The Next Steps community of practice gathers policy and research that is relevant to the change agenda being embraced by the particpants of the community and to individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. 

Each of the organisations participating in Next Steps has a case study to bring forward initiatives that move towards individualised supports. To assist our members in ensuring that these case studies take account of key national policy documents, the Next Steps Project has developed one-page summary documents that identify the goals of four of the key policy documents.

Summaries of the goals of key policy documents

• Summary of the goals of the Disability Policy Review.

• Summary of the goals of the Time to Move On From Congregated Settings report.

• Summary of the goals of the New Directions review of Adult Day Services.

• Summary of the goals of the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011-2016.

Click on the links below to access the full text of key policy documents:

Key Policy Documents from Ireland: 

• Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 (Department of Justice)
• Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act (2015) 
• National Federation of Voluntary Bodies (2009):Vision Statement for Intellectual Disability in Ireland for the 21st Century
• Value for Money and Policy Review. Full report of the Value for Money and Policy Review.  A Summary of key proposals from the Review of Disability Policy was published in December 2010. Report of the Disability Policy Review (Department of Health, October 2011).
• New Directions Review of HSE Day Services and Implementation Plan 2012 - 2016 (HSE, February 2012)
• Time to Move on From Congregated Settings (HSE, June 2011)
• National Housing Strategy for People with Disabilities 2011-2016 (Department of Environment, October 2011)
• National Review of Autism Services  (HSE, February 2012)
• Respite/Residential Care with Host Families in Community Settings (HSE, February 2012)
• National Disability Act (2005)
• National Disability Strategy 2004 (& Sectoral Plans for 6 Govt Departments)
• Social Partnership Agreement: Towards 2016
• Public Service Agreement (Croke Park 2010)
• Quality and Fairness (Health Strategy, 2006)
• Vision for Change (2006)
• Guide to the Equal Status Acts (2000-2008)
• Roll-out of the National Advocacy Service (2011)
• White Paper on a Framework for supporting Voluntary Activity (2000)
• Capacity legislation (due in 2012)
• HIQA National Quality Standards: Residential Services for People with Disabilities (www.hiqa.ie)
• Children First (2011) (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)
• NDA advisory document to the VFM & Policy Review (2010)
• A Strategy for Equality (1996)
• Needs and Abilities (1990)
• Employment law & policy on Citizen's Information website 

International Policy Documents

• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
• Easy-to-read UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• European Disability Strategy 2010-2020