(DWI) is an Irish disabled-led national representative organization that advocates for the equal participation, rights, inclusion, and community network for disabled Irish women, non-binary, trans, genderqueer, and gender nonconforming individuals.

DWI's work is led by a steering group and seven all-volunteer working groups. The steering group consists of executive members and working group representatives. Working groups meet every 6 to 8 weeks.

In response to the Eighth Amendment referendum, DWI was founded in 2018 by Maria Ní Fhlartharta, Roisin Dermody, Alannah Murray, Amy Hassett, Niamh Herbert, Eleanor Walshe, Roísin Hackett, and Roísin Hackett from a community group on Twitter. According to Ní Fhlartharta, they were inspired to create the organisation because they "were ridiculously annoyed by absolutely everything the Pro-Life campaign said – and said about disability in particular – but then also kind of annoyed at the progressive feminists’ response, if that makes sense... We were like oh, no one is getting this right and we realised that the conversation [about disabled women] wasn’t happening.” The organisation built upon the models of Sisters of Frida (England), tabú (Iceland), and Women with Disabilities Australia.

Membership DWI has over 200 members. People have to self-identify as disabled or as a person with a disability and as a woman, non-binary, genderqueer, trans person, or as a member of a marginalized gender identity. All disabilities and impairments are included.

Activism

Policy DWI contributed to and provided feedback on domestic legislation relating to disabled people, women, sexual violence, trans and non-binary people, and intersectional legislation. In 2022, DWI spoke to both the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters and the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform along with the Taoiseach on the subject of “Enabling Financial Independence for Disabled Women." They would also submit a statement in 2023 to Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) on Ireland and the Istanbul Convention and to the Irish government on Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004.

Communication In 2021, DWI published a series of essays from members in their #DisabilityIsntADirtyWord series. In July through November 2026, DWI, Disability Participation News Hub, and Coimisiún na Meán ran a free series, Access Media, on disabled representation and disabled-led media opportunities in Ireland.

Accessibility DWI compiled accessible locations across Dublin and Wexford on their website. The ongoing, member-compiled Access Social addresses the wheelchair accessibility, availability of accessible toilets, and sensory inputs or triggers in each location.

DPO Network DWI co-founded the Disabled Persons' Organisations (DPO) Network with four other Irish disabled-led organisations: AsIAm, Independent Living Movement Ireland, Irish Deaf Society, and National Platform of Self Advocates. A key principle of DPO Network is co-creation with disabled communities, citing that "Through Article 4.3 of the CRPD, the Convention says the State must actively involve both DPOs and individuals with lived experience expertise."

In 2021, DWI along with the DPO Network, Voice of Vision Impairment, and Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (DESSA) submitted a Shadow Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Publications

References