Newsdesk

Earlier this month the Government launched a strategy for transforming the life chances of disabled people. The Government’s aim, detailed within the report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People, is that by the year 2025 disabled people should have full opportunities and choices to improve their quality of life and be respected and included as equal members of society.

The report has been issued jointly by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Department of Health (DH), the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and the Prime Minister’s (PM) Strategy Unit. It makes recommendations across four key areas:

· Independent living – increasing disabled people’s ability to live independently at home, work and in the community by expanding the Direct Payments scheme.

· Early years and family support – new measures based around family-focused support, childcare and early education to help families with young disabled children to lead ‘ordinary lives’.

. Transition to adulthood – focusing on the individual needs of young disabled people and the support and services available.

· Employment – early intervention planned to help disabled people stay in touch with the labour market and ongoing personalised support to improve employment prospects.

A new Office for Disability Issues will also be established. This would be a strategic unit responsible for coordinating government work on disability and ensuring that this fits with the wider equalities agenda. For further information and to download a copy of the report visit the
PM’s Strategy Unit website www.strategy.gov.uk

The report is also available in alternative formats from the Strategy Unit Disability Team, Cabinet Office, 4th Floor, Admiralty Arch, The Mall, London SW1A 2WH, tel 020 7276 1881,
email: strategy@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

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