Awareness
Zone Leaders
Dr Jennifer Fortune
Senior Research Fellow &
Research Programme Lead
CP-Life Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland
Dr Ailish Malone
Principal Investigator &
Research Programme Lead
CP-Life Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland
Dr. Jenny Fortune is a Senior Research Fellow and leads the research programme on Advancing Evidence-Based Practices and Supports within the CP-Life Research Centre. Her research focuses on generating and translating evidence into practical solutions that inform policy and improve supports for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities across the lifespan. Her work examines the experiences of individuals with disabilities, their families, and professionals, with a focus on health services and transition to adulthood. She has led projects on service transitions, including the development of a transition programme to support young people with physical disabilities in preparing for adulthood, and has developed resources and initiatives to improve healthcare access.
Dr Ailish Malone is a CORU-registered chartered physiotherapist, Senior Lecturer at RCSI School of Physiotherapy and research programme lead for physical activity and rehabilitation at CP-Life Research Centre. Her research focuses on generating evidence to enhance function and participation through rehabilitation and physical activity for people with neurological conditions and disabilities, particularly childhood-onset conditions. Grounded in her experience as a clinical physiotherapist in specialist acute rehabilitation and disability services, she is committed to working with people with lived experience, healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and policymakers using participatory and mixed methods. Current projects include co-design of a rehabilitation pathway for children and young people after a childhood brain tumour, exploring feasibility of exercise and motor-learning based interventions in diverse neurological conditions, and co-production of a referral pathway to support disabled people in community-based physical activity participation.
James Casserly
Disability Activist, Accessible Travel Advocate and Football Coach
Vicki Casserly
Community and Lived Experience Lead, CP-Life Centre, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
James Casserly is a disability activist, accessible travel advocate and football coach. Through his platform Jimbo’s Accessible Adventures, he raises awareness about accessibility across Ireland, reviewing public transport, attractions and businesses for wheelchair users. Living with cerebral palsy and juvenile arthritis, James uses his experiences to advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility in travel, sport and public spaces. He has worked with transport organisations and disability campaigns, and is a Global Youth Champion with Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign, speaking internationally on disability rights and inclusion.
Vicki Casserly is a Disability Advocate, public representative, and inclusion specialist with a strong focus on building accessible and inclusive communities. She has served as an elected public representative since 2014, consistently championing disability access, inclusion, and equality at local and national levels. Vicki brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her role. She is a parent of two sons, one of whom has cerebral palsy, shaping her deep understanding of the everyday realities faced by individuals and families navigating disability. She holds a Higher Diploma in Socially Inclusive Workplaces and is currently furthering her studies in behaviours that challenge. Vicki is passionate about advancing inclusive practice across services, policy, and community life. Her advocacy extends internationally, having participated in global forums including the World Social Summits on Disability and the United Nations General Assembly. She also serves as a board member of Sightsavers Ireland, contributing to work focused on disability inclusion in developing countries. In her role with RCSI, Vicki is committed to ensuring that community voice and lived experience are central to the development of the Cerebral Palsy Registry, supporting meaningful participation, representation, and impact.
Awareness Zone Talks
Thursday 4 June
Human Biology Building (HBB),
University of Galway
No registration required
The Awareness Zone is an interactive space designed to connect delegates, families, professionals, and community members with practical supports, services, and participation opportunities from across Ireland.
Throughout the day, visitors can attend short talks, meet organisations, and explore resources relating to accessible travel, inclusive sport, and community participation.
The programme combines lived experience perspectives with practical guidance, helping visitors better understand the supports available and how they can be used in everyday life.
Visitors are welcome to drop in throughout the day to attend talks, ask questions, and connect directly with services, organisations, and support providers
IWA Sport – Inclusive Sport & Wheelchair Sports Experience
Thursday 4 June
10:30 - 13:30
G008, O'Donoghue Theatre
No registration required
Visit the IWA Sport activity area to discover inclusive sport opportunities and learn more about getting involved in sport and physical activity across Ireland.
Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about and try Boccia, a precision ball sport played by athletes with physical disabilities. The team will also showcase wheelchair sports through a fun, interactive challenge.
Throughout the session, the IWA Sport team will be available to share information about local sports clubs, participation pathways, Inclusive Schools Training, and training programmes delivered through Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNTs).
Whether you are a parent, professional, educator, or potential participant, come along to learn more about inclusive sport and the supports available to help people get active and involved in their communities.
Thursday 4 June
16:00 - 18:00
Alumni Plaza
Outdoor Marquee
No registration required
Cerebral Palsy Ireland is an Irish organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people with cerebral palsy across Ireland. Guided by the lived experiences of people with cerebral palsy and their families, our goal is to ensure fair access to the support, services, and opportunities needed to live well and reach full potential. https://www.cerebralpalsyireland.ie/
Cerebral Palsy Ireland
Awareness Zone Programme
Thursday 4 June
10:30 - 13:30
Accessible Travel & Mobility
Drop-in information stands:
10:30 – 13:30
Short talks:
11:00 – 12:15
Planning, Supports & Real-World Journeys
Explore the services, supports, and lived experiences shaping accessible travel in Ireland. Topics include airport assistance, public transport accessibility, travel training, and practical tools that support confident, independent journeys.
Visitors can hear practical advice, personal experiences, and information about travel supports, while also meeting organisations and exploring resources throughout the morning.
Featured Contributors
James & Vicki Casserly • PRM Assist • Dublin Bus • Bus Éireann • The Wayfinding Centre • AsIAm
Accessible Travel
Thursday 4 June
13:30 - 16:30
Sport, Activities & Community Participation
Drop-in information stands:
13:30 – 16:30
Short talks:
14:00 – 15:15
Finding Opportunities & Getting Involved
Discover inclusive sport opportunities, accessible recreation, digital tools, and community supports that help people participate more fully in everyday life.
Visitors will learn about inclusive sports programmes, participation pathways, accessible spaces, and practical tools that help individuals and families discover accessible activities, spaces, and local opportunities in their communities.
Featured Contributors
IWA Sport • Paralympics Ireland • Special Olympics Ireland • Galway Sports Partnership • Able Active • AccessMap
IWA Sport
EACD Paralympics Ireland
Able Active
Other Awareness Events
Community Hub for Accessible Technology (CHAT)
Wednesday 3 June
11:00 - 15:00
Bank of Ireland Theatre,
O'Donoghue Centre
Organised by: FreedomTech
Cost: Free
Registration required for participants
Explore how Assistive Technology (AT) enables inclusive sport, bringing together lived experience, policy, and innovation to support participation for all.
Join us for CHAT – Inclusive Sport in Action: Assistive Technology, Rights & Participation, a dynamic and interactive event focused on how AT supports people with disabilities in accessing, enjoying, and leading in sport, physical activity, and recreation.
This event will highlight how AT enables real opportunities for participation, choice, belonging, and progression in sport. It brings together lived experience, practice, research, and policy to explore what inclusive sport looks like in action - and what needs to change to make it the norm.
Through lived-experience stories, discussion, and hands-on demonstrations, attendees will explore how Assistive Technology supports not just participation but also identity, well-being, leadership, and community connection.
You will hear from people with disabilities, practitioners, and innovators about what works, what gets in the way, and how we can build more inclusive, accessible sporting environments across Ireland.
Resources for Humanitarian Crisis Situation
Friday 5 June
10:30 - 13:00
Outdoor Marquee,
Alumni Plaza, South Campus
Organised by:
International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD) IAACD – International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability
Format:
Drop-in Information session
Are you interested in global humanitarian work for children with disabilities and their families?
Do you have experience or lived experience of crisis in your own country or as a volunteer?
Are you keen to learn more?
The International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD) is bringing together interested people to create a collection of useful resources (e.g., toolkits, checklists, videos, infographics) for humanitarian crisis situations with a focus on: refugees and displacement, climate change, crisis, natural disasters, and man-made disasters. These resources will be designed for use by families, young people and service providers.
If you are a young person, a family member, clinician, educator, policy maker or anyone interested in this work, come join our team to help collect, co-create and curate resources that will be freely available globally.
Come visit us to talk to our team of keen volunteers.
SULT Café Inclusive Space
Thursday 4 June
10:30 - 17:30
Friday 5 June
10:30 - 17:30
Áras na Mac Léinn,
Students' Union
Organised by:
Noelle McNamara SULT Café, Ciara Byrnes University of Limerick & IASLT, Ciara Tuohy East Galway/South Roscommon CDNT & IASLT, Clare Carroll University of Galway, and Michelle Bergin, University College Cork
SULT Café is an inclusive space within the University campus where staff are trained in supporting and communicating with people with disabilities. It is a welcoming venue for drinks, snacks or an evening meal for all.
In SULT Café, there will be opportunities to try out communication technology to place orders from the menu and to let the staff there know your preferences. The café has the addition of quiet spaces for you to enjoy your visit as well as sensory supports and adapted equipment to suit personal needs.
