Background paper

Proposed new Disability Inclusion Strategy

Background to new disability strategy

The National Disability Strategy was launched in 2004 to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in mainstream life. This Strategy involves Government Departments and state bodies like local authorities and the HSE working together across organisation boundaries to achieve this.

The current action plan under the Disability Strategy runs until the end of 2015. Work is now underway to develop a new Strategy– the National Disability Inclusion Strategy.

Consultation to inform the Disability Inclusion strategy

Preparation of the Strategy includes a 3-stage process of consultation with people with disabilities.

Stage 1

This stage, which has now concluded, was an open call to people with disabilities and their families and to disability organisations to respond to a suggested list of themes or policy areas to be covered in the Disability Inclusion Strategy.

Stage 2 – this is what is happening now

People with disabilities are being invited to give an input on the priority objectives they would like to see achieved in the next three years. A provisional set of objectives has been prepared under each theme, and you are being are invited to say what you agree with and what changes you would suggest to this list of objectives. The changes you suggest could involve

  • Adding something important you think is missing
  • Rewording or changing the text
  • Deleting something you don’t see as a priority at this time

This stage of the consultation will involve some regional meetings and an opportunity to send in written comments or to comment on-line.

Stage 3

We will prepare a draft Strategy, with measurable targets and deadlines, having heard what people with disabilities see as priorities. The Strategy will also include a continuation of programmes and services already underway and new developments already in the pipeline.

This draft will then be brought for consultation to the Disability Stakeholder Group, a group consisting of individuals with lived experience of disability and of representatives of the main disability umbrella organisations, for their views. This Group was appointed by the Minister of State for Disability to assist in developing and implementing the National Disability Inclusions Strategy.

When that input has been considered, a redrafted Disability Inclusion Strategy will be prepared and adopted by the Government.

Themes in the new Strategy

The Disability Inclusion Strategywill cover a wide range of themes and policy areas including

  • Education
  • Employment
  • Health and well-being
  • Person-centred disability services
  • Housing
  • Transport and accessible places
  • Equality and choice
  • Joined-up services

The new Strategy will set out how departments and public bodies will work to improve the lives of people with disabilities through specific actions. These will include the continued implementation of current programmes and services, and of changes now underway or in the pipeline. In particular, the Strategy will be guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Ireland has signed and plans to ratify within the next three years.

What’s in the pipeline

Over the next three years, a number of changes already in progress or in the pipeline will continue. These include

  • Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
  • A new law on Assisted Decision-making to provide for equality under the law and a framework for support to take decisions
  • A new employment strategy for people with disabilities. This aims to ensure that most young people with disabilities can look forward to a job and a career, and that people who become disabled as adults are supported to stay in employment if at all possible
  • Reform of disability services to support people to live ordinary lives in ordinary places, and to ensure services are tailored to the individual not the other way round
  • A housing strategy for people with disabilities
  • Resources for schools to become more closely tailored to children’s needs, not tied to specific kinds of disability

Key principles underpinning the Disability Inclusion Strategy

People with disabilities

  • Are equal citizens
  • Enjoy independence and choice
  • Are supported to live the life they choose
  • Live ordinary lives in ordinary places
  • Participate in and are included in our society
  • Are enabled to reach their full potential

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