Response To The Disability Rights Commission Disability Agenda, UK

To achieve equality society's attitude must change, says Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities today welcomed the Disability Rights Commission's Disability Agenda but said that if people with learning disabilities are going to participate fully as equal citizens, society needs to change its attitude towards all disabled people.

Alison Giraud-Saunders, Co-Director of the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities said:

"The Disability Rights Commission makes a number of encouraging and well thought out recommendations that if implemented, will positively change the lives of people with learning disabilities - many of whom lead restricted lives. There are a number of reasons for this, including that they do not have equal access to mainstream health services or employment opportunities.

"People with learning disabilities want to work but to make this happen, the government needs to ensure that employment schemes and state benefit departments are working together. In tandem with this, employers and small business advisory services need advice so that it becomes the norm for people with learning disabilities to be employed in workplaces across the country or run their own businesses.

"We have known for many years that people with learning disabilities experience poor physical health and shorter life expectancy yet annual health checks are still not carried out. People with learning disabilities, especially the increasing number of people with high support needs, must have equal rights to good healthcare."

"Across the country councils are tightening their eligibility criteria and fewer people with learning disabilities will get help from statutory services - some vulnerable people will not be "disabled enough" to qualify for support. Failure to increase funding means that people with learning disabilities will only receive the minimum support required to meet their basic physical needs. In the 21st Century, it is not good enough that budget cuts in councils and the NHS are damaging the fight for equality for people with learning disabilities."

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities promotes the rights, quality of life and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and their families.

http://www.fpld.org.uk