With the election this Thursday, finally all the parties in Northern Ireland have their manifestos available for you to read and to win your vote. What do their manifestos have on offer for disabled voters?
DPAC NI are not endorsing any parties running for election, but are merely giving you all the information they have provided in their manifestos, so you can make an informed choice as a deaf and disabled people when voting.
The core demands from DPAC NI are:
Legislate to fully incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) into UK law
- A “triple lock” on annual benefit rate increases
- Legal Right to Independent Living with a National Independent Living Service
- Introduce a national requirement for all new build homes to be accessible and 10% to be wheelchair accessible
- A right to mainstream education and to education in fluent British Sign Language / Irish Sign Language for Deaf and Disabled students
- A fully integrated, fully accessible, affordable publicly owned transport system for all
- A right of disabled access to built and natural environments
- Introduce mandatory two-week timeframe for reasonable adjustments and an enforcement framework which does not fully depend on an individual.
- An independent public inquiry into the deaths and maltreatment of disabled children and adults incarcerated in mental health institutions
- Legislate to abolish forced detention and treatment of people on mental health grounds
- No Assisted Dying
- Adequate provision of technical aids and equipment, eg wheelchairs, and adaptive communication aides for people who are nonverbal
Lets look at each party and pick out what they have to say and what core demands they are going to deliver for our community
Sinn Féin sinnfein.ie
Building a Society for All
“There can be no place for sectarianism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, age or disability discrimination in our society.” – Page 9
“We want a society that values and celebrates the diversity of our identities, religious or none, sexual orientation, gender, disability, age, or ethnic origin.” – Page 9
Full Sinn Fein manifesto: Click Here
DUP mydup.com
Down’s Syndrome given Minority Status
“DUP Parliamentarians have been a committed and consistent voice for people with disabilities. One of our MPs co-sponsored the Down Syndrome Act 2022, the world’s first piece of legislation recognising people with Down’s syndrome as a specific minority group.” – Page 10
Department for Communities Outcomes Delivered
“Progress on a Disability and Work Strategy, ensuring no one who wants to work is prohibited from doing so because of their disability” – Page 12
Defending Our Most Vulnerable
“supported legal action by disability campaigner Heidi Crowter against legislation allowing the abortion of babies with Down’s Syndrome up until birth” – Page 39
Disabilities
“The DUP is committed to ensuring those with disabilities can live full and active lives. We will continue to advocate for better access to, and provision of, vital services that can help ensure they can play a stronger role in their local communities and the labour market.” – Page 39
“support a wide-ranging audit of central and local government facilities to ensure they are accessible to those with disabilities” – Page 39
“work with the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC) in future transport projects” – Page 39
“promote close collaboration between IMTAC, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) in England and Wales and Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland” – Page 39
“support the introduction of further resident parking zone schemes” Page 39
“encourage government departments, public bodies and local authorities across the UK to join Access Able or require them to provide comparable information on disability access and services” – Page 39
“invest more in community transport, including services that provide a lifeline to older people” – Page 39
Full DUP manifesto: Click Here
Alliance Party allianceparty.org
Victim and Survivors
“We have long supported the introduction of a pension for victims and survivors of the Troubles, and Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA took the lead in implementing the Troubles Permanent Disablement Pension Scheme when other executive ministers refused” – Page 13
Levelling Up and Shared Prosperity
“There has been a significant reduction in funding to Northern Ireland, coupled with the imposition of unnecessary and costly bidding competitions, short-termism, uncertainty as to the areas of activity that will be supported, plus duplication in some areas and gaps in others. Many core services, including apprenticeship, labour market inclusion measures, disability employment, regeneration and economic development measures are in jeopardy.” – Page 23
Equality and Justice
“The domestic incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).” – Page 34
“The delivery of a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights to supplement the ECHR and Human Rights Act.” – Page 34
Global Justice and International Development
“We want to build a fair, sustainable world: reducing poverty and inequality, addressing the climate crisis, and ensuring that the most marginalised groups, such as women, girls, people with disabilities and the LGBT+ community, are at the forefront of international development and humanitarian assistance policy.” – Page 43
Full Alliance Party Manifesto: Click Here
SDLP sdlp.ie
Disability Rights
“The SDLP believes in a society where disabled people have full and equal access to public services, including through the full implementation of the UN Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities.” – Page 40
“In a myriad of ways, disabled people have been hit hardest by the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of the pandemic and require intervention and investment to address that impact. Robust action is required at all levels of government to tackle the inequalities faced by people with disabilities, including by closing the disability employment gap. We must also invest in public services and the built environment of our local communities to ensure that homes, schools, leisure and sporting facilities and public transportation are fully accessible to disabled people. We believe in a welfare system that upholds the rights of all disabled people, treating them with dignity and compassion.” – Page 40
“Alongside these important reforms, the SDLP will continue to campaign for a society that breaks down the negative attitudes and discrimination that affect disabled people, including through addressing disability hate crime. Public policy must be co-designed with disabled people and the organisations that represent them to ensure that it fully accounts for the needs of disabled people” – Page 40
Human Rights
“The SDLP remains unwavering in its commitment to advancing and upholding human rights. We believe that every individual, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation or belief, are entitled to the same fundamental rights which are enshrined in international law.” – Page 43
Full SDLP manifesto: Click Here
Ulster Unionist Party uup.org
Disabilities
“Across the UK, around 16 million people have a recognised disability, which constitutes about 24% of the total population. This includes 11% of children, 23% of working-age adults, and 45% of pension-age adults (Disability, accessibility and blue badge statistics, England, 2022 to 2023 – GOV—UK; Disability facts and figures | Disability charity Scope UK.) “ – Page 16
“In Northern Ireland, approximately 21% of the population reported having a disability according to the most recent surveys, a figure that mirrors trends across other regions of the UK, indicating a rise in the proportion of people living with disabilities.” – Page 16
“These statistics emphasise the significant portion of the population living with a disability, highlighting the crucial need for policies and initiatives aimed at enhancing their quality of life.” – Page 16
“Ulster Unionist Party MPs will advocate for the next Government to not only acknowledge the high proportion of the population living with disabilities but also to proactively develop policy interventions that improve services and the overall quality of life for these citizens.” – Page 16
“We firmly believe that the most effective way to ensure these policies is by ensuring that individuals with lived experience are not just included, but are at the forefront of creating these policy interventions. Their unique perspectives and challenges are invaluable in shaping policies that truly meet their needs”. -Page 16
“Additionally, your Ulster Unionist Party MPs will work to hold the next Government to account if they fail in their duty to support our citizens living with disabilities in having active and fulfilling lives. This support must include recognising that Personal Independence Payment and other social security payments are crucial in this regard, and any attempt to scale back this support will have a far-reaching and devastating impact.” – Page 16
“We will advocate for the next Government to acknowledge the high proportion of the population living with disabilities and to proactively develop policy interventions that improve services and the overall quality of life for these citizens. This will include pressing for the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into UK law, ensuring that the rights of individuals with disabilities are fully protected and promoted.” – Page 16
Supporting Young People with Disabilities
“We are committed to creating equal opportunities for young people with disabilities. To achieve this, we will:
Secure funding and resources for post-secondary education and training for young people with disabilities or learning disabilities.
Develop pathways to further learning and employment opportunities that are on par with those available to mainstream school leavers.
Ensure that all young people in Northern Ireland have access to the support and opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of their abilities.” – Page 18
People Before Profit pbp.ie
Full 5 page policy available on disability. Mostly Republic of Ireland related
Legislative Changes
“People Before Profit stands in solidarity with disability rights activists, and calls for the complete ratification of the UNCRPD, along with all other relevant legislation – a process that should include as a rule the full and decisive oversight of people with a lived experience of disability. As a matter of urgency, the government must:
Ensure that the ratification of the UNCRPD and all other relevant legislation, involving oversight by persons with a lived experience of disability.” – Page 3
Full People Before Profits manifesto: Click Here
Green Party Northern Ireland greenpartyni.org
Fund Reforms By Taxing the Wealthy
“Make pension tax relief equal to the basic rate of income tax – helping to fund adequate social care which centres the dignity of all elderly and disabled people regardless of income.” – Page 14
Make Government More Representative and More Local
“To enable diversity across politics, we will implement measures that support the candidacy of underrepresented groups, including women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. Diverse political representation leads to policies that better reflect the needs of all citizens. We will also continue to advocate for devolution of powers to local levels, including reform of the Barnett formula and the funding package to Northern Ireland and the extension of powers and resources to Local Authorities.” – Page 15
Enhance Work Life
“Address pay gaps for all people from protected groups, including those with a disability or chronic health condition, those from racialised or religious minorities, women and carers, and LGBTQ+ people.” – Page 19
Full Green Party Northern Ireland manifesto: Click Here
