Download Disability & Accessibility in Ireland: Disability Act 2005 & National Strategy and more Slides Introduction to Sociology in PDF only on Docsity!
Our Goal today….
Provide an understanding Disability and Accessibility within the Disability Act 2005
Provide understanding of other key features of the National Disability Strategy.
- Helping to clarify the role of Access Officers;
- Providing an opportunity for Access Officers to meet each other and exchange ideas and experiences;
- Providing workshops on areas in which Access Officers have indicated they require additional support.
Understanding Disability
Definition under the Disability Act, 2005 [2]:
A substantial restriction in the capacity of the person to
carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State
or to participate in the social or cultural life in the State
by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or
intellectual impairment.
Part 3 of the Disability Act makes accessibility everyone’s business, in the public service
Public bodies, by law, must:
- ensure that people with disabilities can use their services easily and at the same location or access point as everyone else;
- provide information in a way that suits the needs of people with disabilities – for example by phone, by email, in plain English, large print or in Braille … websites must meet specified accessibility standards;
- ensure, where possible, that goods and services they buy or hire can be used by people with disabilities;
- have accessible premises by 2015.
… all “where practicable and appropriate”
Complaints
- Any individual may make a complaint to the head of a public body in relation to the failure of the body to comply with sections 26, 27 and 28 of the Act.
- A public body may authorise one or more inquiry officers (section 39 of the Act) to investigate complaints and prepare reports.
- If the complainant is not satisfied with the inquiry officer's recommendations, he or she may take the case to the Ombudsman.
- The Ombudsman will investigate the complaint and determine validity of complaint and appropriate action.
NDA Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services
and Information provided by Public Bodies
- NDA’s first ever statutory Code of Practice (Statutory Instrument No. 163 of 2006).
- The Code:
- covers Sections of the Act relating to accessible information, services and procurement;
- gives some practical, general guidance on ways in which all public bodies can meet the requirements of these sections of the Act.
Other, more general NDA supports for
implementing the legislation.
- Guidelines on a range of topics including disability equality awareness training, consulting with people with disabilities, accessible buildings.
- Advice and Briefings.
- Register of Accessibility Auditors.
- Library.
- Public Service Awards Scheme operated in partnership with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Ireland’s New National Disability
Strategy
- Key components:
- Disability Act
- Education of Persons with Special Needs Act
- 6 Sectoral Plans
- Multi-annual funding for high support needs etc
- Citizen Information Act re personal advocacy
- Equality Acts a foundation
- Overseen by Stakeholder Group
- Senior Officials + NDA + 6 disability umbrella bodies, reporting in to Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion
Education Needs
EPSEN Act – children of school age
- Independent assessment
- Individual Education Plan for the child
- Integrated education supported
- Schools may be directed to take a child
- Resources via National Council for Special Education
- Education and disability services to be linked whether application is via school or via HSE
Sectoral Plan Highlights
Health
- Needs assessment for under 5s from June 2007
- 5-18s in line with Education for Person s with Special
Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004
- Full roll-out by 2011
- New care places
- HSE investment plan to make health
service buildings fully accessible
- People on Disability Allowance keep medical
card for 3 years after getting a job
Sectoral Plan highlights
Enterprise Trade and Employment
- 7,000 more disabled people in jobs
- Development of comprehensive employment strategy for
disabled people
- Improvements to FÁS services
- More active support to get people into work, via Local
Employment Service
- Link in with other departments
Sectoral Plan highlights
Communications
- Post Offices to be accessible in next two years
- Phone companies and disability groups working together to improve services to customers with disabilities
- Subtitling of TV programmes
- By 2008 – 75% RTE1, 42% RTE 2, 36% TG4, 26% TV
- By 2015 – 100% RTE1, 90% RTE 2, 80% TG4, 60% TV
Sectoral Plan highlights
Transport
- Main focus is accessible public transport
- Trains accessible by 2009
- Dublin Bus and other city routes fully accessible by 2012
- Coach fleet fully accessible by 2015
- Improvements to air, marine transport
- User groups involving people with disabilities
- Improved disability standards for taxis
- Review of disabled parking
Public Service Employment target
Part 5 of The Disability Act
- Legal duty on each body to employ staff with disabilities
- 3% the default target – scope to vary by Ministerial Order
- Narrow definition of disability
- Physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health condition
- Substantially restricted in capacity to participate in work, social, or cultural life
- Monitored by Departments
… Departments report to NDA … NDA may recommend remedial action
