This report summarises the findings of a review of evidence about the impact of the 2008 Independent Living Strategy and seeks to measure progress against some of the most important specific aims of the strategy. The review found that there is no evidence of significant progress in disabled people’s experiences of choice and control in their lives since 2008. Personal budgets for social care tend to improve outcomes but there is evidence that inadequate funding and restrictions on how personal budgets/direct payments may be used can inhibit choice and control. Disabled people who need support in their daily lives and older people are experiencing diminishing opportunities to participate in family and community life. People with high levels of support needs are at increasing risk of institutionalisation while access to mental health services is becoming more difficult. There have been significant reductions in advice and advocacy services, particularly those funded by legal aid. There is no evidence that current policies to support disabled people into work are improving employment opportunities and large numbers of disabled people have experienced a reduction in their household income since 2010. Disabled people are experiencing a reduction in housing opportunities and an increasing number are living in accommodation which is not suited to their needs and there have been significant reductions in expenditure on important programmes intended to increase transport opportunities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report summarises the findings of a review of evidence about the impact of the 2008 Independent Living Strategy and seeks to measure progress against some of the most important specific aims of the strategy. The review found that there is no evidence of significant progress in disabled people’s experiences of choice and control in their lives since 2008. Personal budgets for social care tend to improve outcomes but there is evidence that inadequate funding and restrictions on how personal budgets/direct payments may be used can inhibit choice and control. Disabled people who need support in their daily lives and older people are experiencing diminishing opportunities to participate in family and community life. People with high levels of support needs are at increasing risk of institutionalisation while access to mental health services is becoming more difficult. There have been significant reductions in advice and advocacy services, particularly those funded by legal aid. There is no evidence that current policies to support disabled people into work are improving employment opportunities and large numbers of disabled people have experienced a reduction in their household income since 2010. Disabled people are experiencing a reduction in housing opportunities and an increasing number are living in accommodation which is not suited to their needs and there have been significant reductions in expenditure on important programmes intended to increase transport opportunities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
independent living, independence, disabilities, older people, personal budgets, employment, housing, transport, user participation, government policy, evaluation, choice;
There are concerns that reductions in benefits and public services will significantly and disproportionately affect disabled people. This report examines the progress that has been made in disability policy in the last 20 years. It shows that there have been some key improvements in both the socio-economic experiences of disabled people, and in related government policies. Nevertheless, few disabled people are optimistic about what the future holds. Some aspects of the arguments made by disability organisations have been capitalised on by the politics and ideology driving recent and current policies in ways which disadvantage disabled people. In particular this has happened with the social model of disability and concepts of ‘independent living’, ‘user involvement’ and ‘co-production’. In order to experience equal access to full citizenship, disabled people require some kind of collective and redistributive mechanism. Such redistribution needs to be in the context of a value system which values diversity and in which disabled people are treated as belonging and contributing to the communities in which they live.
There are concerns that reductions in benefits and public services will significantly and disproportionately affect disabled people. This report examines the progress that has been made in disability policy in the last 20 years. It shows that there have been some key improvements in both the socio-economic experiences of disabled people, and in related government policies. Nevertheless, few disabled people are optimistic about what the future holds. Some aspects of the arguments made by disability organisations have been capitalised on by the politics and ideology driving recent and current policies in ways which disadvantage disabled people. In particular this has happened with the social model of disability and concepts of ‘independent living’, ‘user involvement’ and ‘co-production’. In order to experience equal access to full citizenship, disabled people require some kind of collective and redistributive mechanism. Such redistribution needs to be in the context of a value system which values diversity and in which disabled people are treated as belonging and contributing to the communities in which they live.
Subject terms:
independence, independent living, policy, quality of life, social care provision, benefits, disabilities;
This report written in July 2006 by JennyMorris was commissioned by the DH Valuing People Support Team. The report looks at what needs to happen in order to fulfil the recommendation in the Improving Life Chances report that: “By 2010, each locality (defined as that area covered by a Council with social services responsibilities) should have a user-led organisation modelled on existing CILs
This report written in July 2006 by JennyMorris was commissioned by the DH Valuing People Support Team. The report looks at what needs to happen in order to fulfil the recommendation in the Improving Life Chances report that: “By 2010, each locality (defined as that area covered by a Council with social services responsibilities) should have a user-led organisation modelled on existing CILs (Centres for Independent Living)”.
Subject terms:
independent living, models, organisational structure, service users, social services, user participation, user-led organisations;
This report written in July 2006 by JennyMorris was commissioned by the DH Valuing People Support Team. The report looks at what needs to happen in order to fulfil the recommendation in the Improving Life Chances report (p91) that: “By 2010, each locality (defined as that area covered by a Council with social services responsibilities) should have a user-led organisation modelled on existing
This report written in July 2006 by JennyMorris was commissioned by the DH Valuing People Support Team. The report looks at what needs to happen in order to fulfil the recommendation in the Improving Life Chances report (p91) that: “By 2010, each locality (defined as that area covered by a Council with social services responsibilities) should have a user-led organisation modelled on existing CILs (Centres for Independent Living)”.
Subject terms:
independent living, models, organisational structure, service users, social services, user participation, user-led organisations;