All Human All Equal
Because we’re all human.
Means we’re all equal.
Just because it sounds straightforward, doesn’t mean it is.
The Because we’re all human. Means we’re all equal. national awareness campaign aims to inform attitudes towards disabled people.
The hundreds of thousands of disabled people in Ireland have the right to participate with dignity in everyday life—be it at home, school, work or out and about.
Watch as thirteen people from across Ireland share their experiences of living with autism, an intellectual disability or complex needs; being visually-impaired or blind, hard of hearing or Deaf; and having a physical disability or being affected by mental ill-health.
About the Participants
Raymond Grehan @raymond_grehan
Raymond Grehan lives in Longford, is deaf, is a full-time home-maker as a dad of two children and has seven deaf siblings in his family.
Ferdia MacAonghusa @ferdiamaca
Ferdia MacAonghusa is a graduate of IADT Film and TV Production. He is a freelance writer, working on Fair City and has had work on disability featured in the Irish Times. His first feature film, Briefly Gorgeous is currently in development.
Fiona Ferris @Fi_ferris
Fiona Ferris has worked with AsIAm since 2017, initially in the role of Early Years Specialist, but assumed the role of Deputy CEO in 2019 and oversees the Training Department within AsIAm. Fiona delivers talks both nationally and internationally about autism, neurodiversity and disability, while contributing her own experiences as an autistic adult and a parent to a child on the spectrum.
Eliona Gjecaj
Eliona Gjecaj is a Disability Advisory Committee Member, a disability rights researcher and holds both an LLM Degree in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy, and a B.A. International Degree, from NUI Galway.
James Cawley @jcawleyjnr
James Cawley is Policy Officer at Independent Living Movement Ireland, a disability activist and a former secondary school teacher. He has a BA in Business and Geography and a Professional Masters of Education from Maynooth University. He has co – facilitated on the Maynooth University Disabilities studies course. James got married in September 2020 during the pandemic and he lives his life independently using a Personal Assistance Service.
Barbara Brennan @SeeChangeIRL
Barbara Brennan is the Programmes Leader of See Change, and has a passion to support people, communities and workplaces to challenge their attitudes. Through her work she helps give a voice to people with lived experience of mental health difficulties and start a national conversation to reduce stigma one conversation at a time. See Change is Ireland’s National organisation dedicated to ending the stigma that surrounds mental health.
Dermot Lowndes
Dermot Lowndes is on the Steering Committee of the National Platform of Self Advocates and is a member of Inclusion Ireland’s self-advocacy subcommittee. Dermot speaks often on his experience of self-advocacy and the rights of people with disabilities.
Gary Allen @garallen
Gary Allen is a Software Engineer and Behaviour Change Coach living in Galway with his wife, Linda, for over 20 years. Gary graduated from DCU in 1991 with a degree in Computer Science and also holds an Advanced Diploma in Executive and Life Coaching.
Louise Bruton @luberachi
Louise Bruton is a DJ and freelance journalist regularly contributing to the Irish Times and image.ie. Louise is also creator of Legless in Dublin website and co-creator of a new club night in Dublin called Pure Shores.
Patrick Mason
Patrick Mason, in his 40’s, works in a local pizza take-away and likes to get ‘out and about’. Patrick values making connections in his local community and in society generally, as he visits restaurants, art galleries and more. Síle Mason is Patrick’s sister and closest supporter.
Shelly Gaynor @shellyonwheels
Shelly Gaynor is the peer mentor and former Chairperson of Independent Living Movement Ireland, with a passion for technology in particular Assistive Technology and the barriers it can break down for disabled people. Shelly directs a Personal Assistants Service through her own company shellyonwheels.
Dr. Shubhangi Karmakar @Repealist_
Dr. Shubhangi Karmakar is an Academic Doctor in a central Dublin hospital. They have experience in researching Neuropsychiatric disorders, and contributing to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters as an invisibly disabled person. They are part of the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Psychiatry and Trustee of affirmative living disability charity, Choice Support UK.
Dr. Rosaleen McDonagh @paveebeoir
Dr. Rosaleen McDonagh is a Traveller woman, a successful playwright, and frequent columnist with the Irish Times. She holds a BA and two MPhils from Trinity College Dublin and a PhD in Disability Studies from Northumbria University. She is the Chairperson of the IHREC Disability Advisory Committee and is a board member of Women’s Aid and Pavee Point, Traveller and Roma Centre.