External Advisory Board for the Disabled People’s Rights Plan meeting, 23 March 2026: meeting notes

Board members

• Amelia John (WG Co‑Chair)
• Professor Debbie Foster (Co‑Chair)
• Natasha Hirst (Deputy Chair)
• Brett Bignall
• Owain Gwilym
• Andrea Gordon
• Chaz Hampton
• Damian Bridgemen (supported by Bethan Bridgeman)
• Willow Holloway
• Debbie Shaffer

Apologies

• Rhian Davies
• Laure Adelaide Betts
• Joe Powell
• Angharad Price

Welsh Government secretariat

Officials from the equalities and human rights division and Disabled People’s Inclusion Team.

Guest

Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip.

Accessibility issues were experienced during the meeting, particularly significant was audio feedback, which affected participation of those joining online.

Actions

• The secretariat will review the hybrid meeting set‑up to address audio and accessibility issues. 
• Members will consider whether future meetings should be held fully online to improve accessibility for remote participants.

Members discussed the draft Terms of Reference and agreed that further strengthening and clarification were required.

The Board agreed that revisions should:

• reflect the importance of  ‘implementation’ in the Board’s title
• clarify and strengthen paragraphs relating to the purpose of the Board to ensure a shared understanding, effective governance and consistent operation of the Board
• emphasise the importance of the EAB working co‑productively
• strengthen references to a rights‑based approach and the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People (UNCRPD)
• move specified objectives into the purpose section 
• reference intersectionality, including cross‑board collaboration
• confirm members’ role in engaging with Disabled People’s Organisations and wider disabled people’s communities
• include emotional‑impact considerations. Trauma informed approach should also be included in the EAB training provision
• set out clear processes for members to propose agenda items and timelines for sharing routine documentation
• clarify the mechanism for holding additional meetings where required

Actions

• The secretariat will produce a revised draft Terms of Reference reflecting the discussion and circulate to members, as a priority.
• The Secretariat will submit the amended Terms of Reference to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip on or before 7 April 2026.

Members discussed how individual experience, interests and capacity could best be aligned with the work of the Board, while ensuring expectations remain clear, proportionate and flexible.

Actions

• The secretariat will invite expressions of interest to join the External Advisory Board from members on specific areas of work interest to inform future ways of working. For example, “transport”. 
• The secretariat will map links with other relevant Welsh Government groups (including anti‑racism, suicide and self‑harm, and additional learning needs).
• The secretariat will progress recruitment of three additional Board members, prioritising expertise in: 
  • disabled children, additional learning needs and play
  • emergency planning and climate change
  • representation from a younger disabled person (aged 18 to 24).

Housing and mortgage discrimination

Members discussed concerns about disabled people being treated as a higher mortgage risk by banks.

Actions

• Relevant research from the Cross Party Group on Women will be shared with the Board by EAB member - Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales.
• The Secretariat will discuss the issues raised with Welsh Government financial inclusion policy teams regarding the financial and economic policies affecting income, independence and well being, in line with the Disabled People’s Rights Plan.

Transport representation

Members highlighted the importance of representation in UK wide disability transport discussions.

Actions

• Relevant contact details of transport groups/forums in the UK will be shared with the Co Chairs by the EAB member representing on the UK Disabled Peo-ple’s Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC).

Emergency planning and climate change

Members agreed that emergency planning and climate change should be treated as a whole Board issue rather than delegated to a subgroup.

Actions

• A member of the EAB will be identified to lead on this area, via the recruitment campaign for additional members.
• The secretariat will continue engaging with existing emergency planning struc-tures within Welsh Government to ensure disabled people are involved.

Circulation of minutes and actions

The secretariat will circulate the notes reviewed by the Co-Chairs, followed by translation into BSL and Welsh.

The next meeting, scheduled for 30 June 2026.