More help needed for the British people affected by disability

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More help needed for the British people affected by disability

News-Medical.Net 17-Jun-2004

More needs to be done to improve the lives of the 10m Britons affected

by disability, according to a new report.

The report from the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit found that disabled

people fare less well in society compared to non-disabled people.

The Strategy Unit was asked to provide supporting analysis and a

strategic assessment of disabled people's life chances - the

opportunities available to disabled people, both children and adults, to

improve their quality of life.

Almost 20 per cent of the UK's working age population are affected by

disability, according to the study. Over half of families with disabled

children live in or on the margins of poverty.

Minister for Disabled People Eagle said the scale of the issue

means it is vital major changes are identified.

" This work will promote a greater understanding of disability and

provide practical solutions to ensure a more positive experience and

understanding of disability in our society, " she said.

The aim of the project is to identify practical ways to remove barriers

and improve outcomes for disabled people. It aims to explore disabled

people's 'life chances' and will make policy recommendations to

government.

The Minister encouraged all interested parties to respond to the issues

raised in the Analytical Report 'Improving the Life Chances of Disabled

People'. The responses will feed into the final report due to be

presented to the Government in autumn 2004.

The definition of a 'disabled' person includes a person with mental

health conditions, long-term illness, learning difficulties and the

effects brought on by old age.