One of Northern Ireland's top civil servants has said that the region's cultural assets – particularly in sport and leisure – should be made more accessible to all members of society, especially the disabled.

Speaking at a major conference organised by the Blind Centre for Northern Ireland, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Dr Aideen McGinley, said that everyone in the community must have the opportunity to "experience and appreciate the excellence of our cultural assets".

The conference, at The Share Centre in Lisnaskea, aims to examine ways of developing opportunities for making sport and leisure activities across the Province more accessible to people with disabilities.

Dr McGinley said: “Northern Ireland’s Cultural Capital, in terms of its people, its product and services and its infrastructure, has a very important contribution to make to the quality of life in the Province.

“However, to enable as many people as possible, including those with disabilities, to enjoy them to the full, it is essential that they are made more accessible. My department is fully committed to working with people and organisations, such as the Blind Centre, to do just that.

Dr McGinley pointed to the Special Olympics in 2003 as a success story for raising the public’s awareness of disabled sport, and looked forward to further enhancing Belfast's reputation at when it hosts the 2006 National Games.

She also gave the delegates some examples of work already undertaken by the department which were aimed at the blind or visually impaired. This included the provision of adaptive technology in libraries, the organisation of suitable events at Northern Ireland’s major museums and, in the arts sector, the introduction of audio description in many theatres.

“The challenges for disability are not only physical. Disabled people are also forced to battle with the barriers that exist in the minds of others," Dr McGinley added.

"That is why it is important to raise awareness of the particular needs of those with disabilities and to provide more opportunities to encourage and enable them to participate in sport and other leisure activities,” she said.

(gmcg)