Speaking & Keynotes
From Disclosure to Advocacy – The Art of Persuasion and Inclusion
Breandan shares his thoughts with Jamie Lassner from the New York-based Accessibility Accelerator on how disclosure is in fact a two-way street, and why it’s important to strengthen our self and social awareness so that we can become more persuasive advocates for disability inclusion.
How Life’s Disruptions Can Become Invitations
Breandan talks to RNIB Radio in the UK about how life-changing events can become catalysts for positive change and new career opportunities.
Why We Need to Shift from Perfection to Progress – A Conversation with Breandan Ward and Idan Meir
Israeli accessibility entrepreneur Idan Meir talks live on LinkedIn to Breandan Ward about the difference between perfection and progress, and why this distinction can help policymakers, employers and every organisation translate awareness into actions that increase access and make inclusion a reality?
Navigating Work, Life, What Nurtures and What Depletes
Breandan discusses his life in London and New York in investment banking and now as a consultant on leadership development and disability empowerment. He chats openly about the struggles he faced when adjusting to his sight loss and the importance of having the right people and supports to help him through this process both in his career and broader life.
Enableism in Academia - 4 Ways Universities can Stimulate Greater Disability Inclusion in the World of Work
Unemployment and underemployment rates for people with disabilities are persistently high around the world with significant economic and social costs and consequences for many countries. By improving access and representation, and expanding curriculum and employer partnerships, universities can role-model and stimulate disability inclusion as the “new normal” in the world of work.
Life Changes and the Most Adaptable Thrive – Retina Conference 2022
In this keynote talk for the Fighting Blindness Ireland 2022 Conference, Breandan discusses how disability as an example of change in our lives can present challenges to wrestle with, and opportunities for new choices and growth.
Attending to our Losses and Potential
In this keynote talk for the Fighting Blindness 2021 virtual conference, Breandan discusses 3 perspectives to help navigate the paths where disability, career and life all meet.
Global Perspectives - Integrating Disability in Education & Business Across Borders
Breandan discusses with Accessibility Accelerator’s Jamie Lasssner
the benefits to the business and non-profit sectors of integrating disability in the graduate school curriculum, and the power and potential of comparing disability integration across multiple country contexts such as Ireland, Britain, the United States, and Israel.
Unwrapping Technology's Gifts: Adaptability, Independence, Connection
Breandan discusses his experience of how technology can support greater adaptability, independence and connection – gifts that we all need to meet and overcome life’s challenges.
Consulting & Initiatives
WAF Interviews (16): Explore Your Core Values & How to Disclose, with Clare Kennelly & Breandan Ward
Breandan joins colleague Clare Kennelly to discuss the things that matter most to us in work and life, and how defining our core values can help us disclose a disability or health condition while persuading others of the unique value we bring in the context of work.
WAF Interviews (13): Arts, Coaching and Freelance Work, with Lynn Cox
Breandan meets live with artist, coach and trainer Liz Cox from England to discuss the opportunities and challenges of different career and life stages in the context of sight loss and blindness.
WAF Interviews (10): AHEAD Inclusive Work Placements, with Clare Kennelly and Jade Dyer
Breandan introduces WAF co-host Clare Kennelly and guest speaker Jade Dyer from AHEAD, an Irish-based organisation dedicated to creating inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities. Clare and Jade discussed services and support provided by AHEAD including the WAM programme which offers graduates with disabilities the chance to undertake a minimum 6 month, paid, mentored work placement with high profile Irish employers.
Inclusively Designed Services - Why Does the Customer Voice Matter?
Steven Scott chats with RNIB’s Evidence and Service Impact Officer Ross Hedley and focus group participants Tony Barclay and Breandan Ward who share their experience and insights on the importance of including and integrating the customer’s voice when designing and delivering support and services.
Member Stories - Celebrating 3 Years of Action for Happiness in Ulster
Breandan joins co-facilitators Karolyn, Julie-Ann and Gillian to mark 3 years of the Action for Happiness group in Ulster and celebrate with fellow members how much we have shared, connected, learned and practiced evidence-based ways to work through challenges and create a happier and more meaningful life.
WAF Interviews (12): Public Sector Jobs & Interview Skills with Mark Kehoe
Breandan meets with Mark Kehoe who is Assistant Principal in Ireland’s Office of Government Procurement to discuss his career in the Irish civil service and helpful advice for job applications and interviews.
WAF Interviews (9): Technology, Employment & NCBI, with Breandan Ward and JP Corcoran
Breandan discusses with JP Corcoran from NCBI how technology can be an enabler for employment and what specific supports are available from NCBI and beyond for both employees who are blind and vision impaired as well as for current and prospective employers in Ireland.
Making Customer-centric Communications a Reality
RNIB’s Customer Engagement Manager Sejal Maisuria chats with Janette Scott and Breandan Ward, who are part of RNIB’s Customer Communications Working Group, to find out why customer-led communication matters and the difference it can make for blind and partially sighted people and the organisations like RNIB that support them.
WAF Interviews (15): Live from California - A Special Workshop with LinkedIn's Accessibility Team
Breandan and co-host Clare Kennelly are joined live from California by leaders from LinkedIn’s Accessibility Team – Jennison Asuncion and Rae Hinton – who discuss the LinkedIn platform and progress with their accessibility and inclusion efforts globally across a range of disabilities and diverse access needs.
WAF Interviews (11): Getting the Most from LinkedIn as a Blind or Vision Impaired User
Breandan meets WAF members who discuss their experience using LinkedIn, how to set up a profile, and some best practices for getting the most from the world’s largest professional network which aims to help its users find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn the skills needed for career success.
WAF Interviews (8): Live from Mexico - Coaching & Training, with Tabitha Kenlon and Pepe Macias
Breandan welcomes Pepe Macias who joins WAF colleague Tabitha Kenlon to discuss his insights as a trainer, facilitator, coach, and business owner in Mexico in the context of his journey with sight loss.
3 Monaghan Brothers Raise Money for new SOSAD Service
Breandan teams up with his brothers Tony and Ciarán from Lough Egish to highlight the intersection of mental health and the losses of all kinds that we encounter during COVID-19 and beyond, and to fundraise for expanded counselling and mental health support services for Monaghan Town.
Digging Deep for a Good Cause
Brothers Breandan Tony and Ciarán Ward from County Monaghan set themselves a goal to run 300km during January and raise funds for SOSAD Ireland’s counselling and mental health support services in the region. Difficult enough to do for any of us, but Breandan and Tony are both visually impaired. Alongside their brother Ciarán, all 3 managed to cover 600km in January and raised €15,000. Breandan shared how he keeps going despite the loss of sight and how routine is vital when it comes to looking after your mental health and well-being.
Leadership Coaching
Adaptability and Competitiveness – the USP of Disability
Breandan discusses the importance of persistence and adaptability as a blind person in both life and work, and how these skills are exactly what high performance teams and organisations need to compete in today’s environment. He also advises any blind or partially sighted people worried about sustainability in their current job to identify their passion and skills and how that could be transferable to other roles.
In the Classroom & Workshop
BW Interviews: Digital Accessibility, with John Kirkwood
As part of his ongoing interview series, Breandan meets leaders from the world of accessibility and inclusion to discuss 3 things – What brought them to their work? What’s one recent success and one big challenge they notice? What advice do they give anyone working towards greater disability inclusion in today’s world? The interview series grew out of Breandan’s graduate course at NYU Wagner and aims to encourage change-making for disability inclusion that is more pluralist, practical and persuasive.
BW Interviews: “We Hear You”, with Shari Eberts and Holly Cohen
As part of his ongoing interview series, Breandan meets leaders from the world of accessibility and inclusion to discuss 3 things – What brought them to their work? What’s one recent success and one big challenge they notice? What advice do they give anyone working towards greater disability inclusion in today’s world? The interview series grew out of Breandan’s graduate course at NYU Wagner and aims to encourage change-making for disability inclusion that is more pluralist, practical and persuasive.
BW Interviews – Empowering Palestinians with Disabilities, with Lana Bandak
As part of his ongoing interview series, Breandan meets leaders from the world of accessibility and inclusion to discuss 3 things – What brought them to their work? What’s one recent success and one big challenge they notice? What advice do they give anyone working towards greater disability inclusion in today’s world? The interview series grew out of Breandan’s graduate course at NYU Wagner and aims to encourage change-making for disability inclusion that is more pluralist, practical and persuasive.
BW Interviews: Advocacy & Inclusive Education, with Anastasia Somoza
As part of his ongoing interview series, Breandan meets leaders from the world of accessibility and inclusion to discuss 3 things – What brought them to their work? What’s one recent success and one big challenge they notice? What advice do they give anyone working towards greater disability inclusion in today’s world? The interview series grew out of Breandan’s graduate course at NYU Wagner and aims to encourage change-making for disability inclusion that is more pluralist, practical and persuasive.
Does Disability Belong on the Mainstream Curriculum in Higher Education?
In this presentation for the Fellowship programme at the University of Dundee, Breandan discusses the importance of “mainstreaming” disability on the graduate school curriculum and the tangible benefits this accrues for students and educators, as well as universities and broader society. Sharing insights from his own reflective practice, Breandan describes how bringing disability into the core curriculum in Higher Education (HE) demonstrates that when we say inclusion, we mean inclusion.
– a more inclusive curriculum, more inclusive teaching practices, a more inclusive learning environment for all.
BW Interviews: Tech Kids Unlimited, with Beth Rosenberg
As part of his ongoing interview series, Breandan meets leaders from the world of accessibility and inclusion to discuss 3 things – What brought them to their work? What’s one recent success and one big challenge they notice? What advice do they give anyone working towards greater disability inclusion in today’s world? The interview series grew out of Breandan’s graduate course at NYU Wagner and aims to encourage change-making for disability inclusion that is more pluralist, practical and persuasive.
BW Interviews: Joan Leon and the Birth of the Independent Living Movement
As part of his ongoing interview series, Breandan meets leaders from the world of accessibility and inclusion to discuss 3 things – What brought them to their work? What’s one recent success and one big challenge they notice? What advice do they give anyone working towards greater disability inclusion in today’s world? The interview series grew out of Breandan’s graduate course at NYU Wagner and aims to encourage change-making for disability inclusion that is more pluralist, practical and persuasive.
BW Interviews: Walei Sabry from the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
As part of his ongoing interview series, Breandan meets leaders from the world of accessibility and inclusion to discuss 3 things – What brought them to their work? What’s one recent success and one big challenge they notice? What advice do they give anyone working towards greater disability inclusion in today’s world? The interview series grew out of Breandan’s graduate course at NYU Wagner and aims to encourage change-making for disability inclusion that is more pluralist, practical and persuasive.