DPAC Northern Ireland

DPAC Northern Ireland was one of nearly 500 organisations and individuals who signed an open letter to Executive Ministers expressing widespread concerns about the proposed Disability Strategy. Minister Lyons has now responded to the letter on behalf of the Executive telling Deaf and Disabled people that we are wrong.

This response has typified the approach of the Minister. When Deaf and Disabled people have challenged the direction being taken, those concerns have too often been dismissed rather than engaged with constructively. The Minister claims that there has been extensive consultation and co-design. However, for many disabled people, the experience has felt like a largely one-way process.  Genuine co-production is not consultation. It means sharing power, influence and decision-making with those directly affected by policy, something the Minister rejected when taking up office.

The Minister’s response fails to address other significant concerns raised in the open letter. The Strategy lacks clear, measurable and time bound commitments. The fact that his response can point to only two positive commitments within the whole Strategy highlights the lack of ambition from the Executive to making meaningful improvements to our lives. There remains no clear explanation of how the Strategy will be resourced and funded.

As Deaf and Disabled people in Northern Ireland we face barriers every day in all aspects of our lives including transport, housing, healthcare, employment, education, independent living and participation in society. We are amongst the worst impacted by austerity, the COVID pandemic and the current cost of living crisis. As the Disability Strategy will shape policy in Northern Ireland for the next ten years, we deserve better than the valid concerns of so many of us being devalued and dismissed.

DPAC Northern Ireland are calling for an urgent dialogue between Minister Lyons and Deaf and Disabled people and our organisations to address widespread and legitimate concerns about the Disability Strategy. We are calling on individuals, our allies and our politicians to support our demand. We need to ensure that the Disability Strategy is the Strategy that Deaf and Disabled people in Northern Ireland need; a resourced Strategy with ambition; a Strategy developed with us not simply for us.