NDA's Strategic Priorities and Objectives 2010 - 2012

Strategic Priority 1 - To provide support and evidence-based advice to government departments and public bodies by:

  • supporting the effective implementation of the National Disability Strategy
  • monitoring the impact of the National Disability Strategy

The National Disability Strategy is a whole-of-Government approach towards improving services to people with disabilities, and removing barriers to their inclusion in the mainstream of Irish life. A key element of the NDA's Strategic Plan 2007-2009 was support to Government and public bodies to implement the National Disability Strategy. In the current period, the NDA will continue to focus on supporting the delivery of the National Disability Strategy, and on how to deliver in a practical way on these commitments during a period of recession and of exceptional pressures on the public finances.

This support is delivered through developing evidence-based advice and guidelines; working in partnership with individual agencies or groups of agencies; membership of working groups on progressing individual elements of the Strategy; membership of the individual advisory committees in each of the six Sectoral Plan Departments, and of the National Disability Strategy Stakeholders Monitoring Group. The NDA also provides the secretariat to the Disability Stakeholders Group. Because the work of supporting individual departments and sectors, and monitoring delivery of the National Disability Strategy is interwoven, NDA's Strategic Plan has combined these two elements in a single strategic priority.

1.1 The NDA will advise on and support the implementation of the National Disability Strategy and undertake research to underpin this work, including:

  • implementation of the Disability Act 2005
  • implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act 2004
  • review of the operation of the Disability Act 2005
  • implementation of the Sectoral Plans of
    • Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
    • Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
    • Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
    • Department of Health and Children
    • Department of Social and Family Affairs
    • Department of Transport
  • resources to support the National Disability Strategy
  • cross-functional issues arising from the National Disability Strategy

Key Performance Indicators

  • Effective engagement with government departments and public bodies around implementation of the National Disability Strategy
  • Advice to the Office for Disability and Mental Health, including research, policy analysis and consultation to inform that advice
  • Effective engagement with disability stakeholders and people with disabilities to inform NDA's advice and guidance
  • Effective engagement with the social partners around delivery of the National Disability Strategy, particularly in the area of employment
  • Timely response to requests from government departments and relevant agencies for advice, guidelines or other supports to implement the National Disability Strategy
  • Public consultation and advice delivered on the review of the operation of the Disability Act 2005

1.2 The NDA will produce and promote appropriate Code(s) of Practice, technical guidance and other supports to enable improvements in access to public services, and will monitor compliance with Code(s) of Practice and provide guidance on issues arising.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Guidance and support activities on Code(s) of Practice, including an annual conference for Access Officers
  • Implementation of Code(s) of Practice under Part 3 of the Disability Act 2005 monitored on a two-yearly cycle and results of the monitoring exercise disseminated and issues arising followed up

1.3 The NDA will advise in partnership with other bodies on standards for programmes and services for people with disabilities.

Key Performance Indicator

  • Engagement with relevant partners such as the Health Information and Quality Authority, the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the Mental Health Commission to promote quality standards for services

1.4 NDA will advise on the universal design approach to deliver on appropriate elements of the National Disability Strategy.

Key Performance Indicator

  • NDA advice incorporates Universal Design approaches

1.5 The NDA will monitor the implementation and impact of the National Disability Strategy.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Written reports on implementation issues prepared in advance of each twice-yearly meeting of the National Disability Strategy Stakeholder Monitoring Group
  • Partnership with the Central Statistics Office to develop consistent statistical information for monitoring the impact of the National Disability Strategy
  • Report delivered on impact of the National Disability Strategy on the lives of people with disabilities

1.6 The NDA will continue to monitor compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 and promote good practice in employment of people with disabilities and will develop Code(s) of Practice in this area if requested.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Annual statutory reports on Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 delivered
  • Guidance to public bodies on good practice in employment of people with disabilities, including an annual good practice conference

Strategic Priority 2 - To provide evidence-based policy advice to promote independence and the quality of daily life for people with disabilities across the lifecycle

The NDA's mandate on advice, research and standards addresses the inclusion of people with disabilities in the economic, social and cultural life of the community. Many of the broad suite of issues that this encompasses are now coming to the fore with work on a new European Disability Strategy underway at EU level; the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities emphasising independent living in the community; and the issues emerging from the HSE's reviews of adult day services and of congregated settings. The NDA will advise across an important range of topics relevant to supporting and sustaining independence and promoting the quality of daily life, informed by the lifecycle perspective which underpins Towards 2016.

2.1 The NDA will provide evidence-based policy advice to promote community and independent living for people with disabilities.

Key Performance Indicators

  • A series of research papers and policy advice to promote independent living
  • Advice on universal design of key everyday products relevant to quality of daily life

2.2 The NDA will work in partnership with relevant agencies on issues of importance to children and young people with disabilities.

Key Performance Indicator

  • Research/policy papers and policy advice on issues for children and young people with disabilities

2.3 The NDA will develop guidelines to support family life of people with disabilities.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Guidance to the HSE and maternity services on support for people with disabilities during pregnancy and early motherhood
  • Guidance for service providers on supports to parents who have disabilities
  • Analysis and policy advice on issues relating to informal and family care

2.4 The NDA will work in partnership with relevant agencies to advise on issues around ageing and disability.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Advice on issues at interface of ageing and disability
  • Development of guidance on lifetime adaptable housing

2.5 The NDA will undertake and/or promote research to identify levels of participation of people with disabilities in social, cultural and sporting activities, and in civic life, and will provide advice on policy and practice to overcome the barriers to participation in these areas.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Research conducted on aspects of social, sporting or cultural participation
  • Analysis of National Disability Survey results on social participation
  • Guidance offered to sporting bodies, and to other social, civic and community organisations, on supporting participation of people with disabilities
  • Guidance developed for electoral authorities on supporting participation of people with disabilities

2.6 The NDA will provide advice on the implementation of mental capacity legislation and as appropriate on the development of guidance and Code(s) of Practice in this area.

Key Performance Indicators

  • advice on implementation issues including Code(s) of Practice under the mental capacity legislation

2.7 The NDA will raise awareness and promote positive attitudes to disability

Key Performance Indicators

  • Disability awareness materials developed and embedded in the public service
  • Partnership with other bodies on appropriate questions on disability in surveys of public attitudes

2.8 The NDA will support research on the experience of people with disabilities of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse and neglect, to guide policy advice in this area.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Analysis of experiences of people with disabilities who have experienced abuse
  • Policy advice and guidance given on issues relating to abuse

2.9 Advice on the issues facing people with disabilities within the criminal justice system.

Key Performance Indicator

  • Review and synthesise research on experiences of people with disabilities in the criminal justice system

2.10 The NDA will partner with the Central Statistics Office on consistent statistical information to identify the quality of life of people with disabilities and issues arising.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Advice on consistent disability indicators to be incorporated in official datasets
  • Analyses of data from the National Disability Survey
  • Advice to relevant government departments and public bodies on the implications for policy and practice from analysis of available data

Strategic Priority 3 - To promote inclusion through accessibility and universal design

The NDA will continue to work to promote accessibility of public services, facilities and information and to advance the achievement of excellence in universal design of the environment - the design of environments, products, services and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) so they can be readily used, accessed and understood, without the need for further modification, by people of any age, size, ability or disability.

The NDA's Centre for Excellence in Universal Design will work with the relevant national and international bodies and stakeholders with a role in planning and designing the environment, to advance a Universal Design approach. The Centre will also work with educational and professional bodies to ensure Universal Design is built into the training, education and examinations for all the relevant professions and job roles.

3.1 The NDA will promote the accessibility of specific services to people with disabilities through development of guidance and advice.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Guidance and related supports developed to support accessibility
  • Information given which raises awareness of the difficulties encountered by people with disabilities in the environment

3.2 The NDA will promote standards of excellence and recognise achievement of accessibility and Universal Design through award schemes.

Key Performance Indicator

  • The strategic impact of the NDA's own award and of any other award schemes in which the NDA participates

3.3 The NDA will engage in promotion and awareness-raising of Universal Design as defined in the Disability Act 2005.

Key Performance Indicator

  • The NDA will establish or support Universal Design networks or champions involving a mix of skills to work at strategic and implementation levels to promote Universal Design

3.4 The NDA will gather information and evidence to demonstrate in a concrete manner how to achieve Universal Design.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Data on size diversity (anthropometrics) in Ireland
  • The NDA will identify and establish Irish examples of excellence in Universal Design
  • Identify key barriers in relation to different elements - age, size, disability and ability

3.5 The NDA will promote and develop Universal Design curricula in continuous professional development and academic courses in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Development of framework and strategy for engagement around inclusion of Universal Design in relevant curricula
  • Curricula developed on Universal Design for undergraduate, Master's and continuous professional development in engineering, architecture and ICT
  • Engagement with national bodies on the inclusion of Universal Design within recognised certificate examinations

3.6 The NDA will promote and develop Universal Design standards, guidelines and policies which promote people's quality of life in collaboration with national and international bodies.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Promotion and dissemination of Building for Everyone
  • Development of guidance on Lifetime Homes
  • Strategic collaboration with National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) on standards that promote quality of life
  • Provide practical and supportive information to bodies in the field of ICT in relation to assistive technology

Strategic Priority 4 - To build the NDA's capacity to deliver on its strategic goals

To deliver on this Strategic Plan in a rapidly-changing environment will require an organisation which is flexible, adaptable and responsive, and which deploys its resources of staff and finance to greatest effect. The NDA will continue to rigorously examine established working methods to maximise effectiveness. The NDA's Partnership Committee is an important resource supporting the management of change. This strategic priority sets out how NDA's staff will be developed and supported to deliver on the NDA's strategic objectives through effective systems and processes, formal training and staff development. Achievement in full of this Strategic Plan will depend on the level of staff and other resources available to the NDA over the period of the plan. Working effectively with other agencies to maximise what can be achieved jointly will be a critical feature of success. Effective communication, including the NDA's website, is key to delivering the NDA's advice where it is required.

4.1 The NDA will deliver training and development to staff which facilitates responsiveness and flexibility to ensure effective delivery of the strategic priorities.

Key Performance Indicator

  • The NDA will develop and implement an annual training and development plan

4.2 The NDA will embed, streamline and deploy financial and human resources, information and communications technology and project management systems to maximise their effectiveness.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Systems reviewed and adapted
  • A Human Resources Strategy developed and implemented

4.3 The NDA will ensure organisational effectiveness and efficiencies particularly in relation to available resources (human and financial), structures, work practices, and value for money initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Organisational needs reviewed and resources deployed to support the needs identified
  • Cost saving initiatives identified, analysed and implemented

4.4 The NDA will foster and develop partnerships, teamwork and collaboration to best effect.

Key Performance Indicators

  • The NDA's Partnership Committee operating effectively
  • Effective teamwork across the organisation

4.5 The NDA is committed to organisational excellence and will seek independent accreditation.

Key Performance Indicator

  • Achievement of a recognised award by 2012

4.6 The NDA will deliver on its statutory obligations as a public body as set out in the Disability Act 2005 and other legislation, as appropriate, in addition to adhering to best practice governance and financial accountability and work to be a best practice employer of people with disabilities.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Requirements under the Disability Act (Parts 3 and 5) 2005 and other legislation fulfilled, and an action plan developed for improvements as appropriate
  • Adherence to governance and financial accountability, reviewed and updated in line with requirements as necessary

4.7 The NDA will develop, implement and deploy an internal and external communications framework, including our website, to promote and disseminate the work of the NDA.

Key Performance Indicators

  • A customer action plan developed for the corresponding period of the plan
  • Communications framework developed and implemented
  • Regular communication and information briefings to a range of identified stakeholders across government departments and agencies
  • Enhanced, accessible and user-friendly website

4.8 The NDA will adapt its library service to best serve the needs of the organisation.

Key Performance Indicator

  • Development of library service to support implementation of the NDA's Strategic Plan

4.9 The NDA will develop and regularly monitor key measures of organisational performance.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Organisational performance measured and reviewed
  • Project management system identifies and tracks outputs

Measuring impact

Through this Strategic Plan, the NDA will provide advice that will inform policies and practices which have real and meaningful impact on the lives of people with disabilities. The NDA also wants to support improvements in how environments, products and services are designed. The NDA will monitor the success of this Strategic Plan in a number of ways, through:

  • Regular review of the achievement of the key performance indicators outlined under each strategic priority
  • Regular engagement with our stakeholders including, importantly, people with disabilities and their representative groups
  • Annual work planning and review process