Annual Report 2005 - The National Disability Authority
Annual Report 2005 - The National Disability Authority
Annual Report 2005 - The National Disability Authority
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<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2005</strong><br />
Delivery on these functions has commenced. <strong>The</strong> NDA, at the request of the Minister<br />
for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, prepared its first code of practice, i.e. the draft<br />
code of practice to support public bodies in meeting their statutory obligations<br />
to make public services and information accessible. In addition, the NDA hosted a<br />
series of briefings for public bodies on their new responsibilities under the Act. While<br />
developing its own response to the six outline sectoral plans published by Government<br />
Departments, the NDA also facilitated regional briefings in partnership with those<br />
Departments to enable input from a range of stakeholders including people with<br />
disabilities, their families and carers and also service providers. Over the course of<br />
<strong>2005</strong>, the NDA offered independent and expert advice to the Departments to support<br />
the further development of the draft plans. It also provided support to the <strong>Disability</strong><br />
Legislation Consultative Group.<br />
Research and publication activity was also strong during the year, with 20 publications<br />
produced. <strong>The</strong> commitment by Government to strategic action on disability is<br />
particularly welcome in the light of research published by the NDA in <strong>2005</strong> - “How Far<br />
Towards Equality” - documenting the unequal participation of people with disabilities in<br />
Irish society.<br />
That report indicates that compared to non-disabled people, people with disabilities<br />
are:<br />
• less likely to have achieved any qualifications<br />
• two and a half times less likely to have a job<br />
• likely to earn less in a job<br />
• twice as likely to be at risk of poverty<br />
• more likely to live with their parents as adults<br />
• more likely to live in care<br />
• more likely to experience poor health<br />
• less likely to be physically active<br />
• less likely to have a car<br />
• more likely to have difficulty with public transport<br />
• more restricted in socialising outside the home<br />
• less likely to have a holiday<br />
<strong>The</strong> NDA has recommended that progress towards eliminating these inequalities be<br />
tracked on a regular basis through 26 key indicators of participation in society.<br />
Other major research included a study on Part M of the Building Regulations;<br />
research on the experience of people with disabilities in mainstream health services<br />
and an analysis of international best practice with Individual Education Plans<br />
among the research publications. Employment issues were also a focus, with two<br />
round-tables with international experts, a publication on disability and work, and a<br />
research conference in October on disability and employment. <strong>The</strong>se all contributed<br />
to the NDA’s ongoing work to identify the key components of a successful and<br />
comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities.