'Local Lib Dems are putting persons with disabilities at the heart of their policies for Medway'

International Day of Persons with Disabilities falls on the 3rd of December each year, with the aim of promoting empowerment, and helping to create real opportunities for people with disabilities. This enhances their own capacities and supports them in setting their own priorities. The theme this year is "Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world". As we mark the day, one billion people around the world live with a disability - that's roughly 15% of the global population.

This year marks the 27th anniversary of the passing of the Disability Discrimination Act - a landmark moment in the on-going battle for disability rights. Under the Equality Act 2010 and the Disability Discrimination Act before it, the law in our land is absolutely clear: discrimination is unacceptable and illegal.

Liberal Democrats are fighting discrimination and inequality for all those with disabilities, visible or invisible. We recognise the economic and social barriers faced by so many people with disabilities, whether it is the benefits system using the medical model of disability, making decisions that bear no relation to lived experience, or travel - whether by bus, train, taxi or plane - where both the companies running transport and the wider public have no idea of how difficult even the simplest journey can be. This is not good enough.

Alan Wells, spokesperson for Medway Liberal Democrats said, "Locally, Medway Liberal Democrats are developing policies that promote equality and inclusion. Our policies recognise that integration between health, social care, housing and employment services needs to improve to provide better outcomes for people in care and needing support services. It's essential that healthcare services are accessible for people who nay be deaf, blind or have complex needs so that they are able to access services, communicate with healthcare professionals and receive information about their health.

The 3rd December is a day set aside to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities, and a day to increase our understanding of disabilities which can be physical, mental, sensory or cognitive. We must be relentless in our efforts to build a more inclusive country, because we are all better off when everyone can realise their full potential."

People with disabilities play a crucial role in the development of Medway's communities. As a Party, we are clear: people with disabilities must have the opportunity to fully participate in every aspect of society. We cannot sit back while our local villages and towns remain inaccessible. Let us build a brighter future for disabled people everywhere. Disabled people will be at the heart of our local health policy, so that they are given the opportunity to shape the system that reflects their needs and experiences.

ENDS

ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR EDITORS:

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3 December was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

The 2022 global observance to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities will be around the overarching theme of innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development, covering in three different interactive dialogues the following thematic topics:

• Innovation for disability inclusive development in employment (SDG8): this dialogue will discuss the linkages between employment, knowledge and skills required to access employment in an innovative, rapidly changing technological landscape to all and how assistive technologies can increase accessibility to employment and be mainstreamed in the workplace.

• Innovation for disability inclusive development in reducing inequality (SDG10): this dialogue will discuss innovations, practical tools and good practices to reduce inequalities in both public and private sectors, which are disability inclusive and interested in promoting diversity in the workplace.

• Innovation for disability inclusive development: sport as an exemplar case: a sector where all of these aspects coalesce; sport as a good practice example and a site of innovation, employment and equity.

For more information, please click here. https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/2022/10/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-2022/

It is not acceptable that children with disabilities are facing worse cuts in their support from both education and health, with personal support and respite care being cut for the most vulnerable in society.

It is not acceptable that new trains are designed with only a handful of wheelchair spaces, which are still used more for luggage.

It is not acceptable that the benefits system targets people with disabilities, and also removing their access to Motability support, and thus access to specialist cars and wheelchairs.

It is not acceptable that house builders can avoid building even the minimum number of disabled accessible and affordable homes, meaning disabled people have nowhere to live.

It is not acceptable that shops and theatres are allowed to continue to be inaccessible.

It's not acceptable that in too many offices the disabled access to the building is via the bin store.

It is not acceptable that people with an invisible disability are refused seats on public transport, even if they are wearing a "Please offer me a seat" badges

It is not acceptable that disabled people are targeted in hate crimes as easy prey.

Nationally, Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to lift the unjust barriers excluding disabled people from the workplace and are demanding overdue policy changes including:

1. A Jobs Guarantee for unemployed disabled people and specialist disability employment support

2. A £20 a week increase in Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payments, in line with the Universal Credit uplift

3. Disabled people to have a 'day one' right to work from home if they want to, unless there are significant business reasons as to why this could not be accommodated. For more information, visit here: https://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2021/1398587/lifting-barriers-to-work-for-disabled-people