When Brian Hayes walks into a government meeting, he is not there as an observer. He is there to make sure people with intellectual disabilities are heard at the highest levels of decision-making.
Brian, Chair of the National Platform of Self-Advocates, has recently been appointed to lead the Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) Group under the Department of Children, Equality and Disability. The group is designed to give organisations run by disabled people a direct and ongoing role in shaping national policy.
In his work, Brian has already been part of high-level discussions with senior decision-makers, including attending meetings with the Taoiseach and Government Ministers, where he brings forward the lived experience of people with intellectual disabilities.
For Brian, the appointment is part of a much bigger mission, “What we are working for is justice, not charity,” he said.
The National Platform of Self-Advocates is Ireland’s only national organisation run by and for people with intellectual disabilities. Its members speak for themselves, rather than relying on professionals or service providers to represent their views.
Over more than a decade as Chair, Brian has helped grow the organisation from a small grassroots movement into a national body with over 1,000 members. In that time, he has brought their experiences into key policy discussions, including work with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and contributions to government consultations on personalised budgets and employment supports.
He has also played a role in shaping Ireland’s newly published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People (2025–2030), working directly with officials to ensure the voices of people with intellectual disabilities were reflected in the final document.
Brian also acknowledged the support of his employer, Kilkenny County Council, “The flexibility of my role in work has been key to attending meetings and carrying out my advocacy work at a national level.”
His new role chairing the DPO Group marks a significant step forward for the wider disability rights movement. Unlike one-off consultations, the group is intended to provide a structured and ongoing channel between the Government and Disabled Persons Organisations.
That work often happens behind closed doors, in long meetings and detailed policy discussions. But Brian believes it is essential, commenting, “People need someone in those rooms who understands their lives from the inside.”
As Ireland continues to reform its approach to disability services, the shift from charity-based models to rights-based policy remains a central issue. For Brian and the National Platform, the goal is clear: a system in which people with intellectual disabilities are recognised not as recipients of care but as full citizens with equal rights.
And with a seat at the table, including at the highest levels of Government, he intends to make that case heard.
Lar Power, Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council stated: “Brian’s appointment is a testament to his leadership and lived experience, and we are extremely proud to have him as part of the Kilkenny County Council team. His work represents the very best of public service.”
