Adrian Keogh, a Rathdangan native, recently shared his humiliating experience of crawling down the metal steps of a Ryanair flight upon landing at Landvetter airport in Sweden on social media. The incident turned his trip to visit his daughter on her 14th birthday into a nightmare. The cabin crew looked on as Keogh struggled down the steps, in spite of notifying them that he required assistance due to his disability. Keogh’s experience sheds light on the difficulties that people with disabilities face, especially in terms of infrastructure, such as poor wheelchair accessibility in places, including toilets.
Keogh hopes that his experience will raise awareness of the obstacles that those with disabilities encounter, and inspire the authorities to improve infrastructure standards. Keogh’s activism in this regard has led him to work with Wicklow County Council’s Sports Inclusion Disability Officer, Clara Jenkinson. Keogh also collaborates with various institutions and organizations to test new facilities for disabled persons, ensuring that visitor facilities at Glendalough and Beyond the Trees in Avondale are accessible.
Keogh’s work emphasizes inclusivity and his efforts have made a difference in various regions of Wicklow. He tests ramps, toilets, door widths, and space accessibility to ensure that the facilities are accommodating to those with disabilities. He also checks the steepness of the ramps and ensures that there are no protruding objects that may impede the wheels’ motion. Keogh’s work will undoubtedly have a far-reaching impact on improving the lives of people with disabilities. His commitment to inclusivity and his efforts in making small steps towards equality will be applauded and will certainly inspire others to follow in his footsteps.
