The activities of local government and entities such as District Health Boards and tertiary education institutions have significant impact on the lives of disabled people. The Disability Strategy notes that it is important that territorial authorities and other public bodies support and assist with implementing the Disability Strategy, and that ways of making this happen are discussed with them.

While there is currently no requirement for these organisations to produce implementation work plans and report on the Disability Strategy’s implementation, many are taking positive steps towards implementation. For example, many are appointing staff in disability liaison roles, establishing disability reference groups and developing disability action plans, and some local councils are making their public transportation systems more accessible - which includes talking to disabled people about what they need, and considering accessibility from the beginning of development projects.

During this review, five local authorities, two District Health Boards and two tertiary education institutions were interviewed.

The inclusion of these interviews increases understanding of the range of Disability Strategy related activities occurring outside of central government. The activities reported in the interviews are diverse, but not necessarily representative of the range of work carried out across all local authorities, District Health Boards or tertiary education institutions. Further research is necessary to gain an increased understanding of how Disability Strategy related activities outside of central government are progressing, and the impacts these may have on the lives of disabled people.

Understanding context of disability issues

There is evidence that wider agencies are gaining an in-depth understanding of disability issues as shown in the following examples:

• All five local governments interviewed had worked to gain greater understanding of disability issues as part of the Long-Term Council Community Planning (LTCCP) process.
• The two District Health Boards who participated in interviews were in the process of developing disability related strategies.
• The two tertiary education institutions interviewed had developed disability strategies, action plans and worked with their disabled students using a voluntary code of practice.

Partnership with disabled people in leading, developing and delivering policy and services

Across the wider agencies there was evidence that all worked with disability advisory groups in developing policies, programmes and services.

Barriers to participation and independence for disabled clients and employees reduced

Little evidence emerged from the interviews of barriers being reduced. Anecdotally, there is evidence of movement in this area, but efforts by Litmus to gather information on specific activities produced examples only from tertiary education institutions. These related to staff training and inclusion of disability related skills in professional development. Further research is required to gain a greater understanding of how local government and District Health Boards are removing barriers.

Opportunities for disabled people maximised

From the limited interviews conducted, little evidence emerged of opportunities being maximised for disabled people.

Scorecard

In describing wider implementation activities, the work of public entities outside of central government relate primarily to increasing understanding, and involving disabled people. There was evidence of barriers being reduced within tertiary education institutions, but little sense of opportunities being maximised.