Disability policy manifesto statment

People with disabilities should have equal rights and opportunities within an inclusive society. With the emergence of the Assembly, government has become much closer for all people in Northern Ireland. Despite this, power over vital areas which have a major impact on the quality of life for disabled people still remains with Westminster.

Despite recent legislative changes which have manifested themselves in many

improvements to the lives of disabled people, they continue to find themselves far from the heart of society, quite literally living on the margins. People with disabilities must have the right to engage directly with decision makers and to secure access to mainstream services in all areas. There needs to be a greater focus on improving public attitudes towards people with disabilities which must be matched with a greater awareness of disability issues among statutory providers and politicians.

To reflect the needs and aspirations of all disabled people in Northern Ireland, a commitment to the following changes is necessary:

• Politicians should ensure that existing or refurbished public transport vehicles are accessible and that exemptions for some transport operators are removed.
• There is still a chronic shortage of accessible housing, and a real need to develop comprehensive access policies to bring improvements in access to public facilities for all disabled people.
• Government should promote compliance with all aspects of the Disability Discrimination Act.
• Enabling disabled people to move out of poverty should be an immediate government priority to allow them to live full and independent lives.
• Priority should be given to providing properly resourced community care services as personal assistance is the cornerstone of independent living for many disabled people.
• People with mental health issues and those with learning disabilities should be fully supported when dealing with the criminal justice system.
• Polling stations and election literature should be made fully accessible to people with disabilities.
• All disabled children and young people should have the right to choose mainstream education and all disabled adults should have access to lifelong learning.
• A comprehensive strategy should be produced for services for people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland, as has already been done in Scotland, Wales and England.
• There is a need for up to date statistics related to people with disabilities to ensure that service planning and provision accurately reflect the current situation.