The Executive's Disability Strategy has officially entered its public consultation phase, launched by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.

This strategy is a key initiative aimed at significantly increasing participation and inclusion for Deaf and disabled people across society.

The cross-departmental Strategy is designed to enhance life opportunities through improved access to crucial areas, including work, health and social care, transport, education, sport, arts, and leisure activities.

Speaking in the Assembly, Minister Lyons outlined the vision for the initiative: "This Strategy will be the next step in our journey towards a fully inclusive society where Deaf and disabled people are able to live their lives with freedom, dignity and choice."

The Minister highlighted the scale of the challenge in Northern Ireland: "One in four people in Northern Ireland experience some form of disability. The draft Strategy will tackle the major inequalities and obstacles that affect the everyday lives of Deaf and disabled people along with our Disability and Work Strategy and the Sign Language Bill."

The Strategy outlines several key commitments for the ten-year period from 2025 to 2035, including:

• Establishing a Regional Disability Forum to provide ongoing advice on the monitoring and implementation of the strategy.

• A comprehensive review of disability legislation, focusing on how to integrate the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into the legislative framework.

• The annual publication of a Disability Data compendium. Minister Lyons confirmed the collaborative approach taken in the strategy's development: "The draft Strategy has been developed with the full involvement of Deaf and disabled people along with representative groups. I'd like to thank everyone for their invaluable contribution." He added that the new Regional Disability Forum, which will be composed of Deaf and disabled people of all ages and backgrounds, is intended to maintain this critical dialogue to ensure effective delivery.

The Strategy will be underpinned by a supporting Action Plan detailing measurable, time-bound actions to ensure outcomes and commitments are progressed. Organisations such as RNIB and the Centre for Independent Living (CILNI) were part of the co-design group that helped shape the strategic direction.

Paula Beattie, RNIB Policy and Campaigns lead, welcomed the development, stating: "RNIB welcome that this long-awaited strategy centred on participation, rights and equality for Deaf and disabled people, is now out for consultation. We will work in partnership with blind and partially sighted people to ensure that their lived experience of sight loss is central to the shaping, implementation and review of the Disability Strategy with regards to equal access to services and independent living."

Bryan Myles, Chief Executive of CILNI, encouraged widespread participation: "CILNI welcomes the publication of the draft Disability Strategy which the Department has spent a long time developing for public consultation. We would strongly encourage all disabled people to read and digest the draft strategy and participate in the consultation exercise and share your feedback from your own lived experience."

The public consultation is now open, running for an extended 14-week period from Tuesday 09 December 2025 until 5 pm on Friday 20 March 2026.

The draft Disability Strategy is available for review and feedback at: www.communities-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-ni-executive-disability-strategy-2025-2035