Annual Report 2005 - The National Disability Authority

Annual Report 2005
Recommendations are based on the principle of ‘Transport for All’, which focuses on
the whole experience of a journey, from the provision of information that is accessible,
the accessibility of vehicles and buildings, to disability awareness training for staff, and
consultation and communication with people with disabilities. They aim to inform
further improvements in the accessibility of public transport.
Objective 4.2
To prepare and issue draft codes of practice
Person Centred Planning
The Department of Health and Children’s National Health Strategy, ‘Quality and
Fairness’ (2001), outlined people centredness as one of four core principles which
guided the development of the Strategy. Person centredness also constitutes a key
dimension of the draft National Standards for Disability Services in Ireland. A personcentred
service as one which is “provided, organised and designed around what is
important to the service user from his/her perspective”.
In 2004, the NDA began work on developing recommendations on good practice
in person-centred planning. These guidelines were completed and approved by the
Authority in June 2005. The NDA hosted a seminar at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, on
30 th November to support the adoption of the guidelines. The seminar was attended by
almost 100 delegates.
Objective 4.3
To monitor and evaluate the implementation
of standards and draft codes of practice,
in particular the monitoring of the National
Standards for Disability Services as developed in
partnership with the Department of Health and
Children
National Standards for Disability Services
In 2005 work continued in relation to the NDA’s draft National Standards for Disability
Services, approved by the Authority in 2004. On receipt of the draft national standards
and audit tool from the NDA, the Tánaiste and Minister of Health and Children, Mary
Harney, T.D., noted that the establishment of the Health Information and Quality
Authority (HIQA) would form a critical constituent in the process of delivering high
quality services based on evidence-supported best practice. The Tánaiste has forwarded
the draft national standards to the interim HIQA for consideration.
In 2005, the HSE – Southern and Mid-Western Areas, invited the NDA to test the draft
standards in community-based therapy settings. Tests were successfully completed in
community-based occupational therapy and physiotherapy services in north Cork and
speech and language therapy services in Clare.
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