Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Disability Action Plan 2025-2030
Accessibility Statement
Any requests to receive this information in an alternative format should be sent to:
Write to:
Equality and Good Relations Unit
Room 402
Parliament Buildings
Ballymiscaw
Belfast
BT4 3XX
Telephone: 028 9041 8377/ 028 9052 1941
Textphone: 028 9052 1209
Email: equality@niassembly.gov.uk
Foreword by the Speaker and Clerk/Chief Executive
This Disability Action Plan confirms the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission's commitment to fulfilling the statutory obligations in compliance with Section 49A and 49B of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended by the Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006).
However, the Disability Action Plan is about more than just compliance, it demonstrates our commitment to mainstreaming disability issues and placing them at the core of what we do.
The Assembly Commission's corporate strategy includes an aim to make the work of the Assembly more accessible. The Assembly Commission recognise that for the Assembly to effectively conduct its business we need to ensure that it is accessible to the entirety of our society. This Disability Action Plan will play an essential part in achieving that aim, helping us to prioritise disability issues across the organisation.
The Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA
Clerk/Chief Executive, Lesley Hogg
Contents
2. The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission
3. The Corporate Strategy and Corporate Plan
4. The Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 - Development and Public Consultation
5. What is included in the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030
6. Encouraging the participation of disabled people in public life
7. Monitoring of the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030
8. Publication of the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030
Annex A Disability Action Plan 2025 - 2030
1. Introduction
1.1 The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ('the Assembly Commission'), as a designated public authority, is subject to two interrelated duties under Sections 49A and 49B of the Disability Discrimination Act ("DDA") 1995 (as amended by Article 5 of the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006). Section 49A places a duty on the Assembly Commission to have 'due regard' to the need to:
- Promote positive attitudes towards disabled people; and
- Encourage participation by disabled people in public life.
1.2 Section 49B places a duty on the Assembly Commission to prepare an action plan outlining how it proposes to fulfil the Section 49A duty. This plan is a description of procedural and practical arrangements that the Assembly Commission has committed itself to. This plan is referred to as a Disability Action Plan (DAP).
1.3 A Disability Action Plan covers people with all types of disabilities; for example, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory disabilities, mental health disabilities and other hidden disabilities.
1.5 Progress on the Assembly Commission's DAP is reported via the Annual Equality Progress Report return to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI).
1.6 In accordance with ECNI Guidance (para 3.41-3.44), the Assembly Commission must carry out a review of its DAP every five years and a copy of the review report must forwarded to the ECNI. A five year review of the 2022-2025 DAP has been published on the Northern Ireland Assembly website.
2. The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission
2.1 The Assembly Commission is the corporate body of the Northern Ireland Assembly. It consists of a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from each of the five main parties, plus the Speaker of the House who acts as Chairperson, and its role is to oversee the organisation and to provide services, structures and property in order for the Assembly to function.
2.2 The Northern Ireland Assembly employs staff to support its work. The organisation consists of five directorates; Corporate Services, Legal, Governance and Research Services, Parliamentary Services and a Corporate Support Unit.
3. The Corporate Strategy and Corporate Plan
3.1 The Corporate Strategy guides the direction of the Assembly Commission in providing support, services and advice to the Assembly. The current Strategy covers the five year-period from 2023 to 2028, and it sets out priorities and objectives across four key values: Excellence, Positivity, Integrity and Collaboration.
3.2 Many of the actions in the draft Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 will support the work being undertaken through the Corporate Plan 2023-2028, in particular, the objectives to:
- Promote a learning environment to support staff in their careers;
- Make the work of the Assembly more accessible;
- Develop and implement a strategy to communicate the impact of the Assembly;Develop and implement a public engagement strategy; and
- Create more opportunities to engage with Committees.
4. The Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 - Development and Public Consultation
4.1 In developing the draft Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 the Assembly Commission:
- considered what it said it would do in the 2022-2025 Disability Action Plan to see whether it was achieved, and if any actions needed to continue.
- asked staff what they felt had worked well and what could be improved.
- engaged with other legislatures to find out what they are doing to help people with disabilities, and to share ideas and good practice.
- met with the Assembly Commission's External Disability Advisory Group to get their feedback on the draft Disability Action Plan 2025-2030.
- examined feedback from visitors with disabilities to Parliament Buildings to see what they said about accessibility at Parliament Buildings.
- analysed relevant data, such as equality monitoring returns and relevant papers to the Senior Management Team (SMT).
4.2 A 12-week public consultation on the draft Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 was undertaken from 11 November 2024 to 17 February 2025. A range of accessible formats were provided from the outset, such as an Easy read version of the DAP, and British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) guidance videos to accompany the public consultation.
4.3 The public consultation used a range of methods including face to face meetings, emails to consultees, press advertisements, a web-based survey, emails to staff and Twitter and Facebook posts.
4.4 All consultee responses were analysed and a 'Public Consultation Outcomes Report' was produced in March 2025 which also detailed the Assembly Commission's response to consultee comments. The Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 was approved by the Assembly Commission's SMT in May 2025, and by the Assembly Commission in June 2025.
5. What is included in the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030
5.1 The Disability Action Plan 2022-25 sets out how we intend to:
- promote positive attitudes towards disabled people, and
- encourage participation by disabled people in public life.
5.2 The DAP has six areas that are informed by guidance published by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. These six DAP areas are:
- Staff Training
- Communication and Feedback
- Engagement and Participation
- Awards, Accreditation and Standards
- Representation (Public Life Measures)
- Monitoring and reporting
5.3 The Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 clearly sets out what we want to do over the next five years, when we will do it, who will do it and the expected outputs. We will continue the work that we have done in certain areas under our 2022-2025 Action Plan. For example, we will continue to:
- Strive to retain our Autism Friendly Award and maintain membership of the Disability Confident Scheme;
- Provide sign language interpretation for the Northern Ireland Assembly Question Time and occasional special events;
- Work with RNID and others to provide accessible services for service users who are deaf or with hearing loss, and
- Engage with the Assembly Commission's External Disability Advisory Group, which is made up of disability organisations from across Northern Ireland.
However, the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 now has new actions including:
- All Education and Youth Assembly Officers to complete 'Developing SEND Inclusive Learning with Confidence' course;
- Encourage SEN schools, and mainstream schools with SEN pupils, to take part in education programmes,
- Hold a Disability Parliament as part of a series of citizens parliaments, and
- Deliver accessible tours of Parliament Buildings.
6. Encouraging the participation of disable people in public life
6.1 The Assembly Commission seeks to fulfil the duty set out in section 49A of the Disability Discrimination 1995 to encourage the participation by disabled people in public life. To achieve this, a number of measures have been put in place, such as the establishment of the Assembly Commission's External Disability Advisory Group, the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly and Citizen's Parliaments, such as the Disabled People's Parliament.
6.2 Assembly Commission's External Disability Advisory Group was established in 2009 and consists of representative groups and individuals, including people with lived experiences of a range of disabilities. It provides advice and input on both the development and implementation of the Assembly Commission's DAP. Membership of the group is reviewed every two years.
6.3 In 2020, the Speaker announced that the Assembly Commission had agreed plans for a Youth Assembly. The first Northern Ireland Youth Assembly members were appointed for a two-year term in June 2021. The second mandate began in October 2023. The 90 members are between 12 and 16 years old, are a representative group from every constituency in Northern Ireland and include young people with disabilities. The Northern Ireland Youth Assembly is a platform designed to give young people the opportunity to have their voices heard. Members of the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly have a unique opportunity to share their views and directly influence decisions taken by the Assembly.
6.4 As the Northern Ireland Assembly represents and makes laws for everyone who lives in Northern Ireland, it is essential that there are ways for all sections of the community to have their say, and that opportunities are provided for them to affect change .One of the ways this is achieved is through the Citizen's Parliaments. These Parliaments provide a platform for section 75 groups to engage directly with decision-makers and raise issues of concern. Examples of Citizen's Parliaments are, the Older People's Parliament , the Women's Parliament, the Pensioners' Parliament and the Disabled People's Parliament. An Minority Ethnic Parliament is currently being planned. The first Disabled People's Parliament was held on 3 December 2021. The Assembly Commission's Engagement Team is working towards facilitating a second Disabled People's Parliament in 2025.
7. Monitoring of the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030
7.1 The Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 is available on the Assembly website and can be made available in alternative formats on request.
7.2 The Assembly Commission's Equality and Good Relations Unit will oversee the implementation of the DAP.
7.3 Progress will be reviewed regularly and a monitoring report update will be provided to SMT on a six-monthly basis and to the Assembly Commission annually. Monitoring report updates will detail :
- what has been undertaken to achieve targets;
- whether actions are complete or on schedule, and
- if targets are not being achieved, the rationale and action to be taken to address this.
7.4 The six-monthly monitoring progress updates will be published on the Assembly website.
7.5 Each year progress made on the implementation of the DAP will be included in the Assembly Commission's Annual Equality Progress Report, which will be submitted to the ECNI and published on the Assembly website.
7.6 The Assembly Commission's Equality Unit will also continue to hold meetings with the External Disability Advisory Group to keep them informed about DAP implementation, progress and review, and to also seek their advice and input where appropriate.
8. Publication of the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030
8.1 The Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 is available on the Assembly website and can be made available in alternative formats on request.
8.2 The following arrangements are in place for the publication in a timely manner of the Disability Action Plan to ensure equality of access:
- every effort will be made to communicate widely the existence and content of the Disability Action Plan. This may include direct mail shots to groups representing, and including, disabled people.
- a link to the Disability Action Plan will be issued to Assembly Commission Section 75 consultees. We will respond to requests for the disability action plan in alternative formats in a timely manner.
The Assembly Commission wish to thank everyone who helped in the development of the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030.
Disability Action Plan 2025 – 2030
Aim 1: Promoting positive attitudes towards disabled people
Corporate Strategy 2023-2028 High Level Objective: Promote a learning environment to support staff in their careers
Area: Staff Training
Action 1 - Deliver staff training to ensure staff understand the requirements relating to disability equality legislation and disability awareness, including hidden disabilities
Aims and Objectives
- Ensure staff are up to date with required disability training, how it relates to their work and the importance of being treated with dignity, fairness, equality, and respect.
Measurable Outputs
- Development of an eLearning course on Disability Awareness co-produced with disabled people.
- Monitoring records show training has been delivered to all staff.
- Evaluation of training shows increase in staff knowledge of disability legislation and related issues.
Timescale
Over the lifetime of the plan.
Lead Business Area
- Learning and Development.
- Equality Unit.
Action 2 - Offer staff Masterclasses focusing on a range of disabilities
Aims and Objectives
- To raise staff awareness on a range of disabilities and how they impact on people's lives.
Measurable Outputs
- Evaluation of Masterclasses shows increase in staff awareness and knowledge.
Timescale
Over the lifetime of the Action Plan.
Lead Business Area
- Learning and Development
Action 3 - All Education and Youth Assembly Officers complete the course 'Developing SEND Inclusive Learning with Confidence'
Aims and Objectives
- Ensure staff are trained in delivery of Educational programmes to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) groups.
Measurable Outputs
- Staff feedback on the value of the course and their preparedness to cater for SEND groups.
Timescale
All Education and Youth Assembly Officers will have completed training by March 2026.
Lead Business Area
- Education Service and Youth Assembly
Action 4 - Continue to deliver training, and provide guidance, to ensure staff who are content creators/publishers, understand online accessibility and compliance with the requirements set out in relevant regulations
Note: the 'regulations' are The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations.
Aims and Objectives 1
- To ensure that staff, who are content creators/publishers, are aware of the latest accessibility guidance and know how to apply it in their work.
Measurable Outputs
- All staff involved in creating content or online publishing are offered training.
- Monitoring records show training has been delivered to relevant staff.
- Video guides, advice, and guidance are made available on intranet for all staff and updated as required.
Timescale
Over the lifetime of the plan.
Lead business area
Communications Office.
Aims and Objectives 2
- General awareness training on online accessibility is offered once a year to all staff.
Measurable Outputs
- Monitoring records show that awareness training has been delivered to interested staff.
- Evaluation of training shows increase in staff knowledge.
Timescale
Annually
Lead business area
Communications Office.
Aims and Objectives 3
- Specialised accessibility training is provided to CMS editors in web team.
Measurable Outputs
- Monitoring records show training has been delivered to all relevant staff.
- Evaluation of training shows increase in staff knowledge of accessibility best practice.
Timescale
As and when required.
Lead business area
Communications Office.
Corporate Strategy 2023-2028 High Level Objectives:
- Make the work of the Assembly more accessible
- Develop and implement a strategy for communicating the impact of the Assembly
Area: Communication and Feedback
Action 5 - Continually improve the accessibility of our website and digital offerings, and strive for compliance with accessibility regulations
Aims and Objectives 1
Complete the website redevelopment project by 2028 taking into account potential accessibility barriers and creating a site which allows all users to perceive, understand, navigate, interact with and contribute to the site.
Measurable Outputs
- Track and consider 80% of user-reported accessibility issues within a 3-month timeframe. Timescale: Development stage commenced in Autumn 2024.
- Consider the top 5 most frequently accessed pages with accessibility barriers with a view to addressing the issues if possible. Timescale: Every six months.
- Conduct annual accessibility audits using tools like WebAIM WAVE to measure against WCAG 2.2 AA standards. Record and report any issues to the IS Office for development support. Timescale: Annually.
- Update website accessibility statement annually based on audit results. Timescale: Annually.
Aims and Objectives 2
Investigate the feasibility of a Content Strategy to accompany the website redevelopment project that provides direction on how to standardise and present all published information in a more user-friendly and accessible manner for all users.
Measurable Outputs
- Establish the parameters for the formulation of a content strategy. Timescale: In line with the lifetime of the website redevelopment project.
- Produce a paper with recommendations for Heads of Business. Timescale: In line with the lifetime of the website redevelopment project.
- Establish resource implications to deliver the content strategy recommendations. Timescale: In line with the lifetime of the website redevelopment project.
Lead Business Area
- Communications Office.
Action 6 - Communicating the work of the Assembly
Aims and Objectives 1
- Provide sign language interpretation for the Northern Ireland Assembly Question Time and occasional special events.
Measurable Outputs
- Sign language interpretation (British Sign Language, BSL & Irish Sign Language, ISL) is provided for at least one Northern Ireland Assembly Question Time per week, with Question time to The Executive Office (TEO) always to be interpreted; and that certain special events, such as the first sittings in a new mandate, are sign language interpreted (subject to availability). Timescale: Over the lifetime of the plan. Lead business area: Parliamentary Services.
Aims and Objectives 2
- The new Assembly website will be compliant with The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Measurable Outputs
- Manual accessibility website audit conducted. Timescale: Two yearly over the lifetime of the plan (2026, 2028 and 2030). Lead business area: Communications Office.
Action 7 - Monitor feedback from the visitor experience in Parliament Buildings with a focus on customer service, public facilities and accessibility to Assembly business
Aims and Objectives
- The Visitor Survey is mainstreamed across services which interface with the public in order to collect data to inform access and service provision.
Measurable Outputs
- Visitor survey feedback considered and action taken as appropriate.
Timescale
Every six months.
Lead business area
- RaISe has responsibility for the analysis of survey responses.
- Public Engagement to forward any issues raised to relevant business area.
Action 8 - Identify opportunities to promote positive attitudes of disability through images on the Assembly website, on social media and in Assembly publications
Aims and Objectives
- We will have a corporate approach to the use of staff and visitor images which promote positive attitudes towards disabled people.
Measurable Outputs
- Review of images used in Assembly communications to ensure they are representative of people in the community and, where possible, of people engaging with, or participating in, Assembly Commission services, including those with a disability.
Timescale
Ongoing over the lifetime of the Action Plan.
Lead business area
- Communications Office.
Corporate Strategy 2023-2028 High Level Objectives:
- Develop and implement a public engagement strategy
- Create more opportunities to engage with Committees
Area: Engagement and Participation.
Action 9 - Awareness days (including those related to particular disabilities) to be marked/celebrated by the Assembly Commission, including annual plan of engagement events
Aims and Objectives
- To mark awareness days over the course of the action plan with the aim of raising awareness of particular disabilities as well as demonstrating how people can participate in the work of the Assembly. A targeted approach will be adopted to identify the most relevant awareness days.
Measurable Outputs
- Awareness days will be delivered on an annual basis.
Timescale
Annually.
Lead business area
- Public Engagement.
Action 10 - Continue to encourage SEN schools, and mainstream schools with SEN pupils, to take part in the education programmes
Aims and Objectives 1
- Offer inclusive and bespoke activities suitable for pupils.
Measurable Outputs
- Increased number of SEN schools and pupils taking part in education programmes either through a visit to Parliament Buildings, a virtual session or an outreach session. Timescale: Over the lifetime of the plan. Lead business area: Education Service.
Aims and Objectives 2
- Develop more visual/sensory resources for children with special educational needs.
Measurable Outputs
- Positive feedback from teachers. Timescale: Over the lifetime of the plan. Lead business area: Education Service.
Action 11 - Deliver accessible tours of Parliament Buildings
Aims and Objectives
- To provide people with additional needs the opportunity to take part in a tour of Parliament Buildings.
Measurable Outputs
- Increased delivery of specific accessible tours.
- Over the course of the plan measure uptake of these tours.
Timescale
Over the lifetime of the plan.
Lead business area
Public Engagement.
Corporate Strategy 2023-2028 High Level Objective: Make the work of the Assembly more accessible
Area: Awards, Accreditations and Standards
Action 12 - Maintain Autism Friendly Award
Aims and Objectives
- To show our commitment to ensuring that Parliament Buildings is a welcoming place for autistic people and their families.
Measurable Outputs
- Standards met as required.
Timescale
Annually.
Lead business area
- Facilities.
Action 13 - Work with RNID and others to provide accessible services for service users who are deaf or with hearing loss. 'Service users' includes visitors, building users and staff
Aims and Objectives
- To show commitment to improving access to Parliament Buildings for people with deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss.
Measurable Outputs
- Annual review of disability access audit (2024) findings.
Timescale
Annually.
Lead business area
- Facilities.
Action 14 - Maintain membership of the Disability Confident Scheme. Disability Confident is a government scheme that encourages employers to recruit, retain and develop disabled people
Aims and Objectives
- To ensure that, as an employer, we continue to enable disabled people to have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Measurable Outputs
- Membership of the Disability Confident Scheme is maintained.
Timescale
2025.
Lead business area
- Human Resources Office.
Action 15 - Maintain JAM (Just a Minute) Card standards
Aims and Objectives
- To make Parliament Buildings a welcoming place for people with a learning difficulty, autism or a communication barrier.
Measurable Outputs
- Renew JAM card license each year.
- Ensure new employees complete the JAM card e-learning course.
Timescale
Over the lifetime of the plan
Lead business area
- Learning and Development.
Aim 2: Encouraging the participation of disabled people in public life
Corporate Strategy 2023-2028 High Level Objectives:
- Develop and implement a public engagement strategy
- Create opportunities to build networks and teams
Area: Representation
Action 16 - Continue to engage with our External Disability Advisory Group (EDAG). EDAG is made up of practitioners and representatives from the disability sector who assist with the development and implementation of the Disability Action Plan
Aims and Objectives
- Engagement and participation of disabled people and their representative groups continues to inform the implementation of the Disability Action Plan.
Measurable Outputs
- Full meeting of the Group is held once or twice a year (or as agreed by the Group) and separate meetings on particular initiatives/issues are held as required. Timescale: Meetings arranged as required throughout the lifetime of the Action Plan. Lead business unit: Equality Unit.
- Membership is reviewed every two years to ensure a full range of disability organisations are represented on the Group. Timescale: Review of membership carried out every two years: by June 2027 and 30 June 2029. Lead business unit: Equality Unit.
Action 17 - Continue to provide short-term supported placements for people with a disability under the Apprenticeship and Placement Framework
Aims and Objectives
- To provide opportunities for people with a disability to develop their skills and confidence in the workplace and gain meaningful work experience.
Measurable Outputs
- Further short-term supported placements are facilitated during the lifetime of the Plan.
Timescale
First placement to be facilitated by 31 March 2026 and further placement by 31 March 2028.
Lead business area
- Human Resources Office.
Action 18 - Hold a Disability Parliament as part of a series of citizens parliaments
Aims and Objectives
- To afford people with Disabilities the opportunity to have their voices heard on issues that are important to them.
Measurable Outputs
- Annual Parliament for People with Disabilities is held.
Timescale
Annually.
Lead business area
- Public Engagement.
Action 19 - Young people with disabilities are represented on the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly
Aims and Objectives
- To ensure the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly is representative of the youth population of Northern Ireland.
- To ensure that the voices of young people with disabilities are heard in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Measurable Outputs
- Young people with disabilities are represented on the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly.
Timescale
Throughout the lifetime of the DAP. Youth Assembly recruitment happens every 2 years (2025, 2027, and 2029).
Lead business area
- Youth Assembly.
Monitoring and Reporting
Action 20 - Ensure staff are kept up to date on progress on new Disability Action Plan
Aims and Objectives
- To raise staff awareness of the work the Assembly Commission is doing on disability and of wider disability issues.
Measurable Outputs
- Once the Plan is approved, staff are kept informed on progress on the results of the consultation; where to find the final agreed Plan and what the Plan contains. Timescale: May 2025. Lead business area: Equality Unit.
- Staff are notified by email of availability of six-monthly updates on the website. Timescale: Bi-annually. Lead business area: Equality Unit.
Action 21 - Report on progress to Senior Management Team (SMT) every six months and the Assembly Commission every year
Aims and Objectives
- To ensure that we deliver on the targets in our plan and that we keep staff and the public informed of progress.
Measurable Outputs
- Following consultation with business areas, six-monthly updates are prepared for SMT and annual updates for the Assembly Commission. Timescale: Bi-annually. Lead business area: Equality Unit.
- Approved six-monthly updates are published on the Assembly website. Timescale: Bi-annually. Lead business area: Equality Unit.
Action 22 - Report on progress Timescale: October each year. Lead business unit: Equality Unit.yearly to the Equality Commission.
Aims and Objectives
- To ensure that we deliver on the targets in our plan and that we keep the Equality Commission informed of progress.
Measurable Outputs
- Following approval by SMT and the Assembly Commission, annual progress reports are prepared and submitted to the Equality Commission. Timescale: June each year (ECNI deadline for submission is 31 August each year).. Lead business unit: Equality Unit.
- Following a meeting with the Equality Commission to discuss annual report content, reports are published on the Assembly website. Timescale: October each year. Lead business unit: Equality Unit.
Action 23 - Carry out a five-year review of our Disability Action Plan
Aims and Objectives
- To review our plan to make sure it is effective and achieve what it sets out to do.
Measurable Outputs
- Review of the Disability Action Plan is carried out, in consultation with business areas, and presented to SMT and the Assembly Commission. Timescale: 2030. Lead business unit: Equality Unit.
- Once approved, the review is published online. Email is issued to staff and stakeholders to inform them the review is available. Timescale: 2030. Lead business unit: Equality Unit.
