Independent Living Movement Ireland

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Collective Empowerment

Collective empowerment is about organising, shared analysis, representation, and consultation. It involves giving voice to the lived experience of being disabled and building collective power for change.
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Statement of Outcome:

ILMI seeks to secure a recognition of and supports for DPOs and their value as authentic autonomous spaces to build shared perspectives and make collective decisions, and to amplify and represent these perspectives and decisions in seeking systemic change.

Statement of Process:

ILMI builds alliances, and develops and signals pathways for disabled people’s involvement in ILMI and the wider disability movement. We work in a manner that is authentic, democratic and participative in our own decision-making and representation work as a DPO.

Strands of activity:

Under the Value of Collective Empowerment, ILMI will work to secure a recognition of and supports for DPOs and their value as authentic autonomous spaces.

ILMI will undertake the following strands of activity over the lifetime of our strategic plan:

  • Organise, support, build capacity of, and network local DPOs to form and advocate for the collective interests of disabled people.
  • Engage with relevant stakeholders and organisations at local level to: identify and secure funding streams for DPOs; and promote inclusion and accommodation of DPOs in relevant local structures and networks.
  • Movement-building, through: engaging with national DPOs, including through the DPO network, to: promote networking and shared learning; build and strengthen agreed understandings of the nature and role of a DPO; promote shared organisational values, common agendas, and joint initiatives
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Boakai Abu Nyehn, Jr

Community Development Worker

Boakai Abu Nyehn, Jr joined ILMI in September 2024 as community development worker on the Disability Participation Awareness Fund (DPAF) funding project “Engaging Disabled People in Direct Provision” . He is a passionate advocate for disability rights, social inclusion, and development, with extensive experience in working to promote the rights and full participation of disabled people in Liberia. Boakai has served as a consultant on disability and social inclusion for numerous national and international agencies. He has also worked as a Research Assistant on multiple projects with organisations such as Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre at University College London, Talking Drum Studio, AIFO-Liberia, and UNMIL, ensuring that disabled people’s needs and perspectives are integrated into their programs.

As a disabled person, Boakai’s lived experience informs his leadership as Assistant Director for disabled people in Liberia. His role focuses on advocating for the inclusion of disabled people at all levels of society, promoting accessible development, and advancing the rights of the community. Boakai holds certifications in International Law and related fields and is a skilled Administrator and Assistive Technology Specialist, committed to using his expertise to create a more inclusive society for all.