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DRC launches national debate on the future of equality
Article by John Perry - Editor
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has launched a major national
debate on the future of disabled people's equality in Britain with its
discussion paper, Shaping the Future of Equality.
In what promises to be the biggest and most wide-ranging debate ever on
disability in Britain, Bert Massie, Chairman of the DRC said:
"The Disability Debate is the opportunity to become actively involved in
shaping a fresh agenda for disability equality. Over the coming months
we
want to talk to our friends and stakeholders in order to identify the
major priorities for a new agenda - one which will push forward the
frontier of disabled people's opportunities and continue the momentum,
built up over the last ten years, towards a society in which disabled
people can participate as equal citizens.'
Mr Massie continued:
"While massive progress has been made since the Disability
Discrimination
Act (DDA) first came onto the statute book in 1995, there is still a
long
way to go to reaching this goal'.
The Disability Debate seeks to identify and articulate the big
priorities
for a new disability agenda and provide a roadmap for both the
Commission
for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) and Government over the next 10-15
years.
Questions that will form part of the Disability Debate include:
7 how can we ensure disabled people are safe in their communities?
7 how can disabled people be equipped with the skills to play an active
role in society?
7 how can we ensure that disabled people are in control of their own
lives?
7 how can we reform the welfare state so that it supports independence
rather than creating dependence?
Bert Massie said:
"Being an equal citizen means sharing responsibilities as well as having
rights. But if you live in a society where you are not valued, where
prejudice circumscribes in advance what you can offer and even throws up
barriers to your inclusion - in work, at school, or in your community -
your worth as a member of society diminishes as does your opportunity to
make a valued contribution. That is the state, despite the DDA, of many
disabled people and finding the ways to overcome this is the challenge
of
the Disability Debate.
The DRC wants to hear from people about their priorities, ideas and
thoughts concerning a fresh agenda."
The DRC will be employing a range of innovative techniques and offering
a
host of different opportunities for people to get involved. These
include
SMS text messaging and a dedicated phone line where people can leave
their comments and ideas.
Bert Massie continued:
"A new agenda will only be credible if it is informed by the experiences
and priorities of disabled people. It will only be delivered if it is
widely owned and supported. We call on people to play an active part
over
the coming months in helping us develop a new agenda - one which by 2020
could truly see a Britain in which disabled people have become equal
citizens."
The DRC Discussion Paper, Shaping the Future of Equality, is available
at: www.disabilitydebate.org or by calling the DRC Helpline on 08457 622
633 or by textphone on: 08457 622 644.
http://www.disabilities.afreepress.com/articles/index.cfm?artOID=302754&
cp=309459
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