Welfare Reform on the Web (March 2005): Services for the Disabled - UK

DOUBLE TROUBLE

R. Tozer

Community Care, Feb.3rd-9th 2005, p.36-37

Discusses barriers to employment faced by people from ethnic minorities with sensory impairments. These include lack of qualification on leaving school, inadequate statutory transitional arrangements and cultural factors.

IMPROVING THE LIFE CHANCES OF DISABLED PEOPLE: FINAL REPORT

Prime Minister's Strategy Unit

2005

Report states that by 2025 disabled people in the UK should have full opportunities and choices to improve their quality of life and will be respected and included as equal members of society. Sets out the long term strategy to achieve this under four headings:

• independent living;
• support for families of young disabled children;
• transition into adulthood;
• support and incentives for gaining and remaining in employment.

Underpinning many of the recommendations is a proposal which aims to boost independent living by amalgamating existing funding streams into an individual budget which the disabled person can decide how to spend.

TOO MUCH, TOO YOUNG

K. Quarmby

Society Guardian, Feb. 23rd 2005, p.10

Although most mainstream disability charities argue that inclusion is the right way forward for most disabled children, they note resistance on the part of nurseries, childminders and some parents. The article asks if disabled children are better off in mainstream childcare?