President Michael D Higgins has asked people to take photos of any blocked footpaths and post them online, as part of a campaign to highlight the challenges posed to people with disabilities.

It comes on this year's Make Way Day, which has been set up to highlight the difficulty those with reduced mobility face when trying to go about their business.

Organisers at the Disability Federation of Ireland are calling for everyone to change their behaviour, in order to 'make way' for everyone.

In a statement marking the campaign, President Higgins encouraged "activists and concerned citizens alike" to highlight particular problems online - including "obstacles being thoughtlessly left on the footpath".

He said: "You can help by taking photographs of the obstacles that you confront or identify, such as cars parked on footpaths, motorbikes and bicycles parked inappropriately, sandwich boards blocking thoroughfares, and any other objects that strike you as needing attention, such as broken shores, kerbs and loose paving slabs, and then post your pictures on social media.

"You can show your support by sharing and re-tweeting other people’s posts from the ‘Make Way Day’ social media pages, and encourage friends and family to do the same; by contacting your local Councillors and asking for their support.

"Such obstacles as I have mentioned as examples are barriers that are encountered day in, day out by people with disabilities across our country - barriers that limit their ability to participate in their communities, and barriers that can pose real risks, perhaps even leading to serious health hazards."

However, President Higgins said recent decades have seen a "welcome and positive change in society’s attitude to fellow citizens living with disabilities".

He said those changes did not happen overnight, but came about "through the persistent effort by committed citizens determined to achieve positive change for others".