Human Rights and Legislation
In Northern Ireland, key legislation and strategic frameworks are there to promote the human rights of people with a learning disability, autism and other support needs.
Key Legislation includes:
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995: This Act makes it illegal to discriminate against disabled people in areas like employment and services. Though replaced elsewhere in the UK, it still applies in NI
- Autism Act (Northern Ireland) 2011: This requires an autism strategy and updates the Disability Discrimination Act to better support autistic individuals.
- Mental Capacity Act (NI) 2016: It combines mental capacity and mental health laws for people aged 16+, promoting supported decision-making and future planning
We believe that everyone should have equal rights. We are committed to ensuring that individual human rights are understood and promoted in all aspects of a persons life, regardless of their ability
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is an international treaty.
It aims to make sure that disabled people
- enjoy the same human rights as everyone else
- can participate fully in society
- and get the same opportunities as others.
The UK signed up to the Convention in 2009.
It covers a wide range of areas including
- health
- education and employment
- access to justice
- personal security
- independent living
- and access to information.
Programme for Government
Northern Ireland’s draft Programme for Government (PfG) highlights the need for better support for people with a learning disability autism, and other support needs. The PfG outlines nine priority areas:
- Grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy
- Deliver more affordable childcare
- Cut health waiting times
- End 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
- Protect Lough Neagh and the environment
- Reform and transform public services
Read our blog and consultation response.
Strategic Frameworks
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Department of Health
Equal Lives (Bamford Review)
The Department of Health in Northern Ireland started an independent review in 2002. This review looked into laws, policies and services for people with a learning disability and/or mental health needs. The report that came out of this was called The Bamford Review. Click here for messages from people with a learning disability to the Bamford Review.
Equal Lives Report, published in 2005, followed. It set out a vision for creating services for men, women and children with a learning disability for the next 15 to 20 years. This is currently under review.
In 2015, the Department of Health launched the Learning Disability Service Framework which aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of people with a learning disability, their carers and families.
Code of Practice (MCA)
The legal framework provided by the Mental Capacity Act is supported by Codes of Practice which provide practical information for how the Act works. There are currently two. One is the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Code of Practice. And the other is Money and Valuables and Research Code of Practice.
2. Department for Communities
Social Inclusion Strategy – Disability
The Department for Communities announced that work would start on the development of new Social Inclusion Strategies in 2020. This included a Disability Strategy.
The new Disability Strategy aims to tackle inequalities and barriers that affect the everyday lives of Deaf and disabled people. Based on available evidence, it focuses on identifying and addressing the issues, barriers and disadvantages that can stop equality of opportunity. This strategy has not yet been published.
3. Department of Education
SEN Reform Agenda
The Department of Education launched an SEN Reform Agenda, a five-year Delivery Plan and Outcomes Framework in February 2025.
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Reform Agenda: Sets out the most ambitious programme of SEN reform in a generation, aiming for greater inclusion and timely, tailored support.
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Delivery Plan: Details short-term and long-term actions to rebuild parental trust, strengthen the workforce, improve placements, and embed a child-centred approach.
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Outcomes Framework: Provides clear, measurable benchmarks to track progress and ensure better outcomes for children and young people with SEN.
4. Department for the Economy
Programme of Reform for Learners with a Disability
Minister Caoimhe Archibald outlined major reform of education, skills, and training provision for young people with special educational needs (SEN), focused on addressing gaps, inequalities, and challenges in the transition from school to adulthood. You can look at the infographic here.
This coincided with the launch of the Together Works Scheme – a project to support adults with moderate learning difficulties (MLD) into meaningful, therapeutic employment.
ARC NI advocates for and works towards:
Ensuring everyone knows what their rights are and how they should be treated
Supporting people and organisations to know about and advocate for human rights
Person-centred planning that encourages the people directly involved to be at the centre of decision making
Reduced use of restrictive practice, which includes the use of restraint and seclusion.
Ensuring the voices of people with a learning disability, autism and other support needs, are heard. This includes making choices and decisions about your own life.