You are here: Home > policy > public policy > disability

Disability duties on Public Authorities - A Guide for Public Authorities

As part of a series of changes to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), the disability duties on public authorities came into force on 1 January 2007

These duties mean that public authorities, when exercising their functions, must have due regard to the need:

to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people, and
to encourage participation by disabled people in public life.

Commission Guide to help Public Authorities

Following a consultation exercise which ended in November 2006, the Equality Commission produced a Guide for Public Authorities on the disability duties.

The purpose of the Guide is to help public authorities meet their obligations under these duties. It includes guidance on how to develop disability action plans, which must be submitted to the Equality Commission (unless the authority has been granted an exemption from the duty to produce a Disability Action Plan by the Equality Commission).

If you have any queries in relation to the Guide or are interested in attending the event(s) above, please email disabilityduties@equalityni.org or contact Glenda Doherty in the Commission’s Policy and Development Division on 90 500 600.

Please click here to download a copy of the Guide.

Summary of the new ´duties´ to be placed on public authorities

For public authorities subject to the duties as at 1 January 2007, the deadline for the submission of 1st generation disability action plans to the Equality Commission was 30 June 2007. For public authorities subject to the duties after 1 January 2007, the disability action plans must be submitted to the Equality Commission within six months of the establishment of the authority. Public authorities are also required to carry out a five-year review of their action plans and report annually to the Commission on the progress they have made as regards the implementation of their plans.

The duties apply to all public authorities subject to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (subject to certain exemptions).

Events to advise authorities on the development of their Disability Action Plans

The Commission has hosted two public seminars in conjunction with Disability Action to assist Public Authorities in the development of their Disability Action Plans. Click link below for more information.

Developing a Disability Action Plan for Public Authorities - seminar feedback report.

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland report to the Northern Ireland Assembly

Public Authorities who failed to comply with the Disability Discrimination Order 2006 requirement to produce a ´Disability Action Plan,´ by the first required submission date of 30 June 2007.

Click here to view the report.

Back to top