NEWS

Thursday 15 October 2026 Eighteen farms across Northern Ireland have been awarded more than £130,000 to improve facilities and accessibility for people with disabilities and learning difficulties, helping provide opportunities to build confidence, develop practical skills and connect with others through everyday farming activities. The funding, announced by Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir, will support the development of social farming, an alte

Wednesday 07 October 2026 Nine people with learning disabilities and complex needs in Ballymena are enjoying greater independence in their own homes — with the service supporting them now receiving double award recognition just 18 months after opening. Praxis Care’s Ballymena Supported Living Service received both the Co-production Award and CEO Award at the charity’s Annual Staff Awards, recognising an approach designed to give residents greater choice and control over their

Mum Emma with 10-year-old son Tommy Monday 05 October 2026 A Ballycastle mum has described how her family relies completely on relatives for childcare for her ten-year-old son with additional needs, as a new report highlights the barriers facing families raising disabled children. Emma Linton and her husband both work in hospitality, often finishing late in the evening, but she says they have been unable to find formal childcare capable of providing the specialist support the

Councillor Aaron Skinner, Chairman of the Mid and East Antrim Disability Lived Experience Group is pictured with the volunteer members and council officers at the inaugural meeting of the group. Sunday 04 October 2026 Twelve residents with lived experience of disability are to help shape how Mid and East Antrim Borough Council designs its services, facilities, policies and projects. A direct voice in Council decisions The new Disability Lived Experience Group (DLEG) held its

Ulster Unionist Party Leader & North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows (centre), pictured with UUP Ballymoney representative Gary Simpson (left), and (right) Scott Brown, director of CAN outside ‘The Hen House’, on Lislagan Farm Sunday 04 October 2026 A former family farm near Ballymoney has officially begun a new chapter as an inclusive community hub offering accessible accommodation, therapeutic outdoor spaces and opportunities for people to learn new skills. The 11-acre Lislagan Farm

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with (left to right) veteran Danny Shanahan; Chief Executive of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council David Burns; Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood; Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner David Johnstone; Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh Brian Higginson; veteran Jonny Ball; Lisburn and Castlreagh councillor James Tinsley; and veteran Stuart Ball. Saturday 03 October 2026 Northern Ireland competitors preparing to take part in the Invict

Carly Heggarty, Equality and Wellbeing Manager at Northern Regional College and Shannon Murphy Education Support Co-Ordinator pictured with the Autism NI Award Monday 21 September 2026 Northern Regional College has achieved Autism NI’s Impact Award for Education after introducing practical measures designed to make college life more accessible and supportive for autistic and neurodivergent students. The recognition follows tailored Autism NI training for staff and the develop

A new children’s series created in Belfast is putting the experiences of autistic pupils at the heart of stories about starting school, friendship, inclusion and bullying — with autistic young people helping to shape what viewers see and hear on screen. Pablo: Next Level, produced by Belfast-based Paper Owl Films and Crayola Studios, launches on Monday 7 September on RTÉ KIDS and CBBC, before being rolled out internationally. Aimed at children aged five to eight, the 40-episo

An £8,500 donation is helping Clough Primary School and Nursery Unit create a dedicated sensory room where children can find a calm, supportive space during the school day. The new facility at the Ballymena school will support pupils who benefit from additional emotional and sensory support, helping them to regulate their emotions, reduce anxiety and return to the classroom more settled and ready to learn. The funding has come from the St. James’s Place (SJP) Charitable Found

Families and visitors of all ages and abilities have been given the opportunity to explore the wildlife and natural environment of Portrush’s East Strand through an event designed to make the coastline more accessible to everyone. The free Inclusive Biodiversity Day, held on Friday 28 August, brought together accessible outdoor activities, environmental education and adapted equipment at the Blue Flag beach. Organised by the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT) in

(L-R): Siobhan Downey, OCS Airport Services manager, Niall McElkearney, BIA Terminal Operations Manager and Una McKeown – BIA Operations Manager Belfast International Airport has secured a “Very Good” accessibility rating from the UK Civil Aviation Authority as the number of passengers requiring additional assistance reaches its highest level on record. Around 120,000 passengers used assistance services at the airport during 2025, an increase of 8% on the previous year, under

Jane Martin (centre) from Mencap presents the Employer of the Month award to Ann O’Neill (left) and Linda Saunders (right) from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. A team at Causeway Hospital has been recognised with a national award after creating a workplace where people with learning disabilities are supported to build confidence, develop new skills and secure meaningful long-term employment. The hospital’s Corporate Support Services team has been named Mencap’s Emp

The Education Authority has said planned changes to classroom support for pupils with Special Educational Needs will be introduced gradually, with the first phase focused on schools already ready to move towards a new model. The reassurance comes after more than 3,000 responses were received to a public consultation on the future of SEN classroom support in Northern Ireland. The proposed reforms centre on the Enhanced Support Model, which aims to move towards more flexible, n

Children with special educational needs across Northern Ireland are now expected to wait an extra year for long-promised improvements to support services after the implementation of new SEN regulations was pushed back until September 2027. The delay has sparked a political row at Stormont, with Education Minister Paul Givan expressing “serious concern” over what he says will be the direct impact on children, families and schools, while Alliance MLA and Education Committee Cha

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured with George Healy (Go Succeed, Belfast City Council), Prof Thomas Cooney (Technological University Dublin), and Marty McLaughlin (Disability Action) to launch this year’s programme. People with disabilities across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to turn their business ideas into reality through a specialist entrepreneurship programme that is now open for applications for a second year. The Self Employment for Persons wit

DUP Bannside Councillor Tyler Hoey A proposal inspired by a Ballymena child who became overwhelmed before attending a community event is set to bring sensory support boxes into council buildings across Mid and East Antrim after receiving unanimous backing from local councillors. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council voted in favour of a motion brought forward by DUP Councillor Tyler Hoey during a meeting at The Braid on Monday, June 8, paving the way for officers to examine the

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launch the 'Designing Homes for All' guide at Parliament Buildings. A new housing design guide launched by Stormont ministers could change how homes across Northern Ireland are built and adapted for people living with dementia, autism, learning disabilities and sensory impairments. The joint initiative, unveiled by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, is designed to help architec

(L-R) Edwina Weiniger, Stepping Stones Chairperson, Elaine Loughran, Principal Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Education Minister, Paul Givan, Alan Herron, Playboard NI CEO and Susan Williams, SEN Inclusive Play Project Coordinator, Playboard NI with pupils. An ambitious new programme designed to reshape how children with special educational needs experience learning through play has officially launched in Northern Ireland, with dozens of schools set to benefit over the

Children and young people with complex disabilities across Mid and East Antrim could benefit from new summer activities and support programmes after the council launched a dedicated funding scheme aimed at creating more inclusive opportunities during the school holidays. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has unveiled its first-ever Inclusive Summer Opportunities Grant Funding Scheme, with £12,000 available to help local organisations deliver free and accessible activities t

Smiles all round as Ready2Work Academy students stand outside Tuition Time with teachers and facilitators, celebrating the success of their showcase café event. A group of young people from Larne took a major step towards the world of work this week after stepping behind the counter to run a real café environment as part of a programme designed to help SEN school leavers build confidence and job-ready skills. Ten students from Roddensvale School showcased what they had learne