Our Work on Standards
Standards are a way of ensuring consistent approaches to particular types of requirements.
They can apply to a range of areas such as:
The built environment
Manufacturing
Design
The delivery of services
Complying with a standard is a quick and easily understandable way of showing a minimum level of quality has been achieved.
In Ireland, the development of standards is led and regulated by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).
Our Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) contributes to the development and promotion of standards on Universal Design and accessibility. We work closely with key stakeholders and National, European and International standards bodies such as the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) to ensure standards recognise the needs of all users, including those with disabilities.
Examples of standards work associated with Universal Design and accessibility where the NDA/CEUD have participated can be found at:
Monitoring Functions
We carry out a variety of monitoring functions to check how the public is performing in relation to legislation, or associated Codes of Practice.
We do this by collecting qualitative and quantitative data across the public sector and reviewing it to see how it compares with the prescribed targets or modes of behaviour.
Our monitoring functions include:
Measuring the number of people with disabilities employed in the public sector (Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005)
How public sector websites comply with the EU Web Accessibility Directive
How public bodies meet the accessibility obligations assigned to them (Part 3 of the Disability Act 2005)
We have also developed Codes of Practice at the request of the Minister.
These Codes guide a consistent approach to providing public services and are informed by good practices we have identified in our research and evaluation work.
Compliance with a Code of Practice means that a public body is complying with the relevant legislation.
If the NDA monitors performance in relation to a Code of Practice and identifies gaps, we can guide public bodies on how to meet their obligations under the legislation.
If we find good practice, this means the legislation is being complied with, and it can also provide a good example for other organisations to follow.