The National Strategy for Disabled People is an ambitious piece of work that will support disabled people in all aspects and phases of their life. The Disability Unit is working with many groups of people to develop the National Strategy, including disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, charities, businesses and across government. By putting your lived experience first, we want to understand and dismantle the barriers holding disabled people back from realising their full potential. The Strategy is due to be published in Spring 2021.
COVID-19 has been an unprecedented challenge for the nation. Despite this, work has continued to ensure that we can deliver an ambitious Strategy that improves opportunities and outcomes for disabled people. As the country builds back, we're determined that no one is left behind.
We want to deliver practical action through policies which will make a real difference to disabled people’s day-to-day lives. This will continue to place fairness at the heart of government work. It will mean that disabled people can participate fully in society.
We want to create a National Strategy for Disabled People which drives positive change, with your voice at the heart of the process. Therefore, we want to have the lived experience of disabled people at the centre of our strategy. We would also like to hear the views of carers, relatives of disabled people and those of the general public.
How can you join in?
We are initially launching an online survey to gather these views, and we would like you to contribute. The survey will cover different topics that are important to disabled people and understanding the barriers in their way. This is a part of our ongoing consultation and marks the start of our insight gathering.
We would like as many people as possible to contribute to this survey. The more people we hear from, the better our National Strategy will reflect the needs of disabled people in our society.
We have already collaborated with various interested groups, including organisations representing disabled people. Our insight gathering survey will have the ability to go straight to people we want to reach, so we can hear from you first hand. We will continue this work as we launch the National Strategy, as listening to your views is important to us throughout the process.
A structured conversation
Our aim is to lead a structured conversation to hear about people’s daily lives. This will inform our National Strategy with the lived experience of the people most affected. This includes disabled people, their carers, family and friends.
We want to help dismantle and challenge unhelpful perceptions, and enact positive change, and for that reason we will also have a conversation with the general public about their interaction with disability issues and disabled people.
As we progress with our insight gathering, we hope to collect a range of viewpoints and opinions from a variety of different people. One way we can do this is through our survey. Another way we will listen to people’s viewpoints is through focus groups or workshops. These conversations will continue once the National Strategy is published.
The survey will be available in easy read or plain English, British Sign Language, Braille and Welsh. It will be tested using voiceover software and other assistive technology.
What’s next?
Asking people for their views does not stop here. This is just the first opportunity to get your views heard. We will be seeking people’s views into the future, even once the National Strategy has been published. This is part of a much bigger programme of engagement which will not end when the National Strategy is launched as we know that to achieve lasting change, our commitment must be ongoing and collaborative.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter to keep up-to-date on what we’re doing @DisabilityUnit and find out more on our survey website.
6 comments
Comment by Alan Matthews posted on
One simple strategy would be to enforce the current disability legislation, particularly around the built environment. We must begin to get this right so we can lift the expectation of disabled children that they will be able to participate independently without having to think about;will theytravel to the event, will they be able to access the event,bre able to hear, see, understand the event etc.
Alan Matthews
Comment by Ann Bates OBE posted on
Can you explain what the man is doing trying to drag the stick user out of the car by her arm??
Comment by Lynn Woodward posted on
I see a woman already out of the car being aided by a kind man, maybe her husband? Why are you complicating a simple action with something that likely isn't happening at all? I am helped out of cars, ( when I ever get outdoors, being housebound) and I can assure you I am never dragged out of a car. I suggest you are making a mountain out of a molehill. And she is using crutches (maybe a temporary measure?) and not a stick, which could also imply a small branch off a tree and not a walking stick , which I think you meant? Please don't make daily life more difficult for us disabled people by a silly comment, even though I am sure you genuinely are trying to be helpful.
Comment by Ann Bates OBE posted on
Great to hear your comments but as a wheelchair user who has mobilised with aluminium sticks with frog-eye handles (I cannot grip) for over 30yrs his hands are not placed to assist, rather to pull. The crutches would not allow her to leave the door aperture without hitting her head and I think it has all the hallmarks of a ‘posed’ picture. I think it is important to use people living with a disability in these things to get it correct. Not about us without us?
Comment by Alexandra O'Neill posted on
People with single diagnosis Aspergers need to retain their entry level PIP.and stay on support element of ESA as i am now rigid in my 50s . I no longer have the speed for work places any longer
Comment by Richard Houston posted on
Six months ago I was working....now I'm not,nor have a job. Anxiety and depression, currently on medication. How will I be helped? Most of the time,I'm a name and number for the state to check my circumstances are true and correct. Yet all I'm looking for is support and understanding. I'm 53 years of age. My last job ,I gave 22 year's service. Mental health needs more provision and help. I didn't choose to be the way I am.