Draft disability strategy published

A 10-year roadmap envisioning an inclusive society that respects, protects, promotes, and fulfils the rights of all deaf and disabled people is laid out in the draft Northern Ireland Disability Strategy 2025-2035.

The draft strategy, published in December 2025, is currently undergoing public consultation which will conclude on 20 March 2026. Census 2021 estimates that 24.3 per cent of the population has a limiting long-term health problem or disability.

Overall, disabled people have significant lower rates of employment, higher rates of economic activity, and lower rates of median hourly pay. School leavers with special education needs (SEN) are less likely to achieve at least level five GCSEs and are more likely to achieve no formal qualifications.

Additionally, disabled people have worse levels of personal wellbeing, are less likely to engage in social aspects of society, and are more likely to report that fear of crime has an impact on their quality of life.
Inclusion of deaf and disabled people in development of policy and legislation is at the core of the strategy. Actions aimed at delivering on these commitments will be included in a disability strategy action plan.

Establishment of a regional disability forum is identified as the primary strategic commitment of the draft strategy. The forum’s purpose would be to advise on the monitoring and implementation of the disability strategy with its membership made entirely of deaf and disabled people.

Outcomes and commitments

Outcome one is that deaf and disabled people can participate in society on an equal basis. Strategic commitments underpinning this outcome include publication of a disability data compendium every two years and an update to disability legislation incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Indicators of the success of this outcome include the percentages of applicants for public appointments declaring a disability, and successful public appointees declaring a disability.

Outcome two is that deaf and disabled people can access the built environment, facilities, and transport on an equal basis. Strategic commitments driving delivery of this outcome include adoption of inclusive design standards in all new public-funded spaces and facilities, and scoping of the introduction of an accessibility rating system.

Indicators of this outcome included the percentage of public transport journeys made by people with a disability and those without, and the average journeys per year and journey purpose for people with a mobility difficult and those without.

Outcome three is that deaf and disabled people can access public services, government information, and communications on an equal basis.

Strategic commitments supporting this outcome include provision of accessible departmental information and communications, and better access to crime reporting and the justice system. The locus of control, a mechanism measuring the degree to which a person feels they have control over their life, will be one method used to measure progress.

Outcome four is that deaf and disabled people can access and participate in culture, leisure activities, and sport on an equal basis.

Strategic commitments aimed at achieving this outcome include improving deaf and disabled people’s access to and participation in sport through the Active Living: The Sport and Physical Activity Strategy. One indicator for this outcome are the percentages of disabled people involved in cultural activities, and sport and physical activity.

Outcome five is that deaf and disabled people live independently with a sufficient and sustainable standard of living. Strategic commitments underpinning this outcome include improving availability of suitable housing, and production of inclusive design guidance to improve housing standards for people with cognitive and sensory impairments.

This will be measured by the percentage of households containing a disabled member spending 30 per cent or more of their household income on housing costs. Additional indicators include the satisfaction of households containing a disabled member with their dwelling, and relative poverty of disabled people.

Outcome six is that deaf and disabled people have access to quality health and social care on an equal basis. Strategic commitments driving delivery of this action include introduction of a digital care record for every patient, and exploration of greater use of social prescribing. The only indicator for this outcome is the level of satisfaction with health and social care.

Outcome seven is that deaf and disabled people can access, sustain, and progress within quality employment. Strategic commitments supporting this outcome include implementation of the Disability and Work Strategy, the civil service’s People Strategy 2025-2030, and the Executive’s Social Value in Procurement Policy.

This will be measured by the rates of disability employment, disability employment by age group, and disability employment by gender. Additional indicators include the disability pay gap, the percentage of disabled people who are economically inactive, and the rates of underemployment and self-employment for disabled people.

Outcome eight is that deaf and disabled children and young people can reach their full educational, social, and developmental potential.

Strategic commitments aimed at achieving this include creation of an Executive Childcare Strategy, implementation of the Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda, and delivery of a special education needs framework. This will be measured by school leavers with a disability achieving level two qualifications, and enrolments at higher education institutions and further education colleges by disabled young people.

In his ministerial foreword for the draft strategy, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA says: “The strategy sets out an ambitious programme of work that will lay a solid foundation for addressing the main societal barriers that inhibit the full participation and inclusion of deaf and disabled people in society.

“It will require government, deaf and disabled individuals, and their representative organisations to work effectively together to ensure its success.”