New process for Dublin City Council to consult with Disabled Persons Organisations
Published on 3rd December 2023
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste has today officially launched Dublin City Council’s new process for consultation with Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs).
Under the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, these organisations have special rights to consultation on decisions which might affect their lives.
Representatives from the Irish Deaf Society, Voice of Vision Impairment and AsIAm attended today’s launch.
Dublin City Council has been working with a service design company to design the new process, which aims to prioritise DPOs through supportive and interactive engagement through all stages from project inception to post project feedback.
Once developed, the process was then tested on pilot projects including the South Anne Street and Cathal Brugha Street public realm improvement project to ensure its sustainability. The projects were reviewed to capture and implement lessons learned.
This project was conducted using the principles of co-design, and techniques of Service Design. A forum was created where three key stakeholder groups – Disabled Persons Organisations, Elected Councillors, and DCC staff, could express their needs and ambitions for the process.
Jill McGovern, Acting Senior Executive Architect with the Council’s Public Realm design team said, “Our goal is to design streets and spaces that support safe independent navigation by all. The team hope that this process will transform the way designers across DCC approach consultation, and hope that this will result in considered design solutions that will improve accessibility and individual experience throughout the city.”
Today’s launch was held to coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Since its proclamation in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities has been celebrated annually on 3rd December around the world.
Earlier this month the Lord Mayor announced that he would be launching a new 3 year plan in January 2024 for Dublin to become the first autism-friendly capital city in the world.
He also unveiled the first of Dublin City Council’s new Communication Boards which will be introduced in all park playgrounds in the city area over the coming months. These boards will benefit children or adults who are either pre-verbal or non-verbal and/or have communication difficulties.
***Attached please see photographs of the Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste with representatives from the Irish Deaf Society, Voice of Vision Impairment and AsIAm at the launch of Dublin City Council’s new process for consultation with Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) at the Mansion House. Credit Collins Photography***
ENDS