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Government funding to support long term approach on independent living |
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Wednesday, 25 June 2008 |
A new long term approach to help improve the daily lives of disabled people, backed by £600,000 from the Scottish Government, has been announced.
Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said he promised to ensure “disabled people feel valued as individuals” and have the same choice, control and freedom as any citizen.
The Government and public sector bodies will work together to identify ways to break down the barriers which stop disabled people fulfilling their full potential in areas such as housing, transport, employment and education. An expert group, including disabled people, will meet by the end of the summer to help shape the way forward, supported by the Scottish Government’s funding.
Nearly one in five people of working age, 900,000 or 19 per cent, in Scotland are disabled, of which only 50 percent are in work, compared with 80 percent of non disabled people of working age.
Maxwell said: “The Scottish Government believes that disabled people should be valued as individuals, be able to fulfil their potential as active citizens, and have control over their lives and decisions.
“We have already made a great deal of progress in enabling more disabled people to participate and engage fully in society.
“We recognise that independent living, in its fullest sense, is still out of reach for some. Working in partnership with disabled people and other public bodies, the approach I am setting out today will help us to determine what we need to do to deliver long term change for disabled people across Scotland.”
Morag Alexander, Scotland Commissioner, Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “Today's announcement marks a step change in ensuring that all disabled people are afforded the opportunity to make real choices in how they live their lives.
“We recognise that it may take years to remove all of the barriers which currently prevent disabled people from fulfilling their social and economic potential. The Government's announcement today is an encouraging statement of purpose towards increasing disabled people autonomy.
“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government, disability organisations and disabled people themselves in ensuring that the right to independent living becomes a reality."
Bill Campbell, project manager, Inclusion Scotland, added: “As a national organisation of disabled people, whose aims and objectives are firmly rooted in the Social Model of disability and the principles of Independent Living, we welcome the Minister's announcement today.
“We very much appreciate the work done over the last year by all the different sections and departments of the Scottish Government who worked together to make this announcement possible.
“We look forward to working in partnership with all stakeholders in this new venture to make independent living the cornerstone of Scottish social policy in the years to come.”
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