Disabled People’s Rights Plan 2025 to 2035 progress on short-term actions: neighbourhoods, places, and transport

This document provides an update on progress made by the Welsh Government under Theme 1: Neighbourhoods, Places and Transport of the Disabled People’s Rights Plan: Short Term Actions, published in December 2025. 

This update was provided to the External Advisory Board for the Disabled Peoples Rights Plan on 30 June 2026.

Progress on the themes of ‘Employment, income (money), and education,’ ‘Independent living, health, and social care’, and ‘Justice and supporting environments’ will be presented at the External Advisory Board between September and December 2026 and published following these meetings.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to work with local authorities and transport operators to collect and update data on the availability and location of parking spaces for Blue Badge holders and integrate them into transport websites.

• Around 60% of local authorities currently publish information on Blue Badge parking locations and capacity, although provision remains inconsistent across Wales.
• Welsh Government has undertaken initial exploration work with partners to understand the availability and publication of this information.
• Work is ongoing with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), Transport for Wales, and the British Parking Association to improve consistency, visibility and signposting of accessible parking information.
• Further activity will continue through 2026 and 2027 as this work progresses. 

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to improve the engagement with disabled people in the development of accessible transport services and oversight arrangements.

• Working with Transport for Wales, Welsh Government has established an Inclusive Travel Board and a Disabled People’s Travel Panel.
• These arrangements are intended to move beyond traditional consultation towards ongoing co-production, enabling disabled people to help shape services, influence policy development, identify barriers within the transport system and support accountability for delivering improvements.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to ensure that transport organisations conduct regular and inclusive consultations with disabled children and young people and their parents and carers. 

• Transport for Wales is establishing a dedicated Children and Young People’s Panel.
• This work is being developed with organisations experienced in engaging children and young people meaningfully.
• The panel will work alongside the wider engagement structures already established through the Inclusive Travel Board and Disabled People’s Travel Panel.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to develop a standardised programme of training for all customer facing staff in transport including rail, bus, taxi, private hire vehicles, and airports. The training includes Social Model of Disability, equality legislation including guide and assistance dogs, and good customer care for disabled people.

• Transport for Wales has completed a review of rail staff training to ensure coverage of:
  • The Social Model of Disability
  • equality legislation
  • guide and assistance dogs
  • good customer care for disabled people
• As bus franchising is implemented under the Bus Services (Wales) Act 2026, disability awareness and accessibility training requirements will form part of franchising agreements.
• In April 2026, the Welsh Government launched a series of training videos to support taxi and private hire drivers in accessibility and safeguarding.
• The 3 co-produced films were developed with disabled passengers, representative organisations, local authorities and the taxi sector:
  • wheelchair accessible vehicle training film
  • visual impairment training film
  • passenger experience film featuring lived experiences of disabled passengers across Wales.
• The films have been embedded within Welsh Government guidance and are being promoted through local authorities and training providers.
• The Welsh Government is now evaluating their use and effectiveness.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to work across government and with transport operators to ensure digital and assistive technologies are available and accessible across transport modes to enable disabled people to confidently plan and undertake trips that meet their needs.

• Transport for Wales is progressing with the delivery of their multi-modal customer journey digital tools, including the delivery of a multi-modal journey planning tool with in-built accessibility features. The first release of this tool is scheduled for autumn 2026.
• The tool is intended to help people identify routes and services that meet their accessibility requirements, supporting greater confidence and independence when travelling.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to ensure that our Travel for All approach and broader transport policies and grant funding consider disabled people's accessibility needs, especially in rural areas where there is often a greater degree of dependency on them.

• Welsh Government’s grant schemes underwent a transformation in 2026 to align with the publication of Regional Transport Plans (RTPs) which have been published and agreed by Ministers for the next five years. These include Delivery Plans with details of schemes to be delivered in each location. All transport schemes delivered in Wales must follow the Welsh Technical Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) which includes an Integrated Well-being Appraisal tool to support transport planners to identify where statutory impact assessments such as an equality impact assessment apply, and how best to fulfil those requirements.
• Our current Travel for All approach sets out 5 principles which Welsh Government and its delivery partners take into account when designing and delivering transport schemes in Wales: feeling safe, feeling welcome, accessibility, involvement and enabling change. These principles support a Social Model of Disability approach by encouraging barriers to be identified and removed through the design and planning of transport services and infrastructure, rather than relying on adjustments after delivery.
• Particular consideration is being given to accessibility in rural areas, where limited transport options can result in greater barriers to travel and participation.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to work with local authorities and service providers to improve the provision of accessible accommodation for disabled people, their carers, and their children when fleeing from violence.

• The Welsh Government has committed to working directly with local authorities and service providers to improve the provision of accessible accommodation for disabled people, their carers, and their children when fleeing violence. This is part of a wider programme of measures designed to strengthen accessible housing, including improving the coordination and delivery of housing adaptations and equipment through local authorities, and reviewing the Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021 to ensure that housing standards support accessibility needs. Broader government initiatives to uphold disabled people’s rights further reinforce the framework within which accessible emergency accommodation is being developed and supported across Wales.
• The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act requires local housing authorities in Wales to establish and maintain a register of housing accommodation in their area that has features which may assist a disabled person. This provision will support local housing authorities to ensure that accommodation is best matched to those with an accessibility need, supporting the sustainment of tenancies in the most suitable accommodation.
• Local housing authorities may include all accommodation in their area which includes features which may support disabled individuals, including accommodation held by the Private Rental Sector, to allow for a more comprehensive register of accessible housing options.
• The Act also requires Welsh Ministers to make regulations concerning Accessible Housing Registers in Wales. These regulations must provide for the publication of general information about the AHR and how it operates in an area.
• The Act also provides the opportunity for the Welsh Ministers to make further provisions in relation to how properties are added and removed from the list, the information the AHR must hold, the disclosure of information held on the register, together with the collection and publication of data.
• Work is being taken forward in collaboration with colleagues across housing, violence against women, health and social care.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to review the Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021, including its impact and effectiveness.

• Work on the review of the WDQR has been started. Scheduled to be discussed at the Housing and Regeneration Equality Advisory Panel by September 2026.
• Officials advised that the review will consider how accessibility requirements can be strengthened within housing standards.
• Work is also underway to promote wider adoption of accessibility standards beyond social housing, including within the private sector.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to work with local authorities to continue to improve accessibility and coordinated delivery of housing adaptions and the supply of equipment.

• The Welsh Government’s work with local authorities to improve the accessibility and coordinated delivery of housing adaptations is primarily supported by the ENABLE: Support for Independent Living Scheme. This scheme provides funding for small, medium and large home adaptations, such as grab rails, ramps, walk‑in showers, chair lifts, and even major structural changes to help disabled and older people live independently in their homes. It is one of the main national programmes designed to ensure that local authorities can deliver adaptations quickly and consistently across Wales, supporting the wider goal of improving accessible housing provision and equipment supply.
• Overall expenditure on assistance for housing improvement was £56.5 million in 2023 to 2024. After an underspend during the pandemic, and recent increases in costs and demand, this was the highest amount recorded. Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) accounted for £44.3 million (78.3 per cent) of total expenditure, with 7,083 homes improved. Average spending per mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant was £9,600.
• Funding of £8.8 million was spent on housing improvement excluding Disabled Facilities. Grants though local authority grants, loans, third-party assistance and resident contributions. Average spending was £2,500 per home, which is consistent with the last 10 years.
• Review work on the Welsh Development Quality Requirements (WDQR) 2021 has commenced. The review is scheduled to be considered by the Housing and Regeneration Equality Advisory Panel in September 2026.
• Welsh Government officials advised that the review will consider how accessibility requirements can be strengthened within housing standards.
• Work is also underway to encourage wider adoption of these standards beyond social housing, including within the private housing sector.
• The review forms part of wider efforts to ensure accessibility is designed into housing from the outset rather than addressed retrospectively.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to work with housing organisations to help improve the dissemination of more accessible housing information to disabled people, including those who are digitally excluded.

• Tai Pawb has published a series of good practice guides in relation to disability and housing: 
  • Accessible Homes (2018).
  • Dementia Service Provision and Housing Design (2014).
  • Tenancy Breakdowns: Equality Considerations (2013).
  • Making the most of Hearing Induction Loops (2013).
  • Reasonable Adjustments: Employment (2013).
  • Making information accessible (2012).
  • Language communication needs (2010).
  • Disability Equality and Housing (2010).
• The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act requires Welsh Ministers to make regulations concerning Accessible Housing Registers in Wales. These regulations must provide for the publication of general information about the AHR and how it operates in an area. The Act also provides the opportunity for the Welsh Ministers to make further provisions in relation to how properties are added and removed from the list, the information the AHR must hold, the disclosure of information held on the register, the collection and publication of data held on the register and conferring functions on local housing authorities or the Welsh Ministers. Detailed work on these Regulations is being undertaken as part of implementation of the legislation.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to work with disabled people’s organisations and experts to design and deliver training to housing organisations.

• Discussions to be programmed with Tai Pawb to scope how this training can be delivered.
• Work continues through implementation of Accessible Housing Registers.
• Accessibility of housing information is being considered as part of implementation of the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act. 

Action and progress

The Welsh Government will engage with disabled people to understand the specific barriers to housing, for example for disabled Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller people.

• Initial scoping work has commenced, and discussions with other policy leads is starting.
• Ongoing engagement will be taking place through the Housing and Regeneration Equality Advisory Panel. The first meeting was held on 13 January 2026 to discuss a forward work plan with a second meeting held on 19 March to consider implementation of the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations (Wales) Act and the Welsh Housing Strategy. 
• The meeting in June 2026 considered proposals on Housing affordability, Implementation of the Building Safety Act and the Welsh Housing Survey.
• Discussions have included housing affordability, implementation of the Building Safety Act, the Welsh Housing Strategy and housing survey work.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government will reflect the Social Model of Disability and promote the Disability Confident Scheme through its approach to socially responsible procurement.

• The Disabled People’s Inclusion team is working with Procurement colleagues to ensure the Social Model of Disability in Procurement guidance, is strengthened. This includes preparing practical guidance for public bodies and employers on how to apply the Social Model of Disability and embed it into everyday practice.
• Regulation 7 of The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Regulations 2026 amends section 27(2) of Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 (SPPP Act) to replace “people with disabilities”​ with “disabled people”, this is to ensure the improvements designed to be brought about by the​ social public works clauses align with the social model of disability.
• Several sections of the statutory guidance on the SPPP Act refer to the importance of addressing barriers faced by disabled people. For example, the ‘Model Social Public Works Clauses’ document published in March 2026 promotes increased employment opportunities for disabled people and encourages contractors to join the Disability Confident Employers scheme.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to make Social Model of Disability training available for all public sector workers by adding an e-learning module on Learning@Wales. This will complement training already available to the private sector on Business Wales. 

• We are working with officials at Learning@Wales to upload an existing e-learning module to their website.  This will be completed over the summer. Once completed, the e-learning will be available free of charge to all public sector workers across Wales. The e-learning module is already available to all private sector employers via the Welsh Government’s Business Wales site.
• In addition, the Welsh Government’s team of Disabled People’s Employment Champions have developed a free-of-charge webinar for employers and workers to improve understanding of the Social Model of Disability in the workplace. This is available in Welsh and English and is delivered through a monthly, rolling programme.
• Guidance on the Social Model of Disability, along with advice and guidance on matters relating the recruitment and retention of disabled workers is available on the Business Wales website.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to review and revise existing HR policies, to ensure that they do not create barriers for disabled people. Involve disabled people in the design, implementation and monitoring of new and improved policies, practices, and procedures.

• The Public Appointments Team is currently developing a number of improvements to the way public appointments are promoted and delivered, with a particular focus on inclusion and accessibility. This includes work to raise awareness and understanding of public appointments, make the application process clearer and more straightforward, and ensure appropriate support and reasonable adjustments are available to candidates.
• Welsh Government HR is working with the Disabled People’s Employment Champions to engage with disabled colleagues and better understand their experiences at work, including the barriers they face. This will build on the considerable progress already made to improve recruitment practices, broadening the focus to colleagues’ wider workplace experiences and identifying where policies, practices and procedures may need to be strengthened.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government to publish a Just Transition Framework to help policy developers and decision makers consider the wider impacts and opportunities of climate change on different groups of people, including disabled people.

• The Just Transition Framework was published in December 2025. Work on embedding the Framework across Welsh Government is being carried out through 2026 and beyond, including through the Carbon Budget 3 Plan and work to develop new Climate and Nature Plan, as set out in the Government’s Manifesto. Engagement with public sector, private sector and community groups is in its early stages and will be a key part of our approach.

Action and progress

The Welsh Government along with the External Advisory Board to return to the full set of recommendations co-produced by the Disability Rights Taskforce at the beginning of the development any new actions for disabled people relating to this Plan.

• The Disabled People’s Inclusion Team is working with the External Advisory Board on a workplan consider to the recommendations co-produced by the Disability Rights Taskforce.