Programme for Government – Our Response

Programme for Government

Today we were  pleased to share our response to the public consultation which was asking people what they thought about the draft Programme for Government.  So the Programme for Government sets out the Northern Ireland Executive’s priorities to tackle the biggest issues facing workers, families and communities here.

Children and adults with a learning disability, autism and additional support needs are members of society and communities. Therefore, we wanted to share some feedback to highlight ways the learning disability community should be better supported. Especially, through the Programme for Government’s nine priority areas.

The nine areas in the Programme for Government are:

• Grow a Globally Competitive and Sustainable Economy
• Deliver More Affordable Childcare
• Cut Health Waiting Times
• Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
• Better Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs
• Provide More Social, Affordable and Sustainable Housing
• Safer Communities
• Protecting Lough Neagh and the Environment
• Reform and Transformation of Public Services

Take a look at our response to the Draft-PfG-ARCNI-Response.

We are excited to influence and support the new Disability Social Inclusion Strategy, when it is published. This strategy will aim to tackle inequalities and obstacles that affect the everyday lives of people with a learning disability, autism and additional support needs. Importantly, it will be based on available evidence. As a result it will bring focus to identifying and addressing the issues, barriers and disadvantages that can undermine equality of opportunity.

Barriers to Inclusion

For many years, children and adults with a learning disability in Northern Ireland have faced many inequalities.  These have often limited opportunities for inclusion and have impacted negatively on their quality of life. Examples include:

1. Access to Healthcare: People with a learning disability have not received the same level of healthcare as others. And this leads to poor health outcomes. And, in some cases, untreated or undiagnosed health issues.
2. Education and Employment: People with a learning disability have faced significant barriers to education and job opportunities. And this leads to limited career prospects, financial independence, and social participation.
3. Social Inclusion: People with a learning disability are often isolated or excluded from community life and social activities. And stigma and lack of awareness have contributed to a sense of separation from others.
4. Decision-Making: Historically, people with a learning disability have had limited control over decisions that affect their lives.  And with others often making important choices on their behalf, such as where they live or what services they use.
5. Housing and Independence: People with a learning disability have not had the same options for independent living as others. And often face barriers to finding accessible housing or receiving the support needed to live independently.
6. Safety and Protection: People with a learning disability have been more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and neglect.  And with limited resources available to help them stay safe and advocate for their rights.

We have been supporting the learning disability community to share their stories over the past year.  It is important to highlight the barriers to equality and inclusion they continue to face.  In fact, these were shared at an one of our events as part of Learning Disability Week 2024.

ARC NI Conference

Our conference is on Friday 7th March 2025.  Here we will continue to talk about these things. So stay tuned!