In the final conversation of the season, I speak with Alan Fay from Dublin who is a disability campaigner and was a valued member of the Youth Council of EPIC Ireland for 5 years championing care awareness. EPIC stands for ‘Empowering People in Care’ and it is an advocacy organisation for children and young people in the care system in Ireland. Alan and I met through a piece of research I conducted on behalf of EPIC, and we speak a little bit about it in the interview.Alan’s passion for ensuring that young people with disabilities are seen in terms of their abilities rather than their disabilities shines throughout our conversation, and he provides valuable insight into the experiences of care-experienced young people with disabilities underlining just how important it is that they are listened to. This is a timely conversation because it comes just a few days after #CareDay24 on 16th February, an annual day to celebrate the contribution and successes of children and young people in care. The 2024 theme for Care Day is 'I am what I choose to become'.Show links:EPIC Ireland EPIC has an excellent podcast called The Care Experience Podcast - it's also on SpotifyDisability & the Care System – EPIC’s Care Day 2021 webinar on where the care system insects with the disabilities sector. ‘Headphones, Odd Shoes & A Second Chance at Life: An Exploration of the Experience of Children in Care & Care-leavers with Disabilities’Alan on X (formerly Twitter) Alan’s Facebook page, ‘Life with a Disability’ Support the showYou can listen to the Citizens Now Podcast on all the usual platforms so please subscribe to get access to episodes as soon as they’re released. For more information about the show or to share your reflections on what you hear, please check out our website and we're on Instagram. If you'd like to be kept up-to-date on upcoming episodes and seasons please subscribe to the Citizens Now Podcast Substack.If you’d like to contribute to my tip jar, please check out my Ko-Fi page. I’ve put this podcast together in my spare time and out of my own pocket so any help with meeting operating costs (hosting, website, sound mixing etc) will be greatly appreciated.Credits: Created, produced, and hosted by: Debs Erwin Music: GlowCity Artwork: Rachel Brady Sound Editing & Mixing: Stu Reid, Stunt Double Music