	RETT SYNDROME ASSOCIATION UK World Congress Paris 10 - 13 October 2008

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Improving The Lives Of Disabled People

(extracted from Mencap’s learning disability newsletter)

The Government has published a 20-year plan to improve the lives of disabled people. It promises to have a big impact on the lives of people with a learning disability. The report, called ‘Improving the life chances of disabled people’, makes some important recommendations. These include setting up a new Office for Disability Issues to co-ordinate policy across government and report each year to the Prime Minster on the progress made.

Other recommendations include:

	creating individual budgets. These would bring together all the money and services disabled people have a right to. People will then be able to chose how to spend their money and who to get services from.
	strong support for a National Centre for Early Intervention. This could give much-needed early support to very young children with a disability and their families. Mencap has been working with the Government on this.
	an urgent review of the Disabled Facilities Grant. This grant is the money given to disabled people or the families of disabled children to adapt their homes. Many families have to fight to get this money because of an unfair means test.
	more support for disabled people up to the age of 25 as they adapt to life as an adult. This time in a person’s life is sometimes called transition

Mencap will need to decide which parts of the report they campaign on. To do this they will need to speak to lots of different people who will be affected. They would like to hear your views and what you think they should campaign on. To have your say, please call Mencap’s campaigns officer Caroline Gordon on 020 7696 6021 or email caroline.gordon@mencap.org.uk

To find out more

	Download some easy-to-read information about the report (PDF).
	Download a briefing about the 'Life chances' report (PDF).
	Get a copy of the report and more information from the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit website