Disability Equality Law Reform Proposals 

• Our proposals
• Draft response to OFMdFM strategy
• Our evidence
• Events

Our proposals

The Equality Commission has produced a report setting out its recommended changes to disability equality law. The changes being proposed will not only ensure that Northern Ireland equality law keeps pace with changes with the law in GB, but will also help to harmonise and simplify the law and strengthen the rights of disabled people and their carers.

Strengthening Protection for Disabled People - Proposals for Reform (March 2012):

Full Report (PDF, 27 pages, 583kb),  (WORD, 2mb)
Summary (PDF, 11 pages, 511kb),  (WORD, 2mb)

Audio

Title 01 - Introduction Title 02 - What changes are required? Title 03 - Why is reform needed?

Our response to OFMdFM strategy

The Commission has prepared an outline response to OFMdFM’s consultation on a disability strategy for Northern Ireland – ‘A Strategy to improve the lives of disabled people 2012-15’.

We encourage you to submit your own response to OFMdFM, setting out your views on key priorities for a disability strategy – including the reform of the disability legislation. The consultation period runs until 15 August 2012.

We would be happy for you to use parts of our submission to reinforce your arguments and/or for you to endorse our response as a whole. For further information on the Commission’s proposals for reform, contact Paul Noonan on 028 90 500 570 or email pnoonan@equalityni.org

Our Evidence

We have published a summary of key findings of a recent online survey on disability law reform. The survey indicated respondents’ strong support for the full range of the Commission’s proposals for the reform of disability equality laws; with almost 80% of respondents agreeing that disability laws are in need of reform.

We also commissioned a legal briefing by Catherine Casserley, expert legal advisor on disability law. The paper found that the impact of the House of Lords decision in the ‘Malcolm case’ has had a significant effect on disabled people and disability law in Northern Ireland.
Full legal briefing / Summary legal briefing
 

Events

Disability Seminar - Improving the law
The Commission held a seminar in the Stormont Hotel, Belfast in June 2012, providing a platform for the disability sector and other key stakeholders to discuss the need for legislative changes. The seminar was well received by the 130 delegates who attended from the disability, public, and voluntary and community sectors.

Speaking at the seminar were OFMdFM Junior Ministers Jonathan Bell MLA and Jennifer McCann MLA, Roisin Mallon, Senior Policy Officer, Equality Commission (presentation), and Catherine Casserley BL, Cloisters Chambers (presentation; summary notes, full notes). Also taking part in the panel discussion were Joe Reynolds, OFMDFM; Peter McBride, NIAMH; Monica Wilson, Disability Action and Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, Employers for Disability NI

Photo Gallery

Roundtable discussion on disability
The Commission held a roundtable discussion on 17 April 2012 with stakeholders from the disability sector. These included representatives from Disability Action, Mencap, Guide Dogs, Action on Hearing Loss and Autism NI.

Photo Gallery

Consultation responses

Equality Commission responses to Northern Ireland disability equality law consultations are available online