3
The eight outcomes
The strategy is built around eight outcomes. Below is a brief summary of each. Please comment on those most relevant to you — you don't need to answer every one.
Outcome 1: Rights, participation and equality
Proposes establishing a Regional Disability Forum (made up entirely of Deaf and disabled people), reviewing disability legislation to better align with the UNCRPD, and publishing a disability data compendium every two years.
Your views on Outcome 1
Do you think the proposed Forum will be effective? Is the commitment to UNCRPD incorporation strong enough? Does this outcome reflect the rights of neurodivergent people and those with invisible disabilities as well as those with physical/sensory impairments?
Outcome 2: Built environment, facilities and transport
Commits to adopting inclusive design standards in all new publicly-funded spaces, scoping an accessibility rating system, and improving transport accessibility.
Your views on Outcome 2
Does this go far enough on physical accessibility? What about sensory-friendly environments (e.g. lighting, noise levels) or cognitive accessibility (e.g. clear wayfinding and signage)? Are the needs of disabled people in rural areas adequately addressed?
Outcome 3: Access to public services, information and communications
Commitments include making all departmental information and communications accessible, and improving access to the justice system for disabled people.
Your views on Outcome 3
Does "accessible" here go beyond BSL/ISL and large print to cover Easy Read, plain language, digital accessibility, and communication support for people with cognitive or processing difficulties? Are there services you find particularly inaccessible?
Outcome 4: Culture, leisure and sport
Aims to improve disabled people's access to and participation in culture, leisure activities and sport, including through the Active Living strategy.
Your views on Outcome 4
What barriers do you face in accessing leisure, arts, or sport? Think about both physical access and less visible barriers — for example, sensory overload in venues, lack of understanding of invisible conditions, or social anxiety. Are the proposed commitments specific enough?
Outcome 5: Independent living and standard of living
Covers improving housing availability and standards, including inclusive design guidance for people with cognitive and sensory impairments. Indicators include housing costs and relative poverty.
Your views on Outcome 5
Does the strategy address the real cost of disability? What about access to the benefits system, Personal Independence Payment assessments, and the particular difficulties faced by people with fluctuating or invisible conditions?
Outcome 6: Health and social care
Proposes a digital care record for every patient and greater use of social prescribing. The only indicator is satisfaction with health and social care.
Your views on Outcome 6
Is a single satisfaction indicator adequate for such a complex area? What about diagnostic waiting times (e.g. for autism/ADHD assessment), mental health provision, specialist services, and the experience of people with learning disabilities in healthcare settings?
Outcome 7: Employment
Aims to narrow the disability employment gap (currently 37.4% vs 75.2% for non-disabled people). Links to the separate Disability and Work Strategy and the civil service People Strategy 2025–2030.
Your views on Outcome 7
Are reasonable adjustments and workplace understanding of non-visible disabilities (e.g. chronic fatigue, ADHD, mental health conditions) adequately covered? What about self-employment, part-time work, and the fear of losing benefits when entering work?
Outcome 8: Education and children/young people
Covers the SEN Reform Agenda, a new SEN framework, an Executive Childcare Strategy, and aims to improve qualifications and participation for disabled young people.
Your views on Outcome 8
Given the well-documented crisis in SEN provision and assessment waiting times in Northern Ireland, are these commitments strong enough? What about neurodivergent children who may not meet SEN thresholds but still need support? What about transition from school to adult services?
5
Representation of all disabilities
An important concern is whether the strategy adequately recognises the full spectrum of disability, or whether it is skewed towards physical and sensory impairments.
How well do you feel the strategy represents the needs of people with non-visible or less commonly recognised disabilities?
This includes neurodivergent conditions (autism, ADHD, dyslexia), learning disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic illness, and fluctuating conditions.
Very poorly
Very well
Are there specific gaps you've noticed for neurodivergent people, those with learning disabilities, or those with invisible/fluctuating conditions?
For example: Does the strategy mention autism or ADHD assessment waiting times? Does it address masking, burnout, or the particular employment barriers faced by neurodivergent people? Does it recognise the intersection of mental health and disability? Are people with fluctuating conditions (e.g. ME/CFS, MS, fibromyalgia) reflected in the commitments?
Does the strategy adequately address intersectionality — the overlapping experiences of disabled people who also face other forms of disadvantage?
For example: disabled women, disabled people from ethnic minorities or the Traveller community, LGBTQ+ disabled people, disabled people in rural areas, or those with multiple co-occurring conditions.
6
Delivery, funding and accountability
Several disability organisations, including Imtac and former Co-Design Group members, have raised serious concerns about the strategy's deliverability.
The strategy contains no specific budget or funding commitments. How important is this gap, and what should the Alliance Party say about it?
The strategy is described as "cross-departmental" but does not assign specific responsibilities to individual departments or set interim milestones before the midpoint review. What are your views?
How well do you feel the final draft reflects genuine co-production with Deaf and disabled people? Could the consultation process itself have been more accessible?
Former Co-Design Group members have publicly expressed disappointment with how their input was reflected in the final draft.
Are there enforcement mechanisms or legal underpinning that you think the strategy needs?
At present, the strategy proposes no penalties for non-compliance and the legislation review is only at the scoping stage.
7
The Action Plan
The strategy itself is a framework. The real detail will come in the Action Plan, which is still to be developed. This is our chance to say what must be in it.
What specific, measurable actions would you most want to see in the Action Plan?
Think about what would make a concrete difference to your daily life or the lives of people you support. The more specific, the better — "reduce autism assessment waiting times to X months" is more useful than "improve services."