Wicklow County Council Launch Disability And Inclusion Strategy

Wicklow’s first ever Disability and Inclusion Strategy has been launched.

Wicklow County Council’s Disability and Inclusion Steering Committee (DISC) has been working towards this launch since the committee was established in 2020.

The Strategy outlines the various ways that Wicklow County Council and its partners intend to make the services they provide equitable and accessible to all. It aims to ensure that persons with a disability have an equal opportunity to pursue their ambitions, realise their potential and live fulfilling lives.

It also seeks to build on the progress made by Wicklow County Council and many other partner agencies and individuals.

Public consultations took place around the county and online to help inform the drafting of the Strategy.   A questionnaire was also posted on Wicklow County Council’s website to allow for public contributions.

These consultations identified three Action Areas to address the issues raised throughout the consultation process:

1. Participation, Communication and Rights

2. Community Participation, Accessibility & Universal Design

3. Employment, Housing and Recreation.

Individual actions are aligned to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person’s with Disabilities throughout the document.

Wicklow County Council, in partnership with the Disability Inclusion Steering Committee (DISC), will undertake a leadership role to progress actions in the strategy alongside staff from across every department in the local authority.

Welcoming the Strategy, the Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, said: "Wicklow County Council is proud to be a leader in making the services we provide accessible to all. Too often disabled people can be excluded from doing the everyday things, we take for granted. This Strategy offers a clear plan of action for ensuring everyone is included and has equal access to our services.”  

Cllr Miriam Murphy, who is a founding member of DISC, said: "The reason I became a Councillor is because I felt that people were making decisions about where I went, what I wanted to do, where to live, where to go to the pub, and everything else, and these people didn't know me. I felt I had to be at the table to help with these decisions.” 

As well as launching the strategy, Cllr Murphy said she hoped the event would help promote DISC’s work across the county and encourage more disabled people to get involved.

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the strategy or who would like to find out more about DISC, can contact disability@wicklowcoco.ie.