External Disability Advisory Group

Thursday 9th June 2022, 11am (via Zoom)

 

In attendance

EDAG:

  • Paula Beattie – RNIB
  • Kelly Maxwell – Autism NI
  • Rhona McAuley – Cedar Foundation
  • Joanne Sansome
  • Andrew Murdock – Guide Dogs
  • Hannah Lyons – Guide Dogs
  • Kevin Harper – Deaf Access
  • Shirelle Stewart – NAS
  • Stewart Finn – MS Society
  • Orla McCann – Disability Action

Disability Parliament:

  • David McDonald
  • Ursula Marshall
  • June Best

Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Staff:

  • Maria Bannon, Equality Manager (Chair)
  • Louise Close, Engagement Manager, Engagement Team
  • Stella McArdle, Assembly Clerk, Parliamentary Services
  • Liz Milligan, Equality & Good Relations Officer

Apologies

  • Agnes Lunny - Positive Futures
  • Tony O'Reilly - North-West Disability Forum
  • Christine Watts – Environment and Health and Safety Manager, Northern Ireland Assembly Commission

 

Opening and update:

Maria Bannon opened the meeting and welcomed all attending including those who were attending for the first time from the Disability Parliament.

It was advised that live transcript would be available via Zoom during the meeting for deaf and hard of hearing attendees.

 

Sign Language Project update

Maria advised that the first item on the agenda would be an update on the Sign Language Pilot Project by Stella McArdle from Parliamentary Services. Stella commenced her presentation by providing some background to the pilot.

She advised that the pilot was carried out at the request of the Speaker and had been approved by the Assembly Commission. It was outlined that the (Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD) Framework was used which supplied a number of interpreters. It was noted that since the Pilot ended, there was a new Framework with a new provider for interpreters, a Scottish Agency called Sign Language Interactions.

An informal Advisory Group had been created and regular meetings with representatives from the deaf community had taken place. This Group advised on the roll out of the pilot helping to identify issues / problems and solutions. The EDAG group were informed that the pilot commenced with two interpreters – one British Sign Language (BSL) and one Irish Sign Language (ISL). This was changed to two BSL interpreters and two ISL interpreters due to the complexity of the information being signed. The shortage of ISL interpreters was discussed. It was also noted that very few interpreters were willing to come forward to take up work due to its fast moving, political nature and being in the public domain.

Stella outlined learning from the Pilot to date including the need for more studio space and the resources required going forward. A number of questions were asked by attendees regarding whether certain interpreters and people had been contacted to potentially participate on the Sign Language Informal Advisory Group.

Action:

  • Louise Close to supply contact details, provided by the EDAG, to Stella McArdle regarding potential participants who may wish to join the Sign Language Informal Advisory Group.

 

External Disability Advisory Group Terms of Reference

Maria provided a background to the External Disability Advisory Group Terms of Reference. She informed the group that the Terms of Reference was agreed in 2009, and had been revised since that date, however, considered that it now needed to be revisited to better reflect the role of the group. She said the Terms of Reference outlined the Assembly's commitment to establishing an informal group of practitioners and representatives who would assist with the development and implementation of the Disability Action Plan. Orla McCann from Disability Action, and a member of the EDAP since 2009, discussed "what we are and what we are not" and outlined some notable changes to Parliament Buildings which the EDAG had brought about.

Maria said that the Equality Unit would draft a new Terms of Reference for the group over the Summer period and consult with the group in late September 2022.

A conversation followed relating to physical access in Parliament Buildings and David McDonald and Joanne Sansome requested that they complete a 'physical access audit' of those parts of the building open to the public. Maria said that the Equality Unit would facilitate this and invite David Lynn, Head of the Facilities Directorate and Louise Close, Engagement Manager to attend.

Louise Close added that access issues with regards to staging needed to be also considered to ensure event speakers had access e.g. moveable lecterns and that she would look into this. This was agreed by members who discussed staging access provided at the recent 'Harkin Institute' event

Actions:

  • Liz Milligan to facilitate a visit to allow for David Mc Donald and Joanne Sansome to conduct a 'physical access audit' of the parts of Parliament Buildings accessible to the public with David Lynn and Louise Close in attendance.
  • Louise Close to investigate access needs regarding event staging.
  • Liz Milligan to revise the EDAG terms of reference to be ready for consultation in September 2022.

 

Disability Parliament update – Louise Close, Engagement Services

Louise Close provided some background information to the group on the Disability Parliament. She outlined that the Disability Parliament had held a debate on 3 December 2021 on the adoption of UNCRPD and that this event had the highest media coverage of any event held by the Assembly. She explained the importance of this Parliament and noted that feedback from Members on the event was very positive. She said that this was a positive step in getting people's voices heard. Joanne Sansome outlined that she felt that she had been listened to as a disabled person.
David McDonald added MLA's felt the Parliament gave added value and that MLA's were able to ask what it was like to live as a disabled person etc.

Ursula Marshall advised that MLA's have to understand about members in wheelchairs and that lived experience was portrayed in a very heart felt way. She said it was a great platform for NRCPD.

Louise informed that it is important to overcome challenges faced by disabled people for example, to look at virtual landings and to look at more disabled people getting into politics.
It was said that the Disability Parliament was the first in the UK and Ireland and possibly further afield.

 

Accreditations update and continued work with Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and National Autistic Society (NAS) – on behalf of Christine Watts, Facilities Directorate

Maria provided an update on behalf of Christine Watts from the Facilities Directorate who was unable to attend the meeting. She outlined that due to a review of services RNID have decided that they will no longer be offering the 'Louder Than Words' accreditation and assessment. Building Services will continue to meet with RNID regularly for updates and will continue to adhere to the standards of the Louder Than Words accreditation until it is replaced. RNID have confirmed that the Assembly Commission can continue to use their accreditation display.

The group were informed that the National Autistic Society is also undertaking a review of its Autism Friendly Award and hopes to relaunch it later in 2022. It was said that the original award and any previous certificates can still be displayed in Parliament Building but the Assembly Commission will not be able to reapply for the Award until it is relaunched. It was said that in the meanwhile Parliament Buildings will continue to be a welcoming place for people with autism and their families.

 

Disability Action Plan 2022-2025

Maria provided an update on the Disability Action plan 2022-2025. She advised that it had been approved in February 2022 by the Assembly Commission, following a public consultation, and thanked the group for their feedback as part of that process. She said that 6 monthly progress updates are provided to the Secretariat Management Group (SMG) and a further update is provided in the Assembly Commission's Annual Progress Report to the Equality Commission on the implementation of the Disability Action Plan.

It was said that the current plan houses an action to organise mystery visitors to Parliament Buildings and for those visitors to give their feedback on the services and facilities provided as a way to gather real life experiences. EDAG attendees were asked if they could advise their groups of this action and that any of the groups looking to attend the building on a tour, training or visit etc. to inform the Equality Unit but not to advise the date or time of their visit. It was said that in order to facilitate feedback that the Equality Unit would draft a questionnaire for issue to EDAG members and that it would also be investigated whether this can be made available on the 'Citizen Space' website for visitor completion.

Action:

  • Equality Unit to devise a visitor feedback questionnaire to be ready for issue at the start of September 2022. Liz Milligan to meet with Louise Close over the Summer with regards to questionnaire development and Citizen Space.

 

AOB

Maria reminded members that group normally meets twice a year and the next meeting would take place in December 2022. David McDonald advised that his preference would be to meet in person. Maria suggested the potential for a hybrid session.

 

Date of next Meeting

December 2022.