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DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030 DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

INTRODUCTION This Disability Action Plan sets out the Council’s commitments to promoting positive attitudes towards Disabled people and to encouraging their participation in public life. It forms a core component of the Council’s overall equality, diversity and inclusion framework and reflects our statutory obligations under disability legislation. Through this Plan, the Council reaffirms its dedication to fostering an environment in which Disabled people are respected, valued, and able to access services and opportunities on an equitable basis. The actions contained within the Plan outline the Council’s intended programme of work for the coming years. They provide a structured and intersectional approach to strengthening inclusion across services, supporting staff, and ensuring that the needs and experiences of Disabled people are meaningfully considered in the planning, development and delivery of Council functions.

CONTACT INFORMATION If you require this document in an alternative format or would like more information about the Disability Action Plan, please contact: Accessibility & Inclusion Officer Antrim Civic Centre 50 Stiles Way Antrim BT41 2UB E. Accessibility@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk Alternative formats available on request, including braille, audio, large print, Easy Read, and translations.

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN

The purpose of this Disability Action Plan is to demonstrate how the Council intends to fulfil its duties to:

The development of this Plan has involved a broad process of reflection, engagement and review.

• Promote positive attitudes towards Disabled people, and

In preparing the Plan, the Council considered a range of evidence, insights and recognised good practice. This included learning from previous Disability Action Plans, benchmarking exercises, feedback gathered through engagement activities, and discussions with Elected Member, relevant Council services and internal equality leads. Statutory guidance and local contextual information were also taken into account to ensure the Plan is both relevant and proportionate.

• Encourage the participation of Disabled people in public life. The Plan sets out key activities designed to improve accessibility, enhance organisational awareness, support inclusive communication, and advance the participation of Disabled people in civic and community life. It complements the Council’s Equality Scheme, will be delivered alongside the Equality Action Plan, and contributes directly to wider organisational objectives relating to fairness, inclusion, wellbeing and good relations.

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

This approach has enabled the Council to identify areas where further progress can be made, as well as opportunities to enhance the inclusivity of our services and organisational culture. While the Plan establishes a clear direction of travel, it remains sufficiently flexible to respond to emerging needs and evolving priorities.

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT The Disability Action Plan is aligned with the Council’s corporate values and with our commitment to advancing equality, accessibility and inclusion. It supports the development of the Council’s equality, diversity and inclusion identity, “We See You”, which emphasises visibility, dignity and belonging. The Plan also complements related areas of Council activity, including digital accessibility, inclusive design, community engagement and staff development. Collectively, these strategic connections ensure that disability inclusion is considered systematically across all aspects of Council decision making and service delivery.

MONITORING, REPORTING AND REVIEW Delivery of this Action Plan will be overseen by the Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) governance framework, ensuring clear accountability across all departments. Progress will be: • Monitored quarterly through the EDI Staff Operational Group • Reported to and steered bi-annually by the EDI Elected Member Working Group • Reported annually to the Corporate Leadership Team • Published in line with our Equality Scheme commitments • Submitted to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland as required • Informed by ongoing engagement with communities, staff and stakeholders The Plan is intended as a living document and may be updated to reflect new needs, emerging priorities, or statutory guidance.

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

SECTION A: ACTIONS TO PROMOTE POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS DISABLED PEOPLE 1. TRAINING Table 1: The action plan is set out under the following headings: action, responsibility lead, timescale, outcomes, measures and targets. Ref

Action

Responsibility Lead

Timescale

Outcomes

Measures

Targets

1.1

Continue to deliver disability equality awareness training for staff

Organisation Development

Years 1-4

Increased capacity to promote equality and positive attitudes in relation to recruitment and service delivery

Number trained

All staff trained within 6 months of starting

Roll out disability equality awareness training for Elected Members

Organisation Development

Years 1-2

Improved knowledge of disability legislation, increased capacity to ensure awareness of disability related issues in Council decision

Number trained

1.2

Number of sessions

All members trained by 2028

Positive attitudes towards Disabled people

1.3

Training on best practice in Organisation relation to inclusive recruitment Development and selection

As appropriate

Staff have improved knowledge of best practice and enhanced awareness of disability inclusion

Training requirements reviewed at initial stage of recruitment

All staff involved in recruitment and selection trained before sitting on recruitment panel

1.4

Enhance staff training to ensure effective first-pointof-contact support in leisure centres, including British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1, disability awareness, less visible disabilities, neurodiversity and inclusive customer-service modules

Years 1-4

Improved staff confidence and ability to meet diverse needs of Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent customers

Number of staff trained; training modules delivered; customer satisfaction feedback

Minimum two staff per centre trained to BSL Level 1: all frontline staff to complete inclusive-service training by 2030

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

Leisure; Organisation Development

Note: where a timeframe is specified, this means end of financial year

SECTION A: ACTIONS TO PROMOTE POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS DISABLED PEOPLE 2. COMMUNICATION Ref

Action

Responsibility Lead

Timescale

Outcomes

2.1

Develop EDI brand, ‘We See You’ for disability inclusion initiatives

Communications & Marketing;

Years 1-2

Council visibly promotes Brand usage across positive attitudes materials; staff towards Disabled people awareness

Brand used in disability inclusion initiatives by 2028

Year 2

Increased public awareness of disability inclusion initiatives

Increased engagement in disability related campaigns by 2028

Organisation Development 2.2

Increase awareness of disability related campaigns and celebrations

Community Development, Accessibility & Inclusion

Number of campaigns and events. Engagement metrics

Targets

2.3

Review and improve digital accessibility to ensure Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)1 compliant)

IT, Communications

Year 4

Improved accessibility of online services

2.4

Develop inclusive and accessible communications (plain English, Easy Read) and inclusive design patterns (name, formats, demographic identifiers, inclusive facets, diverse illustrations)”

Communications & Marketing,

Years 3-4

Council information is Staff trained; accessible to all residents Accessible content outputs; website accessibility tools usage

100% Communications staff trained by 2028;

Increase awareness of equality and diversity themes of national awareness dates and campaigns, particularly in terms of disability

Community Development; Marketing;

Increased public and staff awareness of disability inclusion

Increased engagement in disability related campaigns by 2028

2.5

Measures

Customer Services

Accessibility & Inclusion

Year 2

Website compliance rating

Number of campaigns/events; Engagement metrics

100% compliance by 2030

compliance with WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards by 2030

https://www.w3.org/

Note: where a timeframe is specified, this means end of financial year

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

SECTION B: ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING FULL PARTICIPATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN PUBLIC LIFE Ref

Action

Responsibility Lead

Timescale

Outcomes

Measures

Targets

3.1

Maintain and promote EDI charters, accreditations and memberships (British Sign Language & Irish Sign Language Charter2, Autism Impact Award3, JAM Card4, Dementia Friendly5

Accessibility & Inclusion; Organisation Development

Years 1-4

Council demonstrates commitment to disability inclusion

Number of charters, accreditations and memberships maintained;

Annual review and action plans

3.2

Continue to assess and manage all reasonable adjustments for new Members and Staff at point of entry

Human Resources

Years 1-4

Council demonstrates Number of commitment to accessibility requests; number of and disability inclusion; council accommodations ensures that Disabled Members and Disabled staff not substantially disadvantaged

Increase in number of new entrants feeling comfortable to share they are Deaf, Disabled or Neurodivergent

3.3

Explore development of Reasonable Adjustments Policy and Procedure

Human Resources; Accessibility & Inclusion

Year 2

Council reduces/removes barriers for people with disabilities (visible and less visible)

Increase in disability data regarding Members and Staff that share they are Deaf, Disabled or Neurodivergent

Training carried out

https://antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/council/accessibility/british-irish-sign-language-charter/

https://antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/council/accessibility/autism-impact-award/

https://antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/jam/

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/dementia-friends/dementia-friendly-resources

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

Training carried out; engagement with disability experts and people with lived experience; benchmarking exercises

Note: where a timeframe is specified, this means end of financial year

SECTION B: ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING FULL PARTICIPATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN PUBLIC LIFE Ref

Action

Responsibility Lead

Timescale

Outcomes

Measures

Targets

3.4

Work towards Disability Positive Employer 6 accreditation

Accessibility & Inclusion; Human Resources

Years 3-4

Recognition as disabilityinclusive employer

Audit results

AAA status achieved by 2030

3.5

Promote staff health and wellbeing, including mental ill health by developing opportunities to sign Equality commission Mental Health Charter and other wellbeing accreditations

Organisation Development

Year 2-3

Enhanced understanding of mental health issues;

Number of charters signed and maintained;

Annual review and action plans

supportive work environment

Training carried out

Establish staff impact group and engagement channels for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent staff

Accessibility & Inclusion; Human Resources

Years 2-3

Staff voice informs inclusion initiatives;

Number of staff participating;

recruitment and retention benefits

Number of meetings

3.7

Analyse workforce disability and neurodiversity data

Accessibility & Inclusion; Human Resources

Years 1-3

Understanding of disability representation in workforce

Staff diversity data

Baseline by 2027 & workforce target developed by 2029

3.8

Develop Inclusive Recruitment and Selection Plan

Accessibility & Inclusion; Human Resources

Years 3-4

Fair and inclusive recruitment processes; improved access to jobs for Disabled people

Recruitment outcomes with disability representation

Increase in Disabled candidates and appointments by 2030

3.6

Impact group for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent staff established by 2028

https://efdni.org/disability-positive-accreditation/

Note: where a timeframe is specified, this means end of financial year

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

Ref

Action

Responsibility Lead

Timescale

Outcomes

Measures

Targets

3.9

Establish disability lived experience consultation groups (Friends of Council)

Community Development, Customer Services,

Year 2

Meaningful input into decisionmaking, informed by better understanding of community demographics and challenges to inclusion

Meetings held; events delivered; consultee list updates

Group established Year 2; biannual consultee updates

Funding secured from DFC; BSL training delivered to staff, residents and elected members; number of Measures community meetings held for BSL users Number of placements and ring-fenced posts

Increased Council engagement with BSL users by 2030

Accessibility & Inclusion 3.10

Explore opportunities to develop BSL Hub in the Borough in partnership with Department for Communities

Disability

Years 1-2

Increased participation and inclusion for BSL users

Ref

Action

Responsibility Lead

Timescale

Outcomes

3.11

To build disability inclusion in Council workforce, support work experience and employment pathways for Disabled people

Human Resources; Accessibility & Inclusion

Years 2-3

More Disabled people applying for positions; supporting full participation of Disabled people in public life positions

3.12

Participate in employability programmes for people with disabilities

Economic Development

Years 2-3

Providing opportunities for Disabled people to test and learn about careers and career routes

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

Number of participants enrolled, number completing project, satisfaction with project

Targets Minimum annual placements and entry-level roles

70% participants completing project and reporting increased confidence regarding employability

Note: where a timeframe is specified, this means end of financial year

Ref

Action

Responsibility Lead

Timescale

Outcomes

Measures

3.13

Continue to roll out work experience programmes

Economic Development

Years 1-4

Providing work experience to Disabled children from SEN schools in the borough

Number of work 80 participants placements, satisfaction completing the data programme with minimum 50% from Special Educational Needs

3.14

Develop an accessibility event guide for all staff

Accessibility & Inclusion

Years 3-4

Supporting full participation of Disabled people in public life

Staff trained Customer experience Number of inclusive events; number of accessible features

3.15

Review and improve inclusion for Deaf people, people with hearing loss and tinnitus, by embedding accessible communication throughout Council initiatives

Community Development; Accessibility and Inclusion

Years 2-3

Note: where a timeframe is specified, this means end of financial year

Increased participation and inclusion for people with hearing loss or tinnitus

Sign language interpreter usage, captioning, hearing assistive technology

Targets

Increase in number of inclusive events and accessible features by 2030 Increased engagement with people with hearing loss by 2030.

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2026-2030

For more information visit: antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk