Get Involved in a New Government Disability Strategy

Breakthrough UK has been invited to contribute directly to a new cross-government disability strategy. To support this, the government has published a discussion document with questions. We would like to gather the views of local disabled people to make sure we represent the experiences of disabled people we are in contact with in our response.

To share your views, please come to our discussion event:

Date:  Wednesday 22^nd February 2012

Time:  12.30pm to 3.30pm

Location:  Business Employment Venture Centre, Aked Close, Ardwick, Manchester M12 4AN

We have applied for funding for travel, communication support and personal assistance costs to support the attendance of Deaf and disabled people living within Greater Manchester:

If you would like to attend, please contact Mark Watts by 15th February to confirm and to tell us about your access requirements.

Tel: 0161 273 5412

Answerphone Minicom: 0161 273 5727

Email: admin@breakthrough-uk.co.uk

We have been asked to talk about practical ideas that will make a real difference to disabled people’s lives. The three areas that the government want to focus on are:

·        Realising aspirations– what is needed so that disabled people get the right support at different points in their lives to fulfil their potential and goals in education, work and independent living?

·        Increasing individual control– how can government ensure that disabled people have personal control over the services they receive, for example within housing, travel or employment, and that this support is delivered in the way individuals want it?

·        Changing attitudes and behaviours– how to promote positive attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people so that disabled people are fully included in all areas of society, and that discrimination and harassment are dealt with properly whenever they happen?

On the day, participants will:

1.   Have an understanding of the planned disability strategy, its context and their role in developing it.

2.   In small groups, feedback and offer practical suggestions / good practice examples across the three main areas.

3.   Give views on how the disability strategy should be effectively monitored and enforced, once in place.

The government say that they will look at everyone’s suggestions and work with disabled people to publish a new strategy in the spring.

To find out more, visit www.odi.gov.uk/fulfillingpotential

A survey on the strategy will be available on our website next week at www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk