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Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People:

Department of Work and Pensions Written Ministerial Statement

Subject of the statement:

Publication of the Strategy Unit final report on improving the life chances of disabled people.

Date of statement:

19th January 2005

Maria Eagle

The Strategy Unit's report, 'Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People', is being published today as agreed Government policy. The report sets out an ambitious vision for improving the life chances of disabled people over the next twenty years.

The report focuses on four key aspects of disabled people's life chances: independent living, early years and family support, transition to adulthood, and employment. The practical measures are designed to:

• Increase disabled people's ability to live independently - to enjoy increased choice and control over how their needs are met through individualised budgets - and to have the opportunity of a full home, work and community life;
• Enable young disabled children and their families to enjoy 'ordinary' lives, through access to childcare, early education and early family support, to enable them to care for their child effectively and remain socially and economically included;
• Support disabled young people and their families through the transition to adulthood. Transition will be better planned around the needs of the individuals and service delivery will be smoother across the transition;
• Increase the number of disabled people in employment while providing support and security for those unable to work. Employers will be able to access the right advice and information.

The Government will set up an Office for Disability Issues - reporting to the Minister for Disabled People - to help coordinate disability policy across Government. There will be a Ministerial cross government group on Disability to lead and sustain the implementation process. Annual reports on progress will be presented to the Prime Minister and published on the web.

Copies of the report have been placed in the Vote Office and the Libraries.