Disability

The Disability Discrimination Act places duties on public authorities, when carrying out their functions, to have due regard to:

promote positive attitudes towards disabled people
encourage participation by disabled people in public life.

These are collectively referred to as 'the disability duties'.

Disability Action Plan

The Council's Disability Action Plan explains how we can fulfil the disability duties. Download the plan below. You can request an alternative format, including braille and minority languages, by contacting us on 0300 013 3333.

Disability Action Plan 2020-25 (PDF) [411KB](opens new window)

Our Disability Action Plan ensures that we fulfil our statutory obligations in compliance with Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995) (as amended by Article 5 of the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006).

It outlines the actions and processes the council will undertake to ensure that issues facing people with disabilities or their carers, are effectively mainstreamed within Council decision making processes and service delivery.

The Disability Action Plan is monitored annually and a report submitted to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland each August.

Our Services

SignVideo for customers who use BSL

SignVideo provides our Deaf or Hard of Hearing customers who use British Sign Language (BSL) instant access to a SignVideo online BSL interpreter.

In the following four Council venues we connect you to a fully qualified SignVideo interpreter using an iPad, so you can see them on the screen. They will assist you to communicate with our staff. If you need any help, a member of our reception team will be on hand. Please note this service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm:

Ards and North Down Borough Council, City Hall, The Castle, Bangor BT20 4BT
Ards and North Down Borough Council, 2 Church Street, Newtownards BT23 4AP
Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex, 1 Dairy Hall Lane, Newtownards BT23 4DB
Ards Visitor Information Centre, 31 Regent Street, Newtownards BT23 4AD

SignVideo from your own device

This service is free, can be used from your own home and a log in is not required. It's simple, fast and secure. Council officers can be contacted between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. When you click on the link below, you will connect to a SignVideo interpreter who will relay the call to Ards & North Down Borough Council.

How does it work?

To contact the SignVideo Interpretation Service via a computer, you'll need video capability and broadband access. Then follow these steps:

Click on SignVideo logo to make a call from the browser.
Connect to a SignVideo interpreter and they will confirm you are contacting Ards & North Down Borough Council.
You will then be connected to a registered BSL interpreter, who will start the conversation with you in BSL (British Sign Language).

Please note that SignVideo offer this service to MacBooks and PCs running Windows.

Check your operating system requirements

Before using SignVideo BSL Live, please check you meet these basic requirements as a minimum. You'll need to have a computer or device with one of the following operating systems:

iOS devices: 11 or above
Android devices: 4.4 or above
PC devices

Your computer or device will need to have one of the following browsers:

PC: Chrome and Firefox
macOS: Chrome (Safari 11 supported)
a webcam
bandwidth of at least 512kbps upload and download.

For SignVideo troubleshooting and technical help, please contact help@signvideo.co.uk or call 020 3388 0771.

Connect to a SignVideo interpreter here:

AccessAble - the new name for Disabled Go

We work with AccessAble to provide information on access to buildings/ venues in our area. Visit the website for more information.

For more information please visit: Ards and North Down | AccessAble

Changing Places

There are currently Changing Places in the following Council facilities:

Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex
Bangor Aurora Aquatics and Leisure Complex (two facilities available)
Comber Leisure Centre
Groomsport Harbour Public Toilets

For more information about Changing Places please visit: Changing Places website

Groomsport Inclusive Beach

As part of Council's Disability Action Plan, we are working with The Mae Murray Foundation to make Groomsport an Inclusive Beach.

This means there will be all-terrain wheelchairs, walkers and matting available to members to access the beach every weekend over the summer, encouraging and enabling families to experience beach facilities together.

The beach equipment is available for booking on Saturday and Sundays and must be booked 3 days in advance. Beach equipment can be borrowed by anyone - with a mobility, sensory or other need - who will benefit from using it. It is essential to register as a member of Mae Murray Foundation (free of charge), Community Groups can also become an Affiliate Member of the Mae Murray Foundation.

To become a member visit: Become a Member : Mae Murray Foundation

To find out more about inclusive beaches and to book visit: Iinclusive Beaches : Mae Murray Foundation

Buddycard Scheme

The Council wants to help people with a disability to attend events and use Council sport and leisure facilities. The Buddycard allows an accompanying helper to get in free. Any child or adult with a disability who requires assistance can apply for a Buddycard.

Application forms can be downloaded below or picked up from the following places:

North Down Museum, Ards Arts Centre or the Visitor Information Centres in Bangor or Newtownards
Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex, Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex, Bangor Sportsplex, Comber Leisure Centre, Londonderry Park Pavilion, Portaferry Sports Centre and Queens Leisure Complex, Holywood
Reception at the City Hall, Bangor or Church Street, Newtownards
By phoning the Council and requesting for a form to be posted out: please telephone 0300 013 3333

** Application forms to follow**