By Miriam Bell from CommunityNI.org
Published on 31 Jan 2005
Disability Action launches a new campaign to raise political awareness of disability issues.
The 300, 000 people with disabilities in Northern Ireland should use their vote to make politicians aware of the issues they face says a new campaign launched by Disability Action.
The ‘Polls Apart’ campaign aims to encourage people with a disability to make their voice heard at the upcoming Assembly elections on 26 November.
It also involves a survey asking disabled people to vote on the accessibility of the entire electoral process.
The charity believes that inaccessibility could lead to disenfranchisement, with 57% of Northern Ireland polling stations being inaccessible to wheelchair users in 2002 according to pilot research.
“Because the system has so many flaws a lot of people with disabilities will not bother to vote, which is the worst possible outcome, ” said Disability Action Chief Executive, Monica Wilson.
The charity predicts that the survey is likely to highlight a range of issues, including steps without ramps, obstructed pathways to polling booths and ballot boxes that are out of reach.
The system has so many flaws a lot of people with disabilities will not bother to vote
Monica Wilson, Chief Executive of Disability Action
The charity’s Chief Executive made a passionate plea to disabled voters to participate, “One in five people in Northern Ireland has a disability and most are eligible to vote. However, we have the ridiculous situation where some of us will be unable to take part in the election because we cannot gain access to the polling station or read election materials ”.
The results of the Polls Apart survey will be presented to the Electoral Commission in a report which will be issued to campaign for long-term and permanent improvements.
Disability Action has also produced an election manifesto, with the support of public service union, NIPSA. It demands that potential political representatives bring disability issues such as employment, health, housing and transport further up the political agenda.
To obtain a copy or the survey of the manifesto:
028 9029 7880
028 9029 7881
Text-phone 028 9029 7882
www.disabilityactionpollsapartsurvey.com
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