Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People

The College of Occupational Therapists has welcomed publication of the cross Government strategy on Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People.

Sheelagh Richards, Chief Executive, says:

"The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit is to be commended for producing a report that sets out a clear strategic vision on the significant barriers that need to be removed if disabled people are to enjoy the same choice, control and freedom as any other citizen. The report is unambiguous; its analysis is sound and its recommendations are far reaching. It acknowledges that success will depend on the appropriate level of funding being made available as a result of successful outcomes from future spending reviews. But no one knows what an 'appropriate level' is, so much is wasted on unnecessary bureaucracy and inter-agency disputes.

"Occupational therapists who are often at the front end of gate-keeping resources for assistive technologies and housing adaptations know very well that failure to promote independence results in avoidable expenditure on services that promote dependence. In that regard, the College particularly welcomes the commitment to improve vocational rehabilitation services that are needed to enable disabled people to remain in, or return to, employment.

"The College also supports in principle the ambitious proposal that budgets be drawn together to give disabled people the freedom to use direct payments to buy the services they want, or to have services provided if that is their choice. But if extending the use of direct payments is to prove attractive and successful to disabled people, administrative savings need to be factored into these pooled budgets so that disabled people are given adequate funding to exercise real choice and control.

"A twenty year time scale may seem sensible given the huge organisational and cultural changes that need to be achieved, but that will seem a very long time for disabled people who are impatient to have equal life chances. We therefore believe the strategy should have a clear set of developmental priorities, targets and qualitative outcomes so that progress is measurable and transparent."

The College hopes that the new Office for Disability Issues will work with the full range of stakeholders to progress this strategy. The College wants to be involved so that the profession can play its full part in improving the life chances of disabled people.