The Accessible Transport Strategy, published by Government in 2005, confirmed the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (Imtac) as the main source of independent advice to Government and others in Northern Ireland on all transport issues that affect the mobility of older people and disabled people.
Our work mirrors two similar committees in Great Britain. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) advises Government in England and Wales. The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (Macs) has the same role in Scotland.
Imtac works closely with policy makers and transport providers to ensure that accessibility for disabled people and older people is a major consideration in the development of transport policy and transport services.
We seek to promote participation by disabled people and older people in our work and the development of policy and services through an outreach programme.
Imtac is also the lead partner in the Baywatch Campaign which seeks to end the abuse of parking bays provided for disabled people.
We cannot investigate complaints about transport on behalf of individuals. The General Consumer Council has this role in Northern Ireland.
We have no role in the enforcement of law. The Equality Commission can assist disabled people in Northern Ireland with enforcement of disability legislation.
We do welcome feedback from disabled people and older people about difficulties using transport as this may inform our thinking on wider issues. Visit our “Have your say” section to do this online or contact us.
Much of our work is done through the main Committee and our working groups. Each year we agree a work programme with the Department for Regional Development after consultation with disabled people and older people, our partners in government and the transport industry. Imtac responds to requests for advice and information from Government and transport providers as and when required.
Our current working groups are:
Imtac has a maximum of 21 members. Our constitution requires that at least 50% of our members must be disabled people or older people. Observers from the Department for Regional Development, the Equality Commission, the General Consumer Council, the Age Sector Platform and Disability Action also attend meetings.
The current members of Imtac are:
Frank Caddy (Chair)
In October 2001, Frank Caddy became chairman of the Inclusive Mobility & Transport Advisory Committee (Imtac), set up to advise government and other agencies/organisations on the provision of transport for disabled and older people throughout Northern Ireland.
Frank was also one of the founder members of the Shopmobility (Belfast) and has been chairman since 2001.
He also chairs the voluntary group 'Friends of Botanic Gardens' and works with Belfast City Council to preserve and improve Belfast's most popular green space.
Frank has been a non-executive member of the Royal Victoria Hospitals Trust. Following his retirement as Chief Executive of the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Frank became self-employed and now acts as public relations advisor to, amongst others, the Northern Ireland Drinks Industry Group (NIDIG).
Frank qualified as a Chartered Engineer in the mid 70's and has lived in Northern Ireland since graduating in 1965. Frank is married to Jean and has 4 adult children (2 boys and 2 girls).
William Stewart (Vice-Chair)
William is a lay member who is interested on rights for disabled people, especially in transport. William is currently Chair of Pennisula Community Transport and he serves on a number of other committees. William has been Vice Chair of Imtac for eight years.
Kellie Armstrong
Kellie is Director of the Community Transport Association in Northern Ireland having previously managed both urban and rural community transport projects. Kellie is determines to ensure accessible transport solutions and a mix of transport options are provided by the community in order to meet both individual and group needs. Kellie has been instrumental in developing accessible communications within the community transport sector introducing RNID Typetalk and producing information in alternative formats as well as training for community transport providers. Kellie currently sits on a number of other Committees including: RCN Skills for Solutions, Belfast Healthy Cities Transport Group, Northern Investing for Health, DVA Stakeholder Group, Go Skills NI & Scotland, DOE/DRD Review of Licensing Stakeholder Group and Review of the RTS Stakeholder Group.
Kellie is also an active member of her local community and is a member of her local community association and parents Committte. Married with one daughter Kellie lives on a wildlife reserve on the Ards Peninsula.
Bert Baillie
June Best
Elizabeth Black
Elizabeth has been a member of the Baywatch Steering Group since 2005 and a member of Imtac since April 2007.
Elizabeth is Chair of Disability Action's Regional Access Committee and a member of the Board of Disability Action. She has been involved with Ballymena Access Group since 1981. Elizabeth is also Chair of the Irish FLy Fishing Association and is a Board member of ADAPT.
Philip Blair
Philip has been employed by Translink for 15 years and his current post is Central Area Route Manager with Northern Ireland Railways. In this post he has been involved in a number of varied groups including School Governor, Trade Union Negotiating teams, Health and Safety representative with TSSA and Negotiating Teams as a Manager in Northern Ireland Railways. He is married and has three children, 2 boys and 1 girl and lives in Carrickfergus.
Terry Butler
Terry has worked with Translink for the past 24 years. He was previously a District Manager for 10 years and has been the Access Manager for the past four years. Terry has been a member of Imtac for six years.
Ann Collins
Ann is a Director of Shopmobility Belfast and has been involved in its introduction and development since 1995.
Ann is the Chair of Shopmobility Northern Ireland, an independent committee funded by the Department for Regional Development (DRD) through the Transport Programme for People with Disabilities to represent Shopmobilities throughout Northern Ireland.
She is the National Vice Chair of Mobilise the new charity following on from the merger of the Disabiled Drivers' Associationand Disabled Drivers Motor Club.
Ann is Convenor of Imtacs Personal Mobility Group.
Barbara Fleming
Barbara has served on the committee for around 9 years and is Convenor of the Public Transport Working Group. She is a power-chair user who frequently travels on public transport. She passionately promotes the advantages of a fully inclusive public transport system for service providers as well as consumers.
Barbara also serves on several other committees and as a qualified Disability Equality Trainer was responsible for training staff and volunteers at the Belfast Festival at Queens for the past three years.
Ann Gamble
Ann is a member of the Age Sector Platform, Heyday, the Older People's Advisory Panel of the Consumer Council and Age Concern's Equality Forum. These groups have campaigned on older people's issues such as water charges, improving transport, research into difficulties accessing shopping, trying to improve benefit uptake and age discrimination in the workplace.
Francis Hughes
Francis represents ICTU Retired Workers on the Age Sector Platform Executive Committee and is also represented on the Transport sub-committee of Age Sector Platform. Francis has been a volunteer in the age sector for approximately 12 years and has been a member of ICTU Retired Workers Committee for around 8 years.
Francis is also current Treasurer of Finaghy Friendship Group, a group which he represents in the South Belfast Lifestyle Forum. He was elected Honorary Secretary of Northern Irelands Pensioners Convention Branch in May 2008 and has been a member of NIPC for around 8 years.
Francis has been involved with Imtac for around 3 years.
Etta Mann
Etta was elected Councillor until 2001 on Newtownabbey Borough Council. She has recently retired after 31 years working in Social Services Day Centres with older people who have disabilities. Etta serves on several other Committees such as Environment Committee, Leisure Committtee, as well as being Secretary and Treasurer of various Church Committees.
Houston Marshall
David McDonald
David joined Imtac at the start of 2004 and is the convenor of the Information and Training Working Group. A power chair user, who uses public transport as a matter of routine, David is chair of The Omnibus Partnership, an organisation of disabled passengers, working to encourage and ensure the earliest introduction of accessible mainstream public transport, locally. David is also a member of other committees in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and an experienced Disability Equality Trainer.
William McKay
Norma Moore
Norma Moore joined Imtac in April 2007 and is a frequent user of all forms of transprot in Northern Ireland. For over six years she has been a volunteer counsellor for Childline and assists in training. She is also a member of the Sight Support User panel for South and East Belfast and an active committee member of her local residence association. She previously was the secretary for a social club for the visually impaired in the North Down and Ards area and assisted the Blind Centre NI with visual awareness training.
Andrew Murdock
Andrew is Policy Officer for Guide Dogs - an organisation that specialises in the mobility and rehabilitation needs of people who are blind and partially sighted. Previously Andrew worked at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh and has spent over 20 years working on behalf of people with sight loss. Andrew has been a member of Imtac for over 2 years and also sits on a wide range of other committees which aim to improve services and the lives of people who are sight impaired. He was a member of the recent SSI Inspection of Social Work and Related Services to People with a Sensory Impairment.
Dr G Max O'Brien MBE
Now retired Max worked for many years in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the trade Union movement. A former President and Vice-President of NIPSA Max also was Chairperson of the Disability Committee of NIC-ICTU. Max has also served and continues to serve on a number of bodies relating to disabled people including the Mental Health Commission, the Northern Ireland Disability Council, the All Party Working Group on Disability and the Promoting Social Inclusion Group on Disability.
Ronnie Patterson
Ronnie is a disabled person who uses public transport on a regular basis. Ronnie is a passionate advocate for free travel for disabled people on public transport. Ronnie has also a keen interest in politics.
Laura Slater
Laura works with young blind and partially sighted people on a campaigning project called "Eye Matter". Laura is a visually impaired working mother who relies heavily on public transport. She is passionate that people no matter of age or disability should have the same opportunities when accessing public transport, at the same time as everyone else and at no additional expense. Laura believes that to make a fully accessible society work must be done to re-educate peoples attitudes and to build confidence around providing excellenet customer service to all members of our society.
Laura became involved with Imtac's Public Transport Working Group in January 2008 and has now been appointed to the main committee.
Members of Imtac are appointed through an open recruitment process. Recruitment of members will take place once a year. Appointed members will serve for a period of 3 years. The next recruitment of members will take place in January/February 2011.
Committee members are expected to have the following :-
Imtac members are not paid but receive travel and other reasonable expenses.
