DEMOS

The report, produced in partnership with Scope, is published today as part of their Time To Get Equal campaign.

“The current welfare system has failed to bring disabled people into the social mainstream and failed to bring equality of opportunity”, say the report’s authors Sarah Gillinson, Hannah Green and Paul Miller. “A radical new structure of delivery – in which disabled people are supported and empowered to shape their own services – would not only make independent living a reality for many, but it would also reflect their right to equal citizenship and empower them to seize it.”

“Independent living is what non-disabled people take for granted – living the life you want to live; deciding what you want to do, and then having the opportunity and, if necessary, the support, to get on and do it. But most disabled people are prevented from participating fully in society because of the barriers placed in their way.”

“We need to start with the presumption that disabled people want to be active economically, want to be active citizens”, says Tony Manwaring, Chief Executive of Scope. “There are one million disabled people who want to work but who can’t because they don’t have practical support to find suitable jobs and then remain in work. There are also millions of disabled people who aren’t able to work but who want to participate in society as equal citizens.”

“If the Government is serious about improving the life chances of disabled people it needs to turn the welfare state on its head. Put independent living at the heart of its welfare reforms. Work in partnership with disabled people and their organisations to develop the reform programme. Give disabled people economic power by establishing mechanisms such as direct payments and personalised budgets. Give disabled people to tools they need to exercise choice and control over their lives. Only then can disabled people achieve equality.”

The report also argues that a system of support for disabled people founded on the principles of Independent Living would reduce the cost of service provision and benefits. Evidence from pilot schemes supporting independent living, such as In Control, suggests that user involvement in assessment for and procurement of support can decrease the cost to the state.

The report will be launched on Thursday 26 May, the first anniversary of the launch of Scope’s Time To Get Equal campaign, by Tony Manwaring, Chief Executive of Scope, Jim Elder-Woodward, Chair of the ILzone, and Rachel Hurst of Disability Awareness in Action.

Case studies of disabled people living independent lives are available.

Notes to editors

1. Independent Living: The right to be equal citizens by Sarah Gillinson, Hannah Green and Paul Miller is published by Demos on Thursday 26 May 2005. The project was funded by Scope and BT, and conducted in partnership with Disability Awareness in Action and the ILzone.
2. Demos is an independent think tank with a strong interest in equality and public services.
3. Scope is a disability organisation in England and Wales whose focus is people with cerebral palsy. Its aim is that disabled people achieve equality.
4. Scope's Time to get equal campaign launched on 26 May 2004 and aims to build a mass movement of disabled and non-disabled people working for equality www.timetogetequal.org.uk
5. Disability Awareness in Action (DAA) is an international human rights network, run for and by disabled people. Its aim is to give disabled people information and support to help them take effective action for themselves.
6. ILzone is was set up to bring together disabled people leading the Independent Living Movement and allies to explore Independent Living policy and good practice and consider their implications, and to discuss and promote independent living in terms of policy and practice - locally, nationally and internationally.