Disability, access and everyday barriers

Invite Derek to speak about disability and access

Derek Spaight speaks plainly about disability, dignity and the barriers disabled people meet in everyday life. His talks are shaped by his own experience, his advocacy work and his degree in Sociology, Politics and Law from the University of Limerick.

Invite Derek to speak Enquire about a talk
Portrait of Derek Spaight, disability advocate and speaker.
Derek talks about access, rights and being heard in a way people can understand.

About Derek

Derek Spaight is an advocate and speaker who talks about disability, access, dignity and being heard.

His work is shaped by his own experience and by his involvement in advocacy, including representing advocacy groups and speaking about the difficulties disabled people can face in buildings, services and community life.

Derek holds a degree in Sociology, Politics and Law from the University of Limerick. He brings that perspective together with the reality of living with disability and speaking up for better access.

He does not speak in slogans. Derek helps people understand what poor access feels like, why dignity matters, and why disabled people need to be included when decisions are being made.

Talks and events

Derek is available for talks, panels and awareness events with groups that want to better understand disability, access and the everyday barriers people face.

He can speak with schools and colleges, community groups, disability organisations, local authorities, public bodies, businesses, venues and people involved in public discussions about access.

Discuss a speaking opportunity

Who Derek speaks to

  • Community groups
  • Schools and colleges
  • Disability organisations
  • Advocacy events
  • Local authorities and public bodies
  • Panels and public discussions
  • Businesses, venues and organisations thinking about access

Read more about Derek

These articles give more background on Derek’s story and the issues he speaks about.

The Nenagh Guardian

"I want to be a voice for people who don’t have a voice"

In this article, Derek speaks about disability, employment, access and the need for disabled people to be heard in decisions that affect their lives.

Read the Nenagh Guardian article

Booking Derek

A few practical notes for people thinking about inviting Derek to speak.

Who can invite Derek to speak?

Community groups, schools and colleges, public bodies, disability organisations, businesses, venues and event organisers can get in touch.

What does Derek speak about?

Derek speaks about disability, access, dignity, everyday barriers and the importance of listening to disabled people.

Can Derek take part in panels or public discussions?

Yes. Derek can be contacted about panels, public discussions, awareness events and advocacy-related conversations.

How do I enquire about a talk?

Email Derek with a short message about the event and what you would like him to speak about.

What should I include in my message?

Include the event date if known, the audience, the location or setting, and what you hope people will take from Derek's contribution.

Invite Derek to speak

Interested in inviting Derek to speak? Send a brief message with the event details, the audience and any dates you have in mind.

When getting in touch, it helps to include the event type, audience, location, preferred date and what you would like Derek to speak about.

Email: Email Derek about a speaking enquiry: Derekspaight48@gmail.com

Phone: 083 097 6680

Accessibility statement

This website has been built with accessibility in mind. You can adjust text size, switch to high contrast, reduce motion, use Easy Read mode and listen to the page. If anything is difficult to use, please contact Derek.