National Disability Authority

The National Disability Authority (NDA) is the independent statutory body, providing evidence-based advice and research to Government on disability policy and practice and promoting Universal Design.

Latest News

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Webinar: 10 October 2023: Conducting collaborative research with disabled people – new guidance for researchers

We are recruiting for a number of roles

Research Promotion Scheme (RPS) now open for proposals

Register Now - Annual Conference 2023: Guaranteeing the equal participation of disabled people in political and public life in Ireland – UNCRPD article 29

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Browse by Topic

See our policy, research, publications and guidelines by topic.

Transforming Disability Services

Children

Education

Health and Social Care

Justice, Equality and Safeguarding

Employment

Housing and Environment

Accessibility

Assistive Technology

Transport

Participation in Society

Awareness Raising and Attitudes

Participation Matters

In September 2022 Minister Rabbitte launched our new guidelines - 'Participation Matters: Guidelines on implementing the obligation to meaningfully engage with disabled people in public decision making'.

The guidelines were informed by extensive consultation with Disabled Persons Organisations and other stakeholders
The guidelines are a practical resource to support officials to take a universal design approach to all public consultation and participation processes
The guidelines are available in multiple formats including Easy-to-Read and Irish Sign Language

Read the full Participation Matters Guidelines

Cover of Participation Matters document - decorative

ISL Video - About the NDA

15 Sept 2022

3:11

Our Centre for Excellence in Universal Design

The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) is dedicated to enabling the design of environments that can be accessed, understood and used regardless of a person's age, size, ability or disability. The CEUD is part of the National Disability Authority.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

Ireland ratified the UNCRPD in 2018. It is an international human rights treaty, It underpins the work of the National Disability Authority.

Irish Sign Language Act 2017

Our report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 was presented to the Minister in July 2021 and was published in January 2023.

Forthcoming Research

We are working on a cost benefit analysis of universally designed housing, looking at the impact of Covid-19 on the employment of people with disabilities, and examining the impact of the cessation of the Wards of Court system in Ireland.

Our Use of Language

Throughout this website the terms “persons with disabilities” and “disabled people” are used interchangeably. The term ‘disabled people’ is recognised by many within the disability rights movement in Ireland to align with the social and human rights model of disability, as it is considered to acknowledge the fact that people with an impairment are disabled by barriers in the environment and society. However, we also recognise that others prefer the term “persons with disabilities” because of the inherent understanding in the term that they are first and foremost human beings entitled to human rights. This reflects the language used in the UNCRPD. Finally, we recognise that some people do not identify as being disabled.