Enhancing Equality Offaly support a successful Make Way Day in Tullamore

Enhancing Equality Offaly support a successful Make Way Day in Tullamore

 Fri, 28th Sep, 2018

Enhancing Equality Offaly organised an event in Tullamore library to mark The Disability Federation of Irelands Make Way Day.

In excess of 70 people attended the event - which took place last Wednesday - including people living with disabilities, older adults and staff from Community, Voluntary and Statutory organisations. All three secondary schools in Tullamore participated in the event; The Sacred Heart School, Colaiste Choilm and Tullamore College.

Those in attendance had the opportunity to report on accessibility issues during facilitated workshops in Tullamore Library or could choose to attend a guided walk around identified areas of Tullamore town. All in attendance had the opportunity to learn more about Enhancing Equality Offaly which is a group that comprises of agencies and people with disabilities who have come together to form a development group. EEO are committed to: Hearing the voices of people with disabilities and working together to explore and provide training opportunities. The group will highlight accessibility issues within our County and will establish A Disability Network in County Offaly.

Those who participated on the walkabout went out in the company of Offaly County Council Staff members and held up Make Way Day stickers where obstacles were identified examples included inappropriate parked cars, bicycles, plant pots and sandwich boards. They took pictures of these obstacles and posted them to social media using the # MakeWayDay and #MakeWayOffaly.

The walk about was in the commercial areas of Tullamore town. A map was given to each team on the day and this was the area that each group identified and noted obstacles which was the fed back to the group facilitators. All feedback from the event will be compiled by Enhancing Equality Offaly and will be submitted to all the relevant agencies. Photos from the day taken by Gavin Woodruff.

 

Enhancing Equality Offaly would like to thank all the businesses within the town centre and all those who supported the event on the day.

 

Enhancing Equality Offaly are running an 8 week photography course for people with disabilities commencing on the 9th of October 2018.

For more information on this opportunity or for further information on Enhancing Equality Offaly contact Caroline Brickland, Offaly Local Development Company on 087 602 88 01 or email cbrickland@offalyldc.ie