Avril Greham
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Avril Greham
Avril Greham
Avril Greham is a disabled activist, DEI facilitator, and founder of Beyond Barriers.
Based in Ballina, Avril uses her lived experience to challenge perceptions of being disabled and pushes for real inclusion.
She has delivered workshops across schools, universities, and corporate settings, and is dedicated to creating spaces where disabled voices lead the conversation.
Avril created Expanding Horizons in 2024 to break the silence around everyday external barriers and bring honest, lived experiences to the forefront of the inclusion conversation.
Rebecca Connor-Wood
Rebecca Connor-Wood
Rebecca is a dedicated disability rights activist and autistic woman living with chronic illnesses.
As the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for both Ballina Autism Friendly Town and the Mayo Disabled Persons Organisation, she plays a leading role in promoting inclusion, accessibility, and awareness across her community.
Passionate about educating others on the realities of invisible illnesses and the often-overlooked experiences of autistic women and girls, Rebecca uses her platform to challenge stereotypes and advocate for meaningful change.
Her work is driven by lived experience, compassion, and a deep commitment to creating a more understanding and inclusive society for all.
Rebecca Connor-Wood
Geraldine Lavelle
Geraldine Lavelle
Geraldine Lavelle
Geraldine Lavelle is a two time author, artist and passionate advocate for people living with disabilities.
She currently works with Active Disability Ireland where creating equal opportunities for all abilities to be physically active is the goal.
Geraldine holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Neuroscience from the National University of Galway.
The Castlebar woman suffered a spinal cord injury in 2013, that left three-quarters of her body paralysed.
Since acquiring her disability in 2013, she has worked at Abbott Diagnostics, lectured in health science and physiology at ATU Sligo, qualified as a special needs assistant, published two books and has contributed regular articles to local and several national media outlets.
Her goal of raising awareness and normalizing the issue of different forms of mobility aids garnered her the University of Galway 2023 Alumni Award for emerging leader in her community.
Peter Kearns
Peter Kearns
Peter works with Independent Living Movement Irl. (ILMI) since 2019 as the EU cross border social inclusion Project Coordinator for ILMI and is currently the DPO Development Officer & Activist-Mentor.
He graduated from Trinity College in the late 1980s with an English Honours degree and followed this with an MA in Film & TV Studies at DCU and a Higher Diploma in Adult & Community Education from Maynooth College.
He also has higher Dips. in Disability Studies and Arts European Mentoring.
Peter lectures at ATU St. Angela’s College Sligo and has written-up over 15 QQ1-Level 8 & 9 Modules promoting a need for an Emancipatory-Advocacy way of thinking & practice for & with disabled people.
Peter Kearns
In the mid 1990’s Peter established THE WORKHOUSE, a disability consultancy company involved in equality/mentor/arts training in Ireland, Europe and Asia.
As Development & Policy Worker with Forum of People with Disabilities, Peter worked in New York in early Noughties at the United Nations on developing NGO community development inputs into 2007 UN CRPD which now guides his work setting-up county Disabled Persons’ Org. (DPOs) throughout Ireland with local authorities.
Peter’s associate residency at the Irish national Abbey Theatre facilitated the development of a disability access policy and promoted a vision for the National Cultural Institutes’ beginning of an ongoing relationship with disabled people as audience, creators and producers.
Since leaving the National Theatre, he has produced & directed a series of touring adult cabaret shows with disabled performers.
Critically recognised drama work has included Cork Year of Culture establishment of Forum Theatre groups at Cork Cheshire Homes, Firestation Artists Studio disability arts website, Dundalk Disability Forum Theatre and Dublin/Sligo/Galway Disability & Forum Theatre groups.
Recently, Peter co-produced, Disability-Dramaturge & acted in the critically acclaimed Irish Times Theatre Awards for best Audience-Choice play NO MAGIC PILL at Galway and Dublin Theatre Festival.
Peter was successfully involved in attracting the Irish Arts Council’s largest Touring Grant for the play’s fully booked out 2024 autumn/winter national tour.
James Casey
James Casey
James Casey
Dr James Casey is currently working for an international development organisation on an inclusive climate justice project in Kenya, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and west Asia.
He previously worked for the disabled person’s organisation ILMI in policy and prior to this role he worked on the transformative EU Onside Project.
He holds a PhD in Critical Disability Studies from the University of Galway, where he was the recipient of a Doctoral Teaching Fellowship and he has presented at UN conferences on behalf of civil society.
James, a disabled person, has worked as a lecturer, geopolitical consultant and communications advisor in addition to his continued role as a peer reviewer with several international journal.
He is a proud disabled person and from Westport Co. Mayo.
Ann Marie Flanagan
Ann Marie Flanagan
Ann Marie Flanagan is a disabled human rights activist from County Clare and a co-founder or Disabled People of Clare.
Her activism began as a student, and she holds an IT degree, a Masters in Partnership Studies and Public Administration and an Advanced Diploma in Human Services Management.
Ann Marie has trained as a family systems and person-centred therapist and has also completed a Masters in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy at the University of Galway.
Ann Mari’s activism and interests have taken her all over the world, including spending time in Ethiopia at the Centre for Independent Living.
Recently, she has been focused on leading research, co-writing, and editing the publication "We Are Human Too," alongside spearheading the "Equality Not Care" referendum campaign.
She has run for the local elections twice and was nominated as a candidate for the Seanad in 2020 and 2024.
Ann Marie-Flanagan
Next event
Next event
The next Expanding Horizons event will be on July 24th 2026, in the Great National Hotel Ballina. More information will be available shortly.
This is a great opportunity to meet people passionate about disability advocacy and inclusion.
Attendees will leave Expanded Horizons with a greater understanding of;
disability more broadly
how external barriers created by society impact disabled people
how non-disabled people can view the world through a lens of accessibility and inclusion, demanding better from our decision-makers for the benefits of disabled people, themselves and society as a whole.
To stay up to date and reserve your spot for Expanding Horizons, Sign-up to our email list.
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