DFI is committed to leading a delegation to the Fifth European Parliament for persons with disabilities.

DFI will be leading a delegation to the Fifth European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities (EPPD) taking place in Brussels on Tuesday 23 May 2023.

The European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities (EPPD) is an event that brings together people with disabilities and their representatives to discuss the rights and political demands of the disabled community. It is hosted at the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Brussels.

Earlier this year, DFI put out a call for applications from persons with disabilities or with a lived experience of disability to be part of our delegation. We had 59 expressions of interest and are delighted to be able to bring a 13 strong delegation which will be led by DFI’s CEO, John Dolan.  

 The delegation includes:  

  • Carolyn Akintola, a self-advocate from Dublin.   
  • Paul Alford, a self-advocate who has worked for Inclusion Ireland for 18 years. Paul lives in Navan.   
  • Fintan Bray, Down Syndrome Ireland.   
  • Adrian Carroll, AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity. He is from Killarney, Co. Kerry, 
  • Joan Carthy, Irish Wheelchair Association.  
  • James Cawley, self-advocate from Longford.  
  • Macrine Clancy, Cathaoirleach of the Board of Polio Survivors Ireland.  
  • Catherine Cooper, disability activist and advocate attached to the CRC in Dublin.  
  • Lorraine Duffy, a self-advocate from Galway who lives with an acquired brain injury.  
  • Padraig Hannafin, Public Affairs Research Administrator for the Rehab Group in Ireland. 
  • Jeanne McDonagh, CEO of the Open Doors Initiative.    
  • Aoife Price, a disabled researcher, academic, and activist from Waterford.

The theme of the 5th edition is “Building an inclusive future for persons with disabilities in the EU.”

DFI CEO, John Dolan has made a number of statements about the delegation. Click HERE to find out more.

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