DPO Network Terms of Reference

Approved June 2023
The Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) Network is a group of 5 DPO organisations in Ireland. We have a common interest in the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in Ireland. We established the DPO in 2021. It has five member organisations.

The five DPO Network members are:

• As I Am – Ireland’s National Autism Advocacy Organisation
• Disabled Women Ireland (DWI)
• Independent Living Movement Ireland (ILMI)
• Irish Deaf Society (IDS)
• National Platform of Self Advocates

Our Purpose

The DPO Network represents our members on issues and concerns relevant to the lives of disabled people in Ireland. We facilitate cross-impairment analysis of the issues disabled people face. We represent the expertise and experience of our members in accordance with the UN CRPD.

The DPO Network aims to:

  • Advocate for the Government to:
    o recognize DPOs
    o meaningfully engage with DPOs.
  • Represent our members’ concerns and issues through:
    o strategic analysis
    o policy recommendations.
  • Build Network members’ skills through:
    o networking
    o training
    o peer support
    o partnership.
  • Lobby for the following for DPO’s in Ireland:
    o acknowledgement
    o resourcing
    o capacity building.

Our Values

The DPO Network is committed to an approach to inclusion and participation which is based on human rights and the social model of disability. This says that the exclusion, inequality and discrimination disabled people experience is a result of economic, cultural, social and political forces operating in society.
Our work is led and informed by the active participation of disabled people based on their lived experience. We strive to work in an inclusive and transparent way on behalf of all member organisations.
We strive to practice these values:

  • Accessibility
  • Honesty
  • Recognition of multiple identities
  • Leadership
  • Participation
  • Partnership
  • Respect
  • Trust

DPO Network Membership

The DPO Network is a closed network of 5 organisations. All member organisations have expertise informed by lived experience of disability.
Each member organisation is responsible for deciding who represents them in the DPO Network and for how long.
Member organisations will commit to:

  • going to all scheduled meetings
  • upholding the aims of the DPO Network
  • practising our core values and the principles the UN CRPD sets out
  • supporting each other in relation to relevant rights-based legislation
  • working together to identify issues, carry out research, make policy submissions and take part in other activities of interest or concern.

Representatives from member organisations will be asked to resign if they are:
1) No longer a member of the member organisation that nominated
them.
2) Breaking the DPO Network Code of Conduct.
Member organisations will be asked to resign from the DPO Network if they no
longer abide by our core values and the principles set out in the UN CRPD.

Roles and Responsibilities

Secretariat
The Secretariat will support the DPO Network in all administrative duties. This
includes the following:

  • communicating with member organisations
  • organising meetings; note-taking
  • provide support for administration tasks
  • coordinate with members to ensure there is appropriate reporting and transparency on the management of any DPO Network funding/grants.

Currently, the Irish Deaf Society (IDS) acts as the Secretariat. This will be reviewed
annually.

Steering Committee
A steering committee will be established to respond to urgent matters in between
DPO Network meetings.
The steering committee is not a decision-making structure.
The steering committee will be made up of the Chair, Co-Chair and Secretariat.

Chair
A person with lived experience of disability will chair the DPO Network.
The Chair does not have to be a representative from a member organisation however
all DPO Network member representatives can be considered for this role. All
representatives will be invited to put their names forward for consideration as Chair.
Nobody is obliged to do so. The Chair will be agreed and/or elected by a majority
vote taken by all DPO Network member organisations.
The Chair will be elected for a two-year term. The chair can serve a maximum of two
terms however this can be extended by agreement of member organisations.
The duties of the Chair include the following:

  • call and chair meetings
  • represent the DPO Network on external structures as agreed by members
  • act as the DPO Network spokesperson, where appropriate.

Co-Chair
A person with lived experience of disability will co-chair the DPO Network.
The Co-Chair will be agreed and/or elected by a majority vote of all DPO Network
members.
The Co-Chair will be elected for a two-year term. The chair can serve a maximum of
two terms however this can be extended by agreement of member organisations.
The duties of the Co-Chair include the following:

    • support the Chair
    • ensure compliance with the DPO Network’s Code of Conduct
    • ensure representatives participate actively at meetings
    • facilitate discussion and agreement on conflicts of interest.

 

Frequency and Timing of Meetings

The DPO Network will meet up to 10 times per year. Meetings will take place monthly (except for in the months of August and December).
Additional meetings of the DPO Network can be arranged if necessary. This may include all member organisations, or sub-group meetings on specific topics.
The DPO Network is committed to ensuring the active participation of member representatives in meetings and in communicating in an inclusive and accessible way.
Please refer to the DPO Network Code of Conduct for more information.

Decision-making

The DPO Network will make decisions by consensus. This means that we will seek to agree on a decision by discussing it together.

If we are unable to reach agreement on an issue, we will vote in this way:
1. Each member organisation has one vote.
2. All five members must vote, which can include abstentions. This means that a member organisation can choose not to cast a vote.
3. Members may cast their vote in writing if they are unable to attend a meeting. Members must formally notify the Chair in writing if they plan to do this.
4. Three votes must be cast in favour of a given decision in order for it to carry.
5. The independent Chair has no vote.

Review

We will review these Terms of Reference every year as part of a yearly work plan
review.
A formal review will take place every 3 years.

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