Greencastle disability campaigner ‘honoured’ by award nomination

AN inspirational disability rights campaigner from Greencastle will travel to the National Diversity Awards in Liverpool next week, where he has been shortlisted in the Disabled Positive Role Model of the Year category.

Dermot Devlin, the founder of My Way Access, a recognised disabled rights and disability blog, said it was a “great honour” to be nominated.

Mr Devlin said, “It is a great honour to be shortlisted for this award and I thank the person who put my name forward and the 222 who wrote so many wonderful things about me.”

His blog, My Way Access, is focused on ensuring disabled people have equal and inclusive rights across accessibility, services, and health.

It was created to educate non-disabled people about what it is like to be disabled and help disabled people achieve their voice at local and national government.

Mr Devlin said, “My Way Access grew out of frustration of not being able to get answers to my questions and not be able to access premises, due to their poor accessibility.

“Rather than getting angry, I wanted to do something positive and create a disability awareness movement. My Way Access was born.”

He has already won a number of honours, including a bravery award in 2020 from Amnesty International UK in recognition of his campaigning for disabled people.