The Social Model of Disability
– Scrutiny Members leading
Simon Cox
www.diversematters.co.uk
Impairment
Disabling Barriers
Physical
Organisational
Sensory
Education, Employment,
Transportation, Health,
Housing, Families
Learning disabilities
Mental health &
Distress
Environmental
Buildings, Information,
Communication
Attitudinal
Violent, Sad, Needy, Mad
Pathetic, Sick, Special
CONDITIONS TO ACHIEVE
• Sensitive to and guided by the views and experiences of
disabled people
• Focus limited resources on activities that create
widespread change
• Work in partnership across sectors, act as the catalyst
for change
• Draw on experience of service delivery and employment
• Spread expertise and learning that advocates for
disabled people at local service level
• Tailor services and communications to disabled peoples’
needs
A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
• Britain is getting older.
– By 2007 it is expected that there will be more people of
pensionable age than children under 16.
– Half disabled population are over state pension age, and 29% aged 75+ ( 21% and 9% of general adult population)
• Technological developments
– Interactive media
– Growing internet use
– Customisation of products to individual requirements
• Central government Expectations
– Social Model
– Centres for Independent/Integrated Living
– Disability Equality Duty
– Engagement/involvement
– Pathways to Work
DRC OBJECTIVES
– Narrowing the gap
1. Towards equality in educational attainment
and contribution to school and college life
2. Greater employment equality: getting in,
staying in and getting on
3. Equality of provision of goods and services:
equal consumers, equal passengers
4. Greater equality in health outcomes and
choice; and health and social care
increasingly supporting independent living
DISABILITY STRATEGY VALUES
• A VALUES-BASED LEADERSHIP FOR “QUALITY OF
LIFE” IMPROVEMENTS:
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It’s a DISCRIMINATION issue
Social Model solutions
Partnerships and collaborative relationships
Community Cohesion
Trained and ‘Disability confident’ service delivery staff
Not ‘risk averse’
No Rural Excuses - Build on strengths
Ambitious to deliver