Nothing About Us Without Us!
Nothing About Us Without Us! Disabled People's Human Rights in NI: An opportunity to tell the United Nations your view on the Rights of Disabled People in NI.
The United Kingdom, including the NI Executive, have agreed to 'protect and promote' the human rights of disabled people by signing up to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. It also agreed to take part in a review every 4 years so that the United Nations can check whether disabled people's human rights are being upheld. This includes ensuring that the NI Executive, Health Trusts, public bodies including education providers and councils uphold the rights of people with disabilities.
We would like to hear your views as a d/Deaf and or disabled person, a carer or supporter, or a as representative from Disabled People's Organisatioon to inform a report which Disability Action are producing on behalf of the Equality Commission NI.
This is your chance to tell the United Nations what's happening to your rights and what needs to happen next.
We want you to take part so that the United Nations hears about what life is really like for d/deaf and disabled people.
We want you to take part so that the United Nations hears about what life is really like for disabled people in NI today.
The more d/Deaf and disabled people who contribute then the more powerful our collective voice will be.
The survey closing date extended until Thursday 23 December 2021.
Information about this survey
This survey should be completed by d/Deaf and disabled people, their supporters and carers, and representatives of Disabled People's Organisations.
The survey asks what life is like for disabled people in NI today. It looks at things like access to healthcare and education, accessibility and independent living. We have not asked questions about every area of life but if there is an issue we haven't covered that you would like to tell us about you can do so at the end of the survey.
You don't need to answer all the questions, just the ones that are important to you.
You can tell us about your own experiences, about other people's experiences or about reports or things you have read.
This survey is anonymous. You don't need to tell us your name.
You should not give any personal information about yourself or anyone else. This includes things like people's names or where they live. If you do include this information, we will not use it and it will be deleted.
We might use the words you write in your answers when we report the results of this survey. But we won't share anything that means you could be recognised.
If you have any questions regarding this survey please contact:
Nuala Toman, Head of Policy at Disability Action
Email: nualatoman@disabilityaction.org
1. Do you consider yourself any of the following? (please select all that apply) *
A disabled person
A person with a long-term health condition
A disabled person or person with a long-term health condition who also cares for/supports a disabled person/person with a long-term health condition
A non-disabled person who cares for/support a disabled person/person with a long-term health condition
A representative from a Disabled Person's Organisation
A non-disabled person
Something else (please say what)
Awareness of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty which sets out the human rights of d/Deaf and disabled people. It contains the measures which the NI Executive, Health Trusts, public bodies including education providers and councils uphold the rights of people with disabilities.
2. Are you aware of the human rights of d/Deaf and disabled people that are set out in the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the measures which the UK Government, NI Executive, Health Trusts, public bodies including education providers and councils uphold the rights of people with disabilities? (select one option)
3. What would you like to tell the United Nations about the level awareness of the Convention of the Rights of Disabled People and the measures which the UK Government, NI Executive, Health Trusts, public bodies including education providers and councils uphold the rights of people with disabilities? (Write your answer below)
Attitudes Towards Disabled People
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried that there are negative attitudes, stereotypes and discrimination against disabled people, especially people with learning disabilities and people with mental health conditions.
4. Thinking about disabled people's lives today, do you think there is still negative attitudes and discrimination towards disabled people in NI? (select one option) *
5. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's experiences of negative attitudes and discrimination in NI today? (Write your answer below)
Legal Protection Against Discrimination
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried that there were worried about the level of protection against discrimination for disabled people in NI.
6. Thinking about legal protection against discrimination for disabled people in NI. Do you feel disabled people are adequately protected against discrimination in NI? (select one option) *
7. What would you like to tell the United Nations about the level of protection against discrimination for disabled people in NI? (Write your answer below)
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried that judges, the police and other people working in the justice sector don't know enough about the human rights of disabled people. They also said disabled people can find it difficult to access justice because there is not enough support or money.
8. Do you think disabled people still find it hard to get help and support when they have a legal problem? (select one option) *
9. Do you think that there is enough support including financial report for disabled people when they are accessing justice in NI? (select one option) *
10. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's experiences of getting help with legal problems in NI today? (Write your answer below)
Living Independently and Being Included In The Community
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried that disabled people are not able to fully enjoy their right to live independently. Living independently means being able to live the life you want, to make your own decisions and to have the support you need to do this. Support includes things like social care support.
The United Nations said disabled people are not given enough support to be able to live independently and be included in the community. They said the government did not give enough money to make sure disabled people have what they need.
11. Thinking about disabled people's lives today, do you think disabled people are given the support they need to live independently? (select one option) *
12. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's experiences of living independently in NI today? (Write your answer below)
13. From your experience are there any particular barriers to independent living in NI today? (Write your answer below)
Accessible Places and Spaces
In 2017, the United Nations said that the rules about ensuring accessibility for disabled people are not good enough and the rules are not always followed. This includes things like buildings and housing, information and transport.
14. Thinking about disabled people's lives today, do you think things like buildings, housing, transport and information are accessible for disabled people? (select one option) *
15. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's experiences of using transport, accessing buildings and finding information in NI today? (Write your answer below)
In 2017, the United Nations said it was concerned about the impact on disabled people when there is an emergency situation. This includes things like the COVID-19 pandemic or responding to the impacts of climate change like flooding. The United Nations was concerned that disabled people are not involved in planning for emergencies and that there is not a policy to reduce the risk of disasters happening.
The United Nations said this before the COVID-19 pandemic which started in 2020.
16. Thinking about disabled people's experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you think that there was enough planning in place to protect disabled people? (select one option) *
17. Thinking about disabled people's experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you think that there were opportunities provided to ensure that disabled people were involved in the planning process in response to COVID-19? (select one option) *
18. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic? (Write your answer below)
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried that there are still mental health and capacity laws that mean disabled people's rights to make their own decisions can be taken away. This can include making people get treatment which they do not agree with to or making them stay in hospital. People can also still have guardians who make decisions about where the person lives and what they spend their money on.
The United Nations said there should be supported decision-making instead. This means that people should be given support to make their own decisions.
19. Thinking about disabled people's lives today, do you think disabled people's right to make their own decisions is protected? (select one option) *
20. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's experiences of having their rights to make their own decisions taken away in NI today? (Write your answer below)
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried that disabled children and adults are not getting the things they need to take part in education. It was also worried that some disabled children still have to go to special schools where they are separated from other children.
21. Thinking about disabled people's lives today, do you think disabled people and children are able to fully take part in education? (select one option) *
22. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's experiences of education in NI today? (Write your answer below)
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried that many disabled people still don't have jobs, and that when disabled people are in work they are often paid less than non-disabled people. The United Nations said there are not enough reasonable adjustments made for disabled people so that they can work.
23. Thinking about disabled people's lives today, do you think disabled people are still having a difficult time finding and keeping a job? (select one option) *
24. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's experiences of getting and keeping a job in NI today? (Write your answer below)
Social Security Benefits and Living Conditions
In 2017, the United Nations said disabled people and their families have been severely impacted by cuts to social security benefits over the past 10 years. Many disabled people don't have enough money to pay for the things they need and some people have to use food banks.
25. Thinking about disabled people's lives today, do you think disabled people have enough money to have a decent life? (select one option) *
26. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's benefits and living conditions in NI today? (Write your answer below)
Disabled Women
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried that the rights of disabled women and girls had not been given enough attention. They said we don't know enough about the problems disabled women have.
27. Thinking about how life is today for disabled women, do you think the rights of disabled women and girls are given enough attention? (select one option) *
28. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled women's lives/experiences in NI today? (Write your answer below)
Disabled Children
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried about things like child poverty in families with disabled children and bullying of disabled children in schools.
29. Thinking about how life is for disabled children today, do you think disabled children's rights are protected? (select one option) *
30. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled children's lives/experiences in NI today? (Write your answer below)
Voting and Politics
In 2017, the United Nations said it was worried that disabled people don't have the support they need to be able to vote in elections and take part in politics. Only a few disabled people become elected representatives.
31. Thinking about disabled people's lives today, do you think disabled people still have problems voting in elections and taking part in politics? (select one option) *
32. What would you like to tell the United Nations about disabled people's experiences of voting and taking part in politics in NI today? (Write your answer below)
33. If there is anything that we haven't covered that you would like to tell us about, please write it below.
34. If you would like to provide links to any reports or information that you think might be useful for the United Nations to hear about, you can put them here.
Some Equality Monitoring Questions
The following questions ask for some information about you. By knowing a bit more about who has responded to this survey, we can understand if different groups of disabled people are having particular problems.
For example, lots of disabled women might tell us they are having problems getting access to the health care they need. Disabled people from rural areas might tell us there is no accessible public transport in their area.
You don't have to answer these questions. There is a 'prefer not to answer' option. These questions are anonymous.
35. What is your gender? (select one option) *
Other (please specify below)
If you replied Other please specify in this box.
36. Is your gender different from the gender you were assigned at birth? (select one option) *
37. Please indicate which of the following age groups you fall into: (select one option) *
38. What best describes your sexual orientation? (select one option) *
39. What best describes your ethnicity? (select one option) *
White or White UK (including Scottish / English / Irish / Welsh / European)
Asian or UK Asian (including Scottish / English / Irish / Welsh / European)
Black / African Caribbean or Black UK (including Scottish / English / Irish / Welsh / European)
Mixed ethnic background
40. What best describes your religious identity? (select one option) *
Non-religious / secular
41. What kind of area do you live in? (select one option) *
A city
A large town
A small town
A village
On an island
42. Do you consider yourself to be living on a low income?
For a single person with no children this would be getting £214 or less per week (£11,200 per year).
For a couple with no children this would be £320 or less per week (£16,700 per year).
For a single person with children this would be £384 or less per week (£20,000 per year).
For a couple with children this would be £489 or less per week (£25,500).
(select one option) *
Thank you for taking part in this survey.