Northern Ireland Assembly Commission: Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 - Public Consultation Outcome Report

Action 1: Deliver staff training to ensure staff understand the requirements relating to disability equality legislation and disability awareness.

Special attention should be paid to hidden disabilities.

The issue of hidden disabilities will be considered in the development of training for staff.

Action 1: Deliver staff training to ensure staff understand the requirements relating to disability equality legislation and disability awareness.

This may add to teachers' workload, and consistent attendance and application of the training can be challenging.

Delivery of staff training will have no impact on teachers' workload. Staff completion and understanding of training will be monitored.

Action 2: Offer staff Masterclasses focusing on a range of disabilities.

The full range of disabilities should be covered. Invisible disabilities and bowel conditions are often overlooked.

We will continue to review masterclass content to ensure that it is both up to date and comprehensive; and that our staff can access masterclass information at a range of times.

Action 2: Offer staff Masterclasses focusing on a range of disabilities.

The training must be accurate.

We will continue to review masterclass content to ensure that it is both up to date and comprehensive; and that our staff can access masterclass information at a range of times.

Action 2: Offer staff Masterclasses focusing on a range of disabilities.

This will require careful time allocation within an already busy schedule and depends on the quality of the content provided.

We will continue to review masterclass content to ensure that it is both up to date and comprehensive; and that our staff can access masterclass information at a range of times.

Action 3: All Education and Youth Assembly Officers complete the course 'Developing SEND Inclusive Learning with Confidence'.

This training should be provided to all staff dealing with the public including ushers, catering, cleaning, education, corporate, IT development, communications and administration staff.

This training is designed for staff who deliver educational training to SEND groups and would not be appropriate for other members of staff.

Action 3: All Education and Youth Assembly Officers complete the course 'Developing SEND Inclusive Learning with Confidence'.

This training will require significant time investment and regular updates to incorporate best practice.

We will provide time to allow Education and Youth Assembly Officers to complete this training. The training will be kept up to date to reflect best practice.

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.

Should aim to achieve the highest possible standard and go beyond the limited reach of The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations.

All staff involved creating web content or online publishing will be offered appropriate training. Specialised accessibility training will be provided to Content Management System editors in the web team.

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.

This ongoing requirement may be perceived as an additional burden and could be time-consuming.

Training will be managed to ensure that it can be completed with minimal disruption to workload.

Action 5: Continually improve accessibility of our website and digital offerings, and strive for compliance with accessibility regulations.

Amend the aim on the timeline to read: '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' as it will not now be realistic to complete this project by March 2026.

Aim amended from 'Complete the website redevelopment project by 2026 with the aim of addressing potential accessibility barriers and creating a site which allows all users to perceive, understand, navigate, interact with and contribute to the site'.

Action 5: Continually improve accessibility of our website and digital offerings, and strive for compliance with accessibility regulations.

Include subtitles on live stream TV and videos on the website.

Not everyone can access digital offerings and websites. An alternative needs to be provided.

Action 5: Continually improve accessibility of our website and digital offerings, and strive for compliance with accessibility regulations.

Not all people who are deaf use sign language. Why are there no plans to provide subtitles?

 All Plenary sessions, and up to four Committee meetings per week, are streamed live on our YouTube channel which offers auto-generated subtitles to users. Auto-generation is as yet not perfect due to issues like regional pronunciation, but the majority of text generated follows the correct wording. Live subtitles are not available through niassembly.tv as yet. Video recordings of meetings are added to niassembly.tv within one day of finishing. These recordings also include auto-generated captions, however we are experimenting with AI-powered tools to improve the accuracy of the captions. Early results are promising with the accuracy greatly increased. A major issue is with people names, place names, acronyms etc. We will continue to review our processes with the intent to improve the service we offer our users where possible. The Assembly's Office of the Official Report also produces transcriptions of select Assembly proceedings. This includes all Plenary Sessions and those Committee evidence sessions for which the Committee has requested a transcription. Note that not all Committee evidence sessions are transcribed by the Official Report. However, efforts will be increased to include links to Official Report transcriptions, where available, along with the video recording. This will present a text alternative for those particular sessions to the user. All of this information is included on niassembly.tv - https://niassembly.tv/captions/ - and is available from the 'Help' section which is located from the main navigation menu at the top of the site.

Need to consider other disabilities (e.g. communication disabilities).

We will take account of the needs of people with other disabilities.

This could be resource-intensive and may require ongoing investment.

Resources are made available to routinely provide sign language interpretation for the Northern Ireland Assembly Question Time and occasional special events and to make the website compliant with The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018. In addition, sign language is provided at regular points throughout the stages of the Sign Language Bill given that those who are deaf are key stakeholders.

There should be a digital feedback option. Where do you get the feedback form?

The Visitor Survey will be mainstreamed across services which interface with the public in order to collect data to inform access and service provision. We will explore options for digital as well as paper-based survey feedback.

Implementing changes based on this feedback can be time-consuming and costly but is essential for progress.

Your comment is noted.

The Disability Action Plan should include a section confirming the accessibility supports provided for MLAs.

The actions in the Disability Action Plan will have benefits for everyone who works in or visits Parliament Buildings, including MLAs.

Not all disabilities are visible. Using images of people with disabilities does not, in itself, mean you are inclusive.

The action aims to promote positive attitudes of people with disabilities by ensuring that images on the Assembly website, social media and publications are representative of people with disabilities.

A corporate approach to the use of staff and visitor images that promote positive attitudes towards disabled people is necessary for consistency and effectiveness.

A corporate approach to the use of images will be adopted to promote positive images of disability. We have reflected disabled people contributing in the citizens' parliaments.

A calendar of awareness days to be marked/celebrated to be made available to the public and all building users.

An annual plan of engagements events including celebration of disability awareness days will be developed.

How do you determine which days are relevant? Choosing what is relevant is a form of disability discrimination in itself.

We are currently considering best use of resources in order to be as inclusive as possible.

A full range of awareness days should be recognised. The public should be able to forward requests of awareness days in an online portal.

We are currently considering best use of resources in order to be as inclusive as possible.

Planning and executing these events requires time and resources, they are crucial for meaningful stakeholder engagement.

We are currently considering best use of resources in order to be as inclusive as possible.

Not all disabilities are visible.

Consideration of all disabilities will form part of our approach.

Advertise this so people are aware.

Celebration of awareness days will be promoted in the Assembly's communications.

These initiatives may add to teachers' workload, particularly in terms of attending training sessions, developing bespoke activities, and using new resources. Ensuring all schools have access to the necessary resources and support can be challenging,particularly inareas with limited funding or infrastructure.

We are committed to extending a supportive service to all school pupils that is robust and flexible to meet individual needs.

Publish times when a tour in sign language is available - even if only a couple of times a year.

We will be providing and advertising tours of Parliament Buildings in both British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL).

Accessible tours are positive in themselves, but they are not as important as the other action points.

The action aims to provide those with additional needs the opportunity to take part in a tour of Parliament Buildings.

Highlighting the 'can't wait card' is vital.

A changing places toilet facility is available at all times.

Tours need to be advertised and published.

The availability of accessible tours will be advertised.

Organising tours may require additional resources and planning.

Additional resources will be made available to deliver accessible tours.

This action plan is vague. Maintaining an award means nothing in practice.

Maintaining the Autism Friendly Award requires us to meet standards and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that Parliament Buildings is welcoming for people with autism.

This requires ongoing investment, training, and ensuring that all aspects remain autism-friendly.

We will undertake to provide ongoing investment and training to ensure that the Autism Friendly Award is maintained.

'Service users' should be defined.

We will define service users more clearly in the action to include visitors, building users and staff.

The action is too vague - a form of box ticking.

The action aims to demonstrate our commitment to improving access to Parliament Buildings for deaf people.

Need to be aware of support for other disabilities, especially hidden disabilities.

Your comment is noted and welcomed.

Implementing changes may require resources and training.

Resources and training will be provided to ensure that changes are implemented.

The Disability Action Plan should include promotion of being an elected representative.

Increasing representation of disabled people in elected roles is a matter for the political parties.

This action is vital and should be further up the agenda.

Your comment is welcomed and noted.

Ensuring that, as an employer, we continue to enable disabled people to have the opportunity to fulfil their potential is essential.

Your comment is welcomed and noted.

Provide JAM cards for any building users.

The JAM card licence will be renewed annually and new staff members will complete JAM card training.

This requires ongoing training, resources, and consistent awareness among staff.

The JAM card licence will be renewed annually and new staff members will complete JAM card training.

There should be at least two spaces for MLAs with disabilities on EDAG.

EDAG is an external group and the Terms of Reference is focussed on accessibility to and within Parliament Buildings and the services provided for visitors, building users and staff. MLAs do not sit on EDAG but can raise accessibility matters directly with the relevant Assembly Commission staff.

Does EDAG membership include people with lived experience of learning disability or deafness?

EDAG is made up of representative groups and individuals including people with lived experience of a range of disabilities. Membership is reviewed every two years to ensure a full range of disability organisations are represented on the Group.

Continuous engagement requires dedicated resources and time, and ensuring consistent participation can be challenging.

Staff in the Equality Unit manage engagement with EDAG to ensure consistent participation.

Why not a long-term placement?

The aim of this action is to offer a short-term supported placement for people with disabilities under the Assembly Commission's Apprenticeship and Placement Framework, in order to provide individuals with opportunities to develop their skills and confidence in the workplace and gain meaningful work experience.

Finding suitable placements and providing necessary support can be resource-intensive and may present logistical challenges.

Placements will be identified through disability representative organisations and resources will be provided.

The Plan should include actions to support MLAs who have disabilities.

The actions in the Disability Action Plan will have benefits for everyone who works in or visits Parliament Buildings, including MLAs.

Need to advertise the Disability Parliament to raise awareness.

The Disability Parliament will be promoted through the Assembly's website and social media.

Organising such events requires significant planning and resources and ensuring effective follow-up can be challenging.

Outreach Parliaments are co-designed with a core panel of people who have disabilities, or who represent people with disabilities. This is coupled with the Assembly Engagement Team's experience of delivery.

Ensuring adequate support and accommodations for young people with disabilities requires resources, including funding, assistive technologies and trained staff.

Through our recruitment processes we actively ensure that young people with disabilities become members of the Northern IrelandYouth Assembly and we build in the support they need to fully participate.

Coordinating participation, including transportation, accessible venues, and suitable meeting times, can present logistical challenges.

We manage a balance of online and in-person participation that best suits the needs of our young people, including those with specific needs.

There is a risk of representation being seen as tokenistic if not handled thoughtfully and inclusively.

We have specifically considered additional needs and Youth Assembly Members with disabilities tell us what their needs are.

All building users should be updated, not just the employed staff.

Progress reports on the actions in the Disability Action Plan will be communicated to staff and in addition, will be published on the Assembly's website which can be accessed by other building users.

What is a Disability Action Plan?

The Disability Action Plan sets out how the Assembly Commission will meet its statutory under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and is the subject of this consultation.

This requires effective communication strategies to ensure that all staff members receive and understand the information.

Six-monthly progress reports on the actions in the Disability Action Plan will be communicated to staff.

The report on progress should be published and available online.

The six-monthly reports on progress to SMT will be published on the Assembly's website.

Reports should be provided to SMT every quarter.

We consider that the reporting arrangements proposed in Action 21 are appropriate.

The reporting process can be resource-intensive and may require significant coordination and effort to compile and present the necessary data.

Staff and resources are available to ensure that progress is reported to SMT and the Assembly Commission.

The Annual Report should include a survey of MLAs and all MLA/Party staff.

There is a requirement in our Equality Scheme to complete an annual report to the Equality Commission. The annual report includes progress on the actions contained in the Disability Action Plan to support staff and building users.

The annual report should be acted upon.

The annual report will summarise progress on the Disability Action Plan.

Preparing these reports can be time-consuming and requires thorough documentation and analysis.

Resources will be available to ensure that the annual progress report to the Equality Commission is completed.

The review should be completed at least once per electoral cycle.

The Disability Action Plan covers the five-year period from 2025 to 2030. The requirement in our Equality Scheme is to carry out a review of the Disability Action Plan every five years. This is a requirement through legislation.

A five-year review period is too long - a 2 or 3-year review would be best practice.

The Disability Action Plan covers the five-year period from 2025 to 2030. The requirement in our Equality Scheme is to carry out a review of the Disability Action Plan every five years. This is a requirement through legislation.

The review process can be extensive and may require significant resources and stakeholder involvement to ensure a thorough and accurate evaluation.

Resources will be available to ensure that the five-year review of the Disability Action Plan is completed.