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Literature Review on Autism, Ageing and Life Expectancy
This review was commissioned under Action 81 of the Autism Innovation Strategy by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and coordinated by the National Disability Authority
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Overview of UNCRPD Article 11 in Ireland Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies
This paper is one in a series which the National Disability Authority (NDA) has developed on individual United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) articles.
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Accessibility Participation in Society
Guidance to Support Non-Speaking and Minimally Speaking People to Access Public Services
This document provides guidance for public services staff on how to support autistic people and other users of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) who are non-speaking or minimally speaking to access public services.
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Awareness Raising and Attitudes
Good Practice Guidance for Commissioners of Autism Training in the Public Sector
This guidance has been produced under Action 6 of the Autism Innovation Strategy.
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Good Practice Guidance for Commissioners of Disability Training in the Public Sector
This guidance updates a National Disability Authority (NDA) publication from 2005 entitled Guidelines for Purchasers of Disability Equality Training.
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Accessibility
Literature Review on Supporting Non-Speaking and Minimally Speaking People to Access Public Services
The aim of this review was to provide a robust evidence base for neuro-affirmative practice in supporting non-speaking and minimally speaking autistic and disabled people to access public services. The aim was also to examine best practice in providing public services to this group of the population.
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Justice, Equality and Addressing Violence and Abuse Participation in Society Transforming Disability Services
Research on the Transition from Wardship
The journey from wardship to supported decision-making: An examination of the process and the experiences of people leaving wardship
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Justice, Equality and Addressing Violence and Abuse Participation in Society Awareness Raising and Attitudes
New study examines the experiences of those leaving the wardship system
Release date: Tuesday, 10 February 2026
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Children Education Participation in Society Awareness Raising and Attitudes
Dublin and Westmeath primary schools are winners in 10th anniversary of competition promoting disability awareness
Winners of National Disability Authority Someone Like Me Art Competition announced
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Percentage of employees reporting a disability in the public sector exceeds 5% for the first time
Press Release: Monday, 22 December 2025
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Employment
NDA Annual Reports on Compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act
Reports from 2006 in English and Irish detailing how many people with disabilities work in the public sector.
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Children Health and Social Care
Literature review on the evidence for family-centred practice within children’s disability services
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Addressing Ireland's Accessible Housing Crisis: Key partners unite for change at landmark event
Press Release: Monday 01 December 2025
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NDA Submission to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to inform its consultation on the Development of the Priorities and Policy Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026
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Health and Social Care
NDA Submission on the National Policy Framework on Alternative Care
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Gender Pay Gap Reports
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Accessibility
New study reveals major accessibility gaps in homeless hostels across Dublin and Cork
Press release: Thursday 06 November 2025
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Employment
A Review of Available Resources to Support Employers to Create Autism-Friendly Workplaces
This work implements an action assigned to the NDA in the Autism Innovation Strategy 2024-2026.
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Children Health and Social Care
NDA Submission on Public Consultation on the Development of National Standards for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
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Participation in Society
NDA Submission to the National Office for Community Safety to inform its consultation on the new National Strategy for Improving Community Safety
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Health and Social Care Participation in Society
NDA Annual Conference explores parenting, relationships, sexuality and sexual health for disabled people in Ireland
Press release: 16 October 2025
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Accessibility
NDA Opening Statement to the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence
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An Exploration of the Scale and Impact of Physical Disability in People Experiencing Homelessness in Ireland
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Participation in Society
NDA Annual Conference 2025
The National Disability Authority’s 2025 Annual Conference examined the implementation of Article 23 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Ireland.
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Next Generation of Universal Designers Celebrated at Universal Design Grand Challenge Awards 2025
Press release: Monday 06 October 2025
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Employment
NDA Submission on the Draft Statutory Quality Assurance Guidelines on Programmes Involving Work-integrated learning
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Estimating Autism Prevalence in Ireland: Challenges and Opportunities
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Awareness Raising and Attitudes
Submission to Coimisiún na Meán on the Digital Transformation Scheme
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Accessibility Transforming Disability Services
National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 Consultation Report
This report presents the findings from the public consultation for the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030, which took place from November 2023 to February 2024.
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Accessibility Transforming Disability Services
National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 Consultation Report ISL summary
These videos present the findings from the public consultation for the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 which took place from November 2023 to February 2024.
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Employment
NDA Submission on the successor to the ‘Pathways to Work 2021-2025'
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Education
NDA Submission to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on the Tertiary Education Strategy
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News Events
2024 Annual Report
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Participation in Society
NDA Submission to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’s Stakeholder Consultation on a new Strategy to support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland
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Health and Social Care
NDA Submission to Ireland’s Independent COVID-19 Evaluation – stakeholder / organisation submission on the impacts of the management of the pandemic in Ireland.
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Justice, Equality and Addressing Violence and Abuse
Guidance for Justice Professionals on Effectively Communicating with Autistic people
This guidance for justice professionals implements an action assigned to the NDA in the Autism Innovation Strategy 2024–2026.
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Health and Social Care
A literature review examining the evidence for task shifting to assistant therapists in healthcare services
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Literature review of non-clinical competencies and skill mix required by interdisciplinary teams who support children with disabilities
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Health and Social Care
Literature review on the evidence for interdisciplinary teams in community-based services
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Awareness Raising and Attitudes
A synthesis of existing data on current attitudes towards autistic people in Ireland
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Housing and the Environment
National Disability Authority response to consultation on proposed changes to existing classes of exempted development or introduction of new classes
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Participation in Society
NDA Submission to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2028
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NDA Submission to the Policing and Community Safety Authority on the Draft Strategy 2026-2028
This submission was made via an online survey.
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Housing and the Environment
New Internal Layout Checklist for Universal Design Homes
Press release: 11 June 2025
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Participation in Society
NDA Submission on the successor to the ‘Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025’
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Participation in Society
NDA Communications and Engagement Strategy 2025–2027
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Participation in Society
Summary Report: NDA Annual Conference 2024
Promoting the participation of disabled people in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport in Ireland – UNCRPD Article 30.
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NDA Submission to the Department of Health to inform its consultation on the development of Protection of Liberty Safeguards legislation
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NDA Submission to Coimisiún na Meán Public Service Media in Ireland
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Participation in Society
NDA Submission to the Department of Finance to inform its consultation on the development of a new Action Plan for Insurance Reform (2025-2029)
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NDA submission to the Housing Policy for Older People Policy Group, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Our Senior Policy Advisor Ruth O’Reilly attended the stakeholder engagement workshop in the Custom House on 9 May and we welcome the opportunity to make this submission.
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Justice, Equality and Addressing Violence and Abuse
NDA Submission to the Department of Justice to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2028
We thank the Department for the opportunity to contribute to the development of its new Statement of Strategy.
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Health and Social Care
NDA Submission to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2027
We thank the Department for the opportunity to contribute to the development of its new Statement of Strategy
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NDA Submission to An Coimisiún Toghcháin to inform its consultation on Electoral Postering
NDA Submission to An Coimisiún Toghcháin to inform its consultation on Electoral Postering
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Health and Social Care
NDA Submission to the Department of Health on their consultation on the Suicide Reduction Policy
The NDA recognises the value of the previous suicide reduction policy and the subsequent work undertaken to progress the agenda of suicide reduction in Ireland. Below, we provide details about both (a) the increased risk of suicide and non-suicidal self-injury in disabled people and (b) some potentially modifiable risk factors for these groups. The below information is provided in the hope it is useful in ensuring disabled people’s needs are adequately represent in the forthcoming strategy
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NDA Submission to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2028
We thank the Department for the opportunity to contribute to the development of its new Statement of Strategy
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Employment
NDA Submission to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2027
We thank the Department for the opportunity to contribute to the development of its new Statement of Strategy
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NDA submission to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the new National Housing Plan 2025-2030
We thank the Department for the opportunity to contribute to the development of the new National Housing Plan 2025-2030.
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NDA Submission to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) in response to the Green Paper on QQI’s Access, Transfer and Progression Policy
In this submission, we focus on aspects of the Green Paper related to the experiences of disabled people in education, as well as aspects related to universal design in education.
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Employment
NDA Submission to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2027
We thank the Department for the opportunity to contribute to the development of its new Statement of Strategy.
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Education
NDA Submission to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2027
We thank the Department for the opportunity to contribute to the development of its new Statement of Strategy
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Annual Financial Statements
The National Disability Authority is obliged to prepare and publish Annual Financial Statements annually.
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Accessibility
NDA Monitoring Reports on compliance with the EU Web Accessibility Directive
The National Disability Authority (NDA) is the national monitoring body for the purposes of the EU Web Accessibility Directive. We are required to produce a report annually.
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Health and Social Care
NDA Submission to the Department of Social Protection to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2027
We thank the Department for the opportunity to contribute to the development of its new Statement of Strategy.
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NDA Submission to An Coimisiún Toghcháin to inform the development of its new Education and Public Engagement Strategy
The NDA welcomes the significant efforts undertaken by An Coimisiún Toghcháin (the Electoral Commission) since its establishment to encourage and support disabled people to vote in Ireland, as well as to improve the accessibility of the voting process for all. Positive measures have included the co-production –with Inclusion Ireland – of Easy-to-Read guides on how to register to vote and information for the 2024 referendums and General Election, as well as the representation of disabled people in the Commission’s information campaigns. However, sustained, creative and scaled up efforts over the short, medium and long term will be required to meaningfully address the lower participation rates of people with disabilities in elections.
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NDA Submission to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2027
The NDA recommends that the Department include clear commitments in its new Statement of Strategy with regard to how legislation, policies, programmes, services and supports within its remit will be inclusive of and provided to members of the public with disabilities. In particular, the NDA would welcome a clear statement confirming the Government’s policy of ‘mainstreaming’ and its commitment to meeting obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
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NDA Submission to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to inform the development of their new Statement of Strategy 2025–2028
The National Disability Authority has prepared a submission in relation to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners’ Statement of Strategy 2025-2028. It is important that the Office’s Statement of Strategy makes reference to actions under relevant national strategies, including the new Programme for Government and the Autism Innovation Strategy where applicable. The forthcoming National Disability Strategy will require government agencies to undertake cross-cutting actions to promote the accessibility of public services and promote disability equality in accordance with Public Sector duty under the Human Rights and Equality Act 2014.
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Participation in Society
Disability, Diversity and Identity in Ireland’s Local and European Elections 2024
This research sought to explore the experiences of disabled candidates who identified as holding intersecting identities and who stood in the Irish local and European elections in 2024. It was conducted by researchers in University of Galway and Trinity College Dublin.
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Overview of the NDA review of the Children’s Disability Network Team service model
We have been commissioned by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to conduct a review of the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) service model. This is action 2.17 in the HSE Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026.
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Children Transforming Disability Services
Participant Information: Children’s Disability Network Team service model review
We have been commissioned by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to conduct a review of the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) service model.
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Transforming Disability Services
Literature Review on determining appropriate caseloads and workloads for Children’s Disability Network Teams
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Literature Review on the prioritisation of referrals in interdisciplinary teams
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Transforming Disability Services
Literature review on the calculation of the optimal frequency and intensity of therapeutic intervention within children’s disability services
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Employment
Final Review of Progress under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2015-2024)
The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 (CES) was a cross-Government approach to addressing the barriers the employment of disabled people. With the CES coming to an end in 2024, the NDA has produced a comprehensive final review of progress under the strategy.
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NDA Submission to Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Statement of Strategy 2024-2025
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NDA Submission to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to inform the development of the new National Strategy for Women and Girls.
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NDA Submission to the Department of Children, Equality, Disabliity, Integration and Youth on the successor to the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy.
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NDA Submission to the Joint Committee on Disability Matters on Moving towards Rights-Based Disability Impact Assessments
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NDA Submission on Statement of Strategy 2024 – 2025 for Department Enterprise, Trade and Employment
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NDA Submission to Coimisiún na Meán concerning the Draft Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs
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NDA Submission to Coimisiún na Meán concerning the Draft Audiovisual On-Demand Media Service Code & Rules
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NDA Submission to Coimisiún na Meán concerning the Draft Access Rules for Television Broadcasting Services
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Background Paper - Realising Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Ireland’s journey from wardship to supported decision-making
Providing wider context to the NDA’s ongoing research examining the process and the experiences of people leaving wardship, the NDA has prepared a background paper on Ireland’s journey from wardship to supported-decision-making viewed through the lens of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
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NDA submission to the Solas Strategy 2025-2029
The National Disability Authority (NDA) is pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to SOLAS’s new Strategy.
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Justice, Equality and Addressing Violence and Abuse
Participant information for wards of court research
We are conducting a research study on 'The journey from wardship to supported decision-making: An examination of the process and the experiences of people leaving wardship'.
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NDA Submission to An Garda Síochána concerning its Human Rights Strategy 2025–2027
The National Disability Authority (NDA) wishes to thank An Garda Síochána for the opportunity to contribute to the consultation on its Human Rights Strategy 2025–2027. The NDA is the independent statutory body with a duty to provide information and advice to the Government on policy and practice relevant to the lives of persons with disabilities, and to promote the adoption and application of a Universal Design approach across all sectors.
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NDA Submission to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority’s annual consultation on the admission policies of the legal professions
We thank the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) for the invitation to contribute to the consultation on its annual Pathways to the Professions report, mandated by Section 33 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. The comments and advice below address issues related to the remit outlined by the consultation notice, which fall within the NDA’s competencies and expertise.
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Education
NDA submission to the Higher Education Authority on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
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Participation in Society
NDA Annual Conference focuses on improving the widespread participation of disabled people in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport in Ireland
Press Release: 23 October 2024
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Strategic Plans
The National Disability Authority publishes a new Strategic Plan every three years. Our Strategic Plan 2025-2027 was launched in October 2024.
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Participation in Society
NDA Annual Conference 2024
The 2024 NDA Conference focused on ‘Promoting the participation of disabled people in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport in Ireland – UNCRPD Article 30.'
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Children
Factors that Lead to Development of Behaviours that Challenge and Prevention and Management of Crisis Situations among Children and Young Adults (CYA) with Disability
The findings from this review will support our work on Action 83 of the Autism Innovation Strategy 2024.
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Awareness Raising and Attitudes
Minister of State Anne Rabbitte T.D. joins Galway Primary School pupils to launch annual Someone Like Me Art Competition
Annual Someone Like Me Art Competition Launch
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Effective Practice documents related to deinstitutionalisation
The transition of persons with disabilities living in congregated settings to smaller homes in the community is ongoing as part of the Time to Move on from Congregated Settings policy.
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Annual Reports
The National Disability Authority is obliged to prepare and publish Annual Reports annually.
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Accessibility
Frequently Asked Questions: European Disability Card
The European Disability Card will serve as proof of ‘disability status’ or of entitlement to specific services based on a disability across all EU countries.
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NDA Submission to the Consultation Paper on the Central Bank’s Consumer Protection Code
We thank the Central Bank for the opportunity to make a submission after previously making a submission to the Discussion Paper in April 2023.
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NDA Submission to the Department of Justice on draft Regulations concerning legal aid costs in discharge applications under Part 6 of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (as amended)
The NDA welcomes the opportunity to input on the development by the Department of Justice of draft 'Regulations concerning legal aid costs in discharge applications under Part 6 of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (as amended).'
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Social Protection
NDA submission on Green Paper on Welfare Reform in Ireland (April 2024)
Within this submission the NDA advise significant changes to the draft proposals contained in the Green Paper.
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Consultation on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Strategy Statement 2025-2027
NDA's contribution to IHREC's Strategy Statement 2025-2027.