Decision to get an implant is a very serious one that must be considered very carefully

‘Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to not to be able to do your own tan and nails?’

People see the wheelchair as a symbol of disability but mine opened up the world to me

After years of failure and shame, like Leonard Cohen, I’ve finally found a way to be free

Our disability should not mean that issues around consent become blurred

Clothes getting caught, chafing armpits and burning muscles become part of daily life

Deaf Village Ireland has attracted many new visitors because of the services and facilities it offers

Disabled people are actually people and we lead our lives just like you so please stop treating us differently

‘The number 42 explains why disabled people are trapped in their homes’

Cultural narrative of using a wheelchair making your entire life sad needs to end

The message is that, at best, we are a nuisance; at worst, we are not welcome

‘Finding a counsellor with a wheelchair-accessible practice shouldn’t be this difficult’

Much of our knowledge is acquired in an unplanned way and deaf people can miss out

Disabled or not, we all have to start new things and the same fears and stresses come with them all

Sometimes a joke can leave me rattled – thinking I deserve the second-class citizenship that comes with a disability in this country

Before the wheelchair, arriving at the airport was exciting. Now it’s stressful

A State apology for the discrimination, abuse and hurt inflicted on our people is long overdue

Platform: Tokenism is an empty gesture that alludes to equality rather than practising it

I enjoy face-to-face interviews where I can not only lip-read, but gain clues via body language

Bobbie Hickey: My parents helped me forget about my sight difficulties