NI Assembly All Party Group on Learning Disability

The NI Assembly All Party Group on Learning Disability (APGLD) was originally formed in 2009 and is a cross-political group of MLAs who come together to promote issues facing people with a learning disability and their families/ carers. 

The main aims are to influence policy, legislation and service development within Northern Ireland to actively improve the lives of individuals with a learning disability and their families/carers. 

Objectives

The APGLD's main objectives are: 

• To ensure that learning disability issues remain a priority of the NI Assembly and the NI Executive. 
• To facilitate cross-party discussion and co-operation on matters that affect people with a learning disability and their families in NI.
• To bring together MLAs and the learning disability sector to facilitate co-ordination on learning disability issues inside the Assembly.
• To promote and support the rights of people with a learning disability within legislation, policy and service provision so that they and their families enjoy equal lives. 

How does it work? 

As the All Party Group is a function of the NI Assembly, it must comply with the set structures of the Standards and Privileges Committee, also the All Party Group will:

• Convene a minimum of meetings 4 times a year, encouraging input from the learning disability sector to inform the Group’s priorities. 
• Encourage and support members to contribute to the proceedings of the Assembly on learning disability issues. 
• Provide briefings on key learning disability issues for members. 
• Comply with the set structures of the Standards and Privileges Committee.