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Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre

Ardwick Green North
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
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Email: info@vsnw.org.uk

Get Involved in a New Government Disability Strategy

22 February 2012 12:30 - 15:30

Business Employment Venture Centre, Aked Close, Ardwick, Manchester M12 4AN

Breakthrough UK has been invited to contribute directly to a new cross-government disability strategy and would like to gather the views of local disabled people to make sure they are represented in the response. To support the strategy consultation, the government has published a discussion document with questions.

They have been asked to talk about practical ideas that will make a real difference to disabled people’s lives. The three areas that the government want to focus on are:

· Realising aspirations – what is needed so that disabled people get the right support at different points in their lives to fulfil their potential and goals in education, work and independent living?

· Increasing individual control – how can government ensure that disabled people have personal control over the services they receive, for example within housing, travel or employment, and that this support is delivered in the way individuals want it?

· Changing attitudes and behaviours – how to promote positive attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people so that disabled people are fully included in all areas of society, and that discrimination and harassment are dealt with properly whenever they happen?

On the day, participants will:

1. Have an understanding of the planned disability strategy, its context and their role in developing it.

2. In small groups, feedback and offer practical suggestions / good practice examples across the three main areas.

3. Give views on how the disability strategy should be effectively monitored and enforced, once in place.

The government say that they will look at everyone’s suggestions and work with disabled people to publish a new strategy in the spring.

Breakthrough UK have applied for funding for travel, communication support and personal assistance costs to support the attendance of Deaf and disabled people living within Greater Manchester

If you would like to attend, please contact Mark Watts by 15th February to confirm and to tell them about your access requirements. You can contact Mark on 0161 273 5412, Answerphone Minicom: 0161 273 5727 or at admin@breakthrough-uk.co.uk

To find out more, visit www.odi.gov.uk/fulfillingpotential

A survey on the strategy will be available on our website shortly at www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk