Disability Action NI (DANI) is pleased to be involved in the recently formed EDI Steering Group within NICVA but, in reality, we have been working on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for more than 40 years – long before EDI existed as a term.
While officially constituted as Disability Action in March 1986, DANI origins go back even further. The organisation grew from a standing committee within NICVA in the1950s, making this renewed partnership a true full circle moment for us.
40 Years of Championing Change
Now, more than ever, the world is in need of a fully inclusive society. This is our vision. A society that adapts to the needs of disabled people rather that expecting them to fit in, a society that recognises disabled people’s rights to be different and to live their lives in a way that meets their particular needs, without prejudice.
When I joined Disability Action over 20 years ago the then CEO, Dr Monica Wilson OBE, told me that if Disabled Peoples rights were met then all people’s rights would be met. That has stayed with me and what we are witnessing in the world today, such intolerance of difference, such negligence of minorities in society has created a society that more than ever needs an organisation like ours that is standing up for all human rights. That has become my driving force in the role, promoting inclusion.
Marking 40 Years: A Year of Celebration and Challenge
2026 is a huge milestone for Disability Action, we will be marking 40 years with a series of events to both celebrate progress and challenge the ongoing inequalities disabled people continue to face.
Kicking off in March with a fundraising Gala Ball on Friday 27th March in the Hilton Hotel, Belfast. We are fundraising to provide our service users Mental Health counselling and we would love if you could join us.
Email [email protected] for information and tickets.
Save the Date, Conference on Employment Rights – 21st October 2026
We plan to host a major conference in October focused on employment rights, highlighting the barriers that continue to prevent disabled people accessing and retaining fair employment.
Keep an eye on our socials for updates.
We Continue to Focus on our Purpose
Throughout the year, we will continue to bring forward the rights, needs and demands that remain unfulfilled at Stormont and across the country. This has been evidenced by the current NI Executives lack of urgency and basic understanding of these needs through the draft Disability Strategy which falls significantly short of what disabled people and experts called for during the alleged co-design.
The public consultation on the draft Strategy is still open, it closes on 20th March 2026 at 12pm: Consultation on the NI Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 | Department for Communities
