Spotlight Series: Emma Ward
Meet Emma, an Irish Traveller, disability rights activist, and freelance journalist.
![[Image: A graphic with a black background featuring the words “Spotlight Series” in colourful, cut-out magazine-style letters. Below, white text reads: “This week we are chatting with…Emma Ward.” An image of Emma Ward sits beside this text surrounded by a gold frame. Images beneath this text include a megaphone, an open book, flowers, and a Disability Pride flag. The Disability Participation News Hub logo appears in the top right corner.]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0iMR!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0fc4dd5-bb3e-4ecb-b6cd-ae9c7481fb5d_1080x1350.png "[Image: A graphic with a black background featuring the words “Spotlight Series” in colourful, cut-out magazine-style letters. Below, white text reads: “This week we are chatting with…Emma Ward.” An image of Emma Ward sits beside this text surrounded by a gold frame. Images beneath this text include a megaphone, an open book, flowers, and a Disability Pride flag. The Disability Participation News Hub logo appears in the top right corner.]")
[Image: A graphic with a black background featuring the words “Spotlight Series” in colourful, cut-out magazine-style letters. Below, white text reads: “This week we are chatting with…Emma Ward.” An image of Emma Ward sits beside this text surrounded by a gold frame. Images beneath this text include a megaphone, an open book, flowers, and a Disability Pride flag. The Disability Participation News Hub logo appears in the top right corner.]
💡 Spotlight Series: Emma Ward
We are on a mission to get to know and highlight Ireland’s activists, advocates and allies!
Each month, we will aim the spotlight on incredible changemakers working to advance the human rights of disabled people across Ireland.
We are delighted to share our first Spotlight edition with you featuring our very own, Emma Ward!
A reminder that you can listen to this edition through the Substack app, or by opening this edition on your browser.
Become a paid subscriber to have early access to our Spotlight Series each month by using the Subscribe button below.
Enjoy this edition and we will be in touch soon! ✨
About Emma
Emma (she/her) is a disabled Irish Traveller, writer, freelance journalist and disability rights activist who is dedicated to breaking barriers and amplifying underrepresented voices.
Emma’s writing draws on intersectionality of identities and how this impacts types of discrimination. Her work centres on disability, intersectional identity, and social justice.
Learn more about Emma below and be sure to connect with her on socials or follow her work on Substack!
Q. Hello Emma! Tell us a little about yourself.
Emma: I am a disabled Irish Traveller from Galway. I am a disability rights activist, and a freelance journalist. Professionally I love writing, chatting to people and learning about their stories. I especially love it when I’m able to give those people a platform to share their voices and stories. I love being part of the movement of making Ireland better for the next generation of people with disabilities, personally I am a huge music and book lover! If you know me in person, you’ll know I’m never without a book (physical or on my kindle) or listening to a song no matter what.
Q. Is there anything you’re working on at the minute?
Emma: I am, I’m working on a project that I can’t speak about just yet but it’s an exciting opportunity. I’m also working on building my journalism portfolio by writing more articles about many different topics and people. I recently launched my new at home podcast called What’s Happening with Emma on Spotify and Patreon.
Q. Anything you are looking forward to this year?
Emma: I’m looking forward to a lot of things professionally and personally but the one thing that springs to my mind is the project I’m working on; I can’t wait until it’s announced. I’m also looking forward to the Disability Participation News Hub’s new book club!
Q. What keeps you motivated in your activism?
Emma: . I know this is a typical and cliche answer but my nephew Patrick is what keeps me motivated, he’s the reason I became an activist and as he gets older he reminds me to be motivated to make positive change for him and the younger generation of people with disabilities.
Q. What’s your favourite way to unwind and look after your own wellbeing?
Emma: Read a book or watch a movie! Reading is my favorite way of winding down, when you read your imagination literally transports you into a different world and makes you relax in a sense!
Q. Anything people might be surprised to learn about you?
Emma: When I was 8 years old I had halo traction treatment for scoliosis and got the halo removed from my skull being conscious (according to a nurse, I was the first child to do this but I don’t know if that’s really true or not).
When people first meet me I can be really shy! Once I get comfortable though I’m a chatterbox who you’d wish would shut up!
I don’t know if this is a fun fact but due to having a bone marrow transplant, I have two types of blood - Irish and Liverpool!
I’ve spoken at Electric Picnic with Amnesty Ireland!
Q. Any book recommendations for our online Book Club this year?
Emma: Never Know Your Place by Joanna Marsdan and Martin Naughton!
Mixed Up - Leon Diop!
Binding 13 - Chloe Walsh (my absolute favorite fiction book - I recommended it to everyone!)
Q. Do you have a favourite quote or saying that inspires you?
Emma: Nothing’s Impossible, even the word says I’m Possible
Q. Where can people find you if they’d like to follow your work?
Emma: You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Bluesky @emmawardjournalist and follow this link to my Substack and other updates on the work I do: https://linktr.ee/emmawardjournalist
Catch us back here next month with another Spotlight edition!
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