[10] This is comparable to the national figures from the census in Great Britain which reported 17.6% of the population in England, 22.7% in Wales and 20% in Scotland.
[11] Similar to all nations of the UK, this Northern Ireland baseline figure varies within regions depending on a number of demographic, health, environmental and economic factors.
In Northern Ireland, Strabane and Belfast (both at 24 per cent) had the highest proportions of residents with a long-term health problem or disability.
[12] 24.8% of adults and 5.4% of children in households reported that their day-to-day activities were limited because of a long-standing health problem or disability.
In March 2012 the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) published Proposals for Reform[14] which considered changes to legislation to strengthen the protection for disabled people.