We went to the meeting to speak truth to power. But once again, disabled people were treated as afterthoughts — expected to stay silent, nod politely, and comply with a process that does nothing to reflect our lives or meet our needs.
Well, we’ve had enough.
Our delegation included disabled activists, allies, and trade unionists. Brian Pelan from VIEWdigital was there, alongside representatives from NIPSA, the Anti-Poverty Network, People Before Profits and the Women’s Support Network — people who understand the urgency of what we’re facing and who stood with us in solidarity. Their presence was powerful, and their support unwavering.
Before the meeting began, we made a clear and reasonable request: that disabled people be allowed to run the discussion using our own agenda — one based on the real, lived priorities of our community. We wanted to talk about what truly matters: the impact of benefit cuts, rising poverty, loss of independence, and the daily bureaucracy that punishes us for being disabled in an ableist system.
Officials said no.
They were determined to stick to their plan — a top-down, sanitised agenda that ignored the elephant in the room: that social security is being dismantled while disabled people are being pushed further into poverty and despair. We weren’t going to legitimise a meeting that was never intended to listen to us. So we acted.
We stationed ourselves at both entrances and invited others to join us in boycotting the event. And what happened next said everything: more people joined our protest than entered their meeting. That told us we weren’t alone — that others see through the sham and are just as tired of being manipulated under the guise of “consultation.”
Tony O’Reilly and Michael Lormier from DPAC Northern Ireland delivered a statement at the start of the session, explaining our reasons for refusing to participate. This was not walkout for show — it was a stand rooted in principle. We were joined in leaving by a strong group of allies, including trade union representatives who recognised the injustice and stood shoulder to shoulder with us.
This was not real engagement. This was not co-production. This was a performative exercise designed to tick boxes and pretend that disabled people had been involved — when in reality, our voices were controlled, our questions sidelined, and our priorities erased.
We’re calling it what it is: A ConsultASham.
DPAC Northern Ireland 
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