External Disability Advisory Group Meeting
25 September 2025 at 1200
Room 54, Parliament Buildings
In attendance:
External Disability Advisory Group Members:
In Person:
Paula Beattie, RNIB
Rhona McAuley, Cedar Foundation
David McDonald
Cathy Thom, Positive Futures
Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Staff:
Maria Bannon, Equality Manager (Chair)
Christine Watt, Environmental Services and Health and Safety Manager (Item 5)
Claire Maguire, Public Engagement Manager (Item 6)
Eoin Curran, Web Content Manager (Item 7)
John Gow, Equality Officer (Secretary)
Apologies:
Andrew Ewen, Leonard Cheshire
Hannah Lyons, Guide Dogs
Ursula Marshall
Naomi McBurney, MS Society
Amanda Paul
Joanne Sansome
1. Welcome and Introduction
1.1 The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed all to Parliament Buildings.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting
2.1 The minutes of the previous meeting on 6 February 2025 were agreed.
3. Actions from the previous meeting
3.1 RNIB’s guidance to political parties on the use of accessible formats in campaigning was circulated to EDAG members.
3.2 The Engagement Officer asked the Visitor Experience Team to check the pre-event process in relation to the WiFi password.
3.3 The Chair had raised with the Head of Security the issue of access to an All Party Group (APG) meeting room, prior to the APG meeting, to allow RNIB to set up for the APG on Visual Impairment. Ms Beattie confirmed that the issue had been resolved.
4. Draft Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 Publication
4.1 The Chair thanked EDAG members for their contributions to the development of the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 during the public consultation period. The Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 and a report on the outcome of the public consultation had been published on the Assembly’s website. The first biannual report on the Disability Action Plan 2025-2030 would be completed in December 2025.
5. Parliament Buildings Disability Audit
5.1 The Environmental Services and Health and Safety Manager explained that a disability access audit of Parliament Buildings was being carried out by architectural consultants appointed by the Department of Finance. A final report of the results of the audit, including actions, would be produced in September 2025.
5.2 Mr McDonald asked how aware and empathetic towards the needs of people with disabilities the consultants were. The Environmental Services and Health and Safety Manager said that the disability access audit report could be shared with EDAG members when appropriate. EDAG members said that following this, they would raise any questions they had with either the Environmental Services and Health and Safety Manager or the Department of Finance.
5.3 Options to increase the capacity of the north lift were being investigated. Although the lift door could not be enlarged and would remain the same, there was potential to expand the size of the lift car. Mr McDonald said that an increase in the lift capacity would be welcome, but asked that Ms Paul be contacted to seek her views.
Action: Secretary to contact Ms Paul and Joanne Sansome with details of the proposed north lift dimensions and ask for feedback.
5.4 Mr McDonald asked about the feasibility of installing a ramp at the East Door to improve accessibility for wheelchair users. The Environmental Services and Health and Safety Manager said that this option had been considered but was not viable due to the steep gradient.
6. Disabled People’s Parliament
6.1 The Public Engagement Manager discussed the next Disabled People’s Parliament which would take place on 21 November 2025. It was said a consultative panel made up of individuals, groups and organisations had helped to co-design the Parliament. A survey had been used to identify issues for discussion at the Parliament to which over a thousand responses had been received. Among the issues identified for discussion were equal access to health, social security, living independently, transport and employment. The Public Engagement Manager had written to relevant Ministers’ offices to ask for a response on the issues raised. Training would be provided in Assembly procedures and public speaking to those speaking on the day. The Great Hall would be used as a public gallery with big screens for live broadcast of the Parliament.
Action: Public Engagement Manager to send link to the live broadcast to the secretary to share with EDAG members.
6.2 Recruitment for the next two-year mandate of the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly was open but would close in a few days time. The opportunity to apply was open to students in school years 9-12 (ages 12-16). At least ten places had been reserved for young people with disabilities. Further information about the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly was available on the Assembly’s website.
7. Website Update Project
7.1 The Web Content Manager reported that the procurement process for the Assembly’s website update project was nearing completion. Significant preparatory work had been completed, and research indicated that some website content was outdated. The project was expected to take approximately 1–2 years to deliver. Feedback sessions would be arranged, and members were invited to participate and provide comments.
7.2 Mr McDonald highlighted difficulties with online forms and the time required to complete them. The Web Content Manager confirmed that forms would undergo testing as part of the redevelopment process.
7.3 Ms Beattie raised concerns regarding the accessibility of consultations on Private Members’ Bills. The Web Content Manager advised that these consultations were the responsibility of individual Members but agreed to raise the matter with the Bill Office.
Action: Web Content Manager to raise accessibility of consultations on Private Members’ Bills with the Bill Office.
7.4 The Web Content Manager said that a new Video Production Team had been established within the Assembly. Video content was difficult to make accessible but the Web Content Manager had written a guide on making videos accessible. This guide would be shared with EDAG members.
Action: Web Content Manager to provide the Secretary with the accessibility guide for circulation to EDAG members.
7.5 Ms Beattie informed the group that RNIB NI has launched a podcast, available on the RNIB website.
Action: Ms Beattie to send the Secretary the link to the podcast for sharing with EDAG members.
8. Sign Language Bill
8.1 The Chair reported that the Sign Language Bill had been discussed at a recent meeting of The Executive Office’s Equality Practitioners’ Group. The Bill had reached scrutiny stage and was the first of its kind not to be introduced as a Private Members’ Bill, having been introduced by the Minister for Communities. The Assembly Commission was expected to be designated under the legislation and consideration would be given to developing a plan to demonstrate compliance with any associated duties.
9. AOB
9.1 The Chair said that the Equality Unit were progressing a Closure Report for the Audit of Inequalities Action Plan 2022-2026, a Five-Year Review of the Equality Scheme 2021-2026 and a new Audit of Inequalities and associated action plan which we would be subject to public consultation in February 2026. The new plan would include some actions on disability.
9.2 Date of next meeting:
To be arranged for June 2026. The Chair proposed that future meetings be arranged for Fridays.
