Disability Action

What Disability Action does

Disability Action Northern Ireland is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee founded in 1982 and headquartered at Portside Business Park, 189 Airport Road West, Belfast. The organization is a pan-disability advocacy and direct-service body serving deaf and disabled people across Northern Ireland, a market where approximately one in four people (per 2021 Census data) live with a disability. Its service portfolio is structured around four pillars: an accredited Driving Mobility Centre providing adapted driving lessons (£40/hour) and assessments on behalf of the Driver Vehicle Agency (DVA) and Motability; an Independent Advocacy Programme supporting adults aged 18-64 with physical, sensory disabilities, brain injury and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder, including dedicated advocates in the Western Health & Social Care Trust area; employment programmes (Job Match, funded by the European Social Fund, and Workable NI) delivering bespoke recruitment and in-work support to disabled individuals and employers NI-wide; and policy, research, and human-rights work including UNCRPD implementation reporting commissioned by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The organization also convenes the Carers Policy Forum, funded via the Carers Support Fund through Community Foundation NI.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led rather than commercial: beneficiaries are reached through direct engagement, forums, partnerships with disability and civic-society organizations, and political advocacy. Revenue is generated principally through government and public-sector grants (European Social Fund, NI departmental grants, Local Growth Fund), charitable grants (notably over £2 million from the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal in August 2020 to lead the UK-wide DPO COVID-19 Coalition), contracted public-sector services (DVA, Motability, Western Health & Social Care Trust), small unit-priced service income (driving lessons), and membership fees. Cumulative reach includes 7,000 individuals helped, 20,000 queries handled, and 500+ disabled people engaged, with 51-100 staff led by CEO Andrea Brown and a Board chaired by Melanie Douglas. Notable strategic partnerships include the DPO COVID-19 Coalition (with Disability Wales, Inclusion Scotland, Inclusion London), Motability, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Civic Initiative, the Community Rehabilitation Alliance NI, RNID, and the North West Forum of People with Disabilities.

Name

Disability Action

Legal name

Disability Action Northern Ireland

Website

https://disabilityaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Disability Action Northern Ireland is a Belfast-based pan-disability charity, founded 1982, that delivers adapted driving instruction, independent advocacy, employment support, and UNCRPD policy research to deaf and disabled people across Northern Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy
• Independent advocacy
• Supported employment
• Mobility assessment
• Policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Public Funding: The organization receives significant funding from government sources including the Local Growth Fund, European Social Fund (for Job Match programme), and various departmental grants. Funding cuts have been a significant concern, with a reported 64% cut to community-based services under the Local Growth Fund.
2. Charitable Grants and Donations: Receives grants from organizations such as the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal (£12 million distribution with Disability Action leading DPO COVID-19 Coalition), Carers Support Fund delivered by Community Foundation NI, and corporate donations.
3. Membership Fees: Offers membership options for disabled people and supporters to engage with the organization and its advocacy work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Disability Action Northern Ireland is a pan-disability charity delivering practical services and advocacy for deaf and disabled people. Core offerings include an accredited Mobility Centre providing driving lessons and assessments with adapted vehicles, an Independent Advocacy Programme supporting people with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities, employment support through the Workable NI and Job Match programmes, a Carers Policy Forum, and policy research on UNCRPD implementation in Northern Ireland.

Product overview

Disability Action Northern Ireland offers a portfolio of services focused on supporting disabled people. The core offerings include a Mobility Centre providing driving assessments and lessons with vehicle adaptations; an Independent Advocacy Programme for those with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities; and employment support through Workable NI and Job Match programmes. The organization also conducts policy influencing work, research, and runs a Carers Policy Forum. These services are delivered across Northern Ireland, with advocacy specifically covering the Western Health & Social Care Trust area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Driving Lessons Practical driving lessons for disabled people delivered by fully trained and qualified instructors using automatic cars fitted with adaptations such as push-pull hand controls, left foot accelerators and infra-red systems. Lessons cost £40 per hour and are currently available in the Greater Belfast Area.
• Driving Assessment Driving assessments conducted on behalf of the Driver Vehicle Agency (DVA) and Motability, as well as for private clients, to determine driving capability and appropriate vehicle adaptations for disabled people.
• Mobility Centre An accredited Driving Mobility Centre offering comprehensive mobility and driving-related services, including driving assessments, lessons and vehicle adaptation advice for disabled people.
• Independent Advocacy Programme Confidential independent advocacy for people aged 18-64 with physical or sensory disabilities, brain injury and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Advocates work with disabled people in community and hospital settings, provided free of charge, including within the Western Health & Social Care Trust area.
• Workable NI Employment support programme providing bespoke recruitment and job-related support and guidance to disabled individuals and employers across Northern Ireland.
• Job Match European Social Fund project managed by Disability Action, delivered by a team of Supported Employment Officers and Employment Engagement Officers, providing bespoke recruitment and job-related support and guidance to disabled individuals and employers NI-Wide.
• Disability Support Service (Training) Support service for individuals aged 16-22 looking for assistance with training to achieve their goals.
• Carers Policy Forum A carer-led policy forum that brings carers' issues to political decision makers, generates new policy ideas and supports change. Funded by the Carers Support Fund delivered by Community Foundation NI, with replacement care funding available to support carer participation.
• Policy and Research Policy influencing work covering the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Programme for Government, Social Care, Social Security, Employment, Transport and Driving, and Participation, including consultation responses and briefing papers.
• UNCRPD Review and Reporting Research and reporting on progress towards implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Northern Ireland, undertaken on behalf of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, including the Alternative Report on UNCRPD implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000 individuals helped
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DPO COVID-19 CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership led by Disability Action NI with Disability Wales, Inclusion Scotland, and Inclusion London - UK-wide consortium of Disabled People's Organisations providing direct support to grassroots DPOs during COVID-19 pandemic.
• LGBT+ ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-wide consortium of 370 LGBT+ organizations also receiving NET funding to provide support during the pandemic. Both consortia work on addressing disproportionate impact on underserved communities.
• Civic Initiative PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability Action is part of the Oversight Committee for the Civic Initiative, which also includes Community Foundation NI, Women's Resource and Development Agency, Northern Ireland Youth Forum, and other civic society organizations working on citizen engagement.
• Community Rehabilitation Alliance NIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability Action participates in the CRA - an alliance of health charities, professional bodies, and networks committed to campaigning for a Right to Rehab for everyone in NI.
• Equality Commission for Northern IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommission contracted Disability Action to undertake research on progress towards UNCRPD implementation in NI. Disability Action produced reports including the Alternative Report on UNCRPD implementation.
• Driver Vehicle Agency (DVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability Action undertakes driving assessments on behalf of DVA and Motability, providing official driving assessments for disabled people in Northern Ireland.
• MotabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability Action undertakes driving assessments on behalf of Motability, supporting disabled people who may be eligible for Motability scheme vehicles.
• Mid & East Antrim Borough CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting the Mid and East Antrim Disability Lived Experience Group, creating opportunities for disabled people to engage with local government.
• North West Forum of People with DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with North West Forum, co-hosting events including d/Deaf and Disabled People's Election Special series. Patricia Bray, co-founder of the Forum, serves on the Disability Action Board.
• RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for hosting election events and joint advocacy work. Previously worked together on deaf awareness and sign language training initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: UK's leading charity for people with learning disabilities, providing supported employment, advocacy and residential services; while focused on a specific impairment group, it is a broad incumbent competing for similar government, ESF and trust funding.
• Leonard Cheshire: Large UK disability charity providing supported employment, independent living and advocacy services across multiple countries; a broad incumbent with overlapping programme areas (employment, independent living) but operating at far greater geographic and financial scale than Disability Action.
• RNIB: UK's Royal National Institute of Blind People, a large disability charity delivering advocacy, employment support and accessibility services; a broad incumbent with overlapping policy and employment-support mandates and a comparable national brand profile.
• Scope: Major UK disability equality charity delivering information, advice, employment and campaigns; a broad incumbent operating nationwide with adjacent advocacy and employment portfolios that intersect with Disability Action's Workable NI and Job Match programmes.

Direct peers

• Inclusion London: London-wide pan-disability advocacy DPO delivering policy, rights and independent living support; another DPO COVID-19 Coalition partner serving a similar function in a different UK jurisdiction, providing near-perfect operational comparability.
• Disability Rights UK: UK-wide federation of Disabled People's Organisations and disability charities; comparable as a national umbrella and policy-influencing counterpart focused on rights, benefits and independent living across the four UK nations.
• Inclusion Scotland: Scotland's Disabled People's Organisation delivering pan-disability advocacy, policy and employment support — the most direct analogue in mission, governance and service mix, and a co-lead of the DPO COVID-19 Coalition alongside Disability Action.
• Driving Mobility: UK-wide network of accredited Driving Mobility Centres of which Disability Action's Mobility Centre is a member; directly comparable in service model (driving assessments, adapted-vehicle lessons) and operational accreditation, providing a national benchmark for the fee-for-service arm.
• Disability Wales: Wales's pan-disability advocacy organization led by and for disabled people, structurally identical to Disability Action NI; a fellow DPO COVID-19 Coalition partner with overlapping service lines (advocacy, employment support, policy) on a national rather than regional basis.
• RNID (Hearing Loss): UK charity supporting deaf people and those with hearing loss; a core partnership counterparty for Disability Action and a directly comparable disability-organization peer with overlapping policy, advocacy and service delivery on a national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/disabilityni
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DisabilityAction
• Facebookfacebook.com/disabilityaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disability-action-belfast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Disability Action