Background
The draft Executive Disability Strategy was published for consultation on the 9th December 2025. The consultation can be viewed here https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-ni-executive-disability-strategy-2025-2035.
Imtac co chaired the Disability Strategy Co Design Group that worked with the previous Communities Minister and her officials between 2020 and 2022. We agreed on both a positive vision and eight outcomes for the Strategy but Deaf and Disabled people had no part in developing the 58 commitments subsequently included in the draft Strategy. This has resulted in an extremely disappointing Strategy with very few tangible commitments that will make delivering the outcomes impossible.
We have waited so long for a Disability Strategy, and we believe Deaf and Disabled people deserve better than what has been produced. We believe the Strategy as presented will do nothing to improve our lives or advance our rights.
What are our concerns?
Imtac has been working with some of the other members of the Disability Strategy Co Design Group and the Expert Advisory Panel who developed a report to inform the Strategy. Our concerns are summarised in a briefing paper and include:
- Inadequate involvement of Deaf and Disabled people in coproducing the Strategy
- Poor quality and wholly inadequate commitments in the Draft Strategy
- The absence of any resources to help deliver the strategy
Overall we believe the draft Strategy will leave Deaf and Disabled people feeling devalued and disillusioned. We, alongside others, are calling for significant revisions to the final Strategy.
What we all can do
A strong response is needed to the consultation, which calls for significant changes to the Draft Strategy. We are asking as many people and organisations to respond to the consultation and raise their concerns. Please feel free to use and share the briefing paper when developing a response.
Imtac hopes to have our draft response available in the next few weeks and we will share it widely before the closing date for responses which is the 20th March 2026.
Imtac has also worked with others to draft an open letter to Executive Ministers calling for renewed engagement with Deaf and Disabled people to agree on changes to the final Strategy. We are asking Deaf and Disabled people, our organisations and wider stakeholders and allies to sign the letter and send the clear message to our Executive that the draft Strategy is unacceptable. You can email us directly to ask to be included as a signatory. There is also a Google Docs link included below where you can add your name or organisation.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/145FXsO49VUcBda4-tJTgdEZOumFJzfpLhayVl41HCSw/edit?usp=sharing
Next steps
We are happy to discuss issues further and will continue to share further information both before and after the consultation closes. We also plan to hold an event where Deaf and Disabled people, our organisations and our allies can come together to identify what we want from the final Disability Strategy. Please contact our secretariat if you have any queries.
Please feel free to share this information.