Irish Wheelchair Association

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The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is a charity in Ireland that works with people with physical disabilities. Founded in 1960.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/news/50th-birthday-party-for-wheelchair-association/27569074.html | work = Sligo Champion | title = 50th birthday party for Wheelchair Association | date = 3 February 2010 | accessdate = 1 May 2025 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/22084/irish-wheelchair-association-celebrates-fiftieth-anniversary | website = Galway Advertiser | title = Irish Wheelchair Association celebrates fiftieth anniversary | date = 11 February 2010 | accessdate = 1 May 2025 }} by 2016 it reportedly had approximately 2,000 registered volunteers across its 32 volunteer branches. The IWA's objectives are to advocate for the rights of people with physical disabilities by influencing public policy, the provision of different services, and support to its members.

The first chairman of the Irish Wheelchair Association was Fr. Leo Close CM, a paraplegic athlete and wheelchair user.{{citation | first = John | last = Rouse | title = Close, Leo St John |url = https://www.dib.ie/biography/close-leo-st-john-a1762 | doi = 10.3318/dib.001762.v1 | publisher = Royal Irish Academy | work = Dictionary of Irish Biography }}

The IWA provided resource and outreach services to 2,064 people in 57 locations in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iwa.ie/app/uploads/2020/10/IWA-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2016.pdf |title=Annual Report 2016|last=|first=|date=|website=Irish Wheelchair Association|pages=8,30|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2018-09-18}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.eveningecho.ie/life/Irish-Wheelchair-Associations-support-is-invaluable-to-our-nine-year-old-son-cef1f097-629c-4656-a5f7-973e428d2223-ds|title=Irish Wheelchair Association's support is invaluable to our nine-year-old son|last=Murray|first=Allie|date=2017-11-08|work=Evening Echo|access-date=2018-09-18}}