Launch of Disability Equality Scheme will help break down barriers
In the same week as International Day of Disabled People, Warwickshire County Council will be making clear its commitment to help remove the barriers that affect disabled people with the launch of a brand new Disability Equality Scheme (DES) and Action Plan.
The action plan is part of the council’s overarching Equality and Diversity Strategy, which sets out the way in which the council will eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for all people.
The new DES has been developed in conjunction with Warwickshire Disability Forum and with the active involvement of disabled people across Warwickshire, through a series of focus groups and a web-based questionnaire.
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005, which builds on the 1995 Act, places a positive duty on local authorities to promote disability equality.
Councillor Alan Farnell, Leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “It is well documented that disabled people do not have the same opportunities or choices in their lives as non-disabled people.
“The disadvantage and social exclusion that disabled people face is not always the inevitable result of their impairments or medical conditions, rather it stems from the environmental and attitudinal barriers that they encounter in everyday situations.
“For Warwickshire County Council, this scheme is about weaving equality for disabled people into all our policies, practices and service provision in visible and meaningful ways.”
The county council is already taking action to improve equality for disabled people. For example, it has set up an Integrated Disability Service, unifying services for disabled children, young people and their families with cross-agency, multi-disciplinary teams working together.
Other areas in which the council has been taking action include community transport, working to provide vital community links especially in rural or remote areas, and improving access to information and leisure for visually impaired people who use its Library and Information services.
Feedback from disabled residents has already helped shape the new Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan. However, residents will be invited to provide any further comments using a web-based consultation survey, which will be available from Monday 4 December at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/equalities.
Progress with the scheme will be reported to Cabinet annually and it will undergo a comprehensive review in 2009.
Councillor Alan Farnell concluded: “In partnership with disabled people and with other public and voluntary agencies in Warwickshire, we want the actions that are proposed in this scheme to make a real difference to the lives of disabled people who work and live in Warwickshire.”
Copies of the initial DES will be available to view at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/equalities from Monday 4 December. Copies will also be made available in large print, Easy Read version and on audiotape. Should you need a copy in one of these formats, contact the Corporate Equality and Diversity Team on telephone 01926 410410, minicom 01926 412277 or email corporateequalities@warwickshire.gov.uk.