Clare County Council is committed to consultation to ensure the views of people are at the heart of decision making when developing universally accessible public spaces and amenities.

Karen Fennessy, Clare Age Friendly Development Officer, Clare County Council, said: “County Clare has already made great progress in the improvements to accessibility through the delivery of consultative walkability studies of Ennis, Kilrush and Shannon using a Universally Designed Walkability Audit Tool developed by the National Disability Authority, National Transport Authority, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design and Age Friendly Ireland. The development of Ennis as the first Age Friendly Town in Clare is also a great achievement which we hope will improve the lives of our older citizens and people living with disabilities.”

For further information on Make Way Day 2021 visit: www.makewayday.com

 

Get involved

The online Make Way Day tool will be available at www.makewayday.com on Friday, 24th September.

The online tool empowers people to survey their area for obstacles and rate its accessibility. It will once again give people the chance to share their frustrations by posting photos of obstacles to social platforms with the hashtag, #MakeWayDay21. The aim of DFI is to coordinate the results to have one comprehensive map of access in Ireland.

People who don't have the online tool can still take part. Take pictures of obstacles (parked cars on footpaths, bikes chained to railings, sandwich boards and overhanging branches) and post your pictures to social media. Include #MakeWayDay21, tag @MakeWayDay and @disabilityfed in your post.

People who do not have access to social media on 24th September may email makewayday@clarecoco.ie with photographs of obstructions they have encountered (max email size of 6MB). Obstructions requiring intervention by Clare County Council will be referred to the relevant Council department for review and response.

 

Caption:

Members of Clare Leader Forum (l-r), Martin Tobin (Chairperson) and Dermot Hayes, pictured at Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis to raise awareness of Make Way Day 2021, which takes place on Friday, 24th September, 2021. Photo: Eamon Ward.

Page last reviewed: 22/09/21

Content managed by: Corporate Services Department

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