A new
long term approach to help improve the daily lives of disabled
people, backed by �600,000 from the Scottish Government, was
announced today.
Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell promised to ensure that
disabled people would 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.
Mr 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 of Inclusion Scotland, said:
"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."
Lisa Curtice, from the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability,
said:
"The Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability is delighted that
the Scottish Government sees independent living as a priority.
People with learning disabilities want control over their lives. As
equal citizens, they should have access to the support they need to
play a full part in the life of their community."
Etienne d'Aboville, chief executive of the Glasgow Centre for
Inclusive Living, said:
"Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living welcomes the Minister's
announcement that the Scottish Government will be working with key
agencies and, crucially, with disabled people, our organisations and
our allies, to develop Independent Living in Scotland.
"Independent Living means disabled people of all ages having the
same freedom, choice, dignity and control as other citizens at home,
at work, and in the community. This initiative presents an
unprecedented opportunity to address the barriers to Independent
Living and to finally make it a reality for disabled people in
Scotland."
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