The Scotland Committee and the Disability Committee of the Equality and Human Rights Commission will be joined by the UK Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP and representatives from the Scottish Government and the Office for Disability Issues to discuss the Independent Living Scotland Project on Wednesday 10th September in Glasgow.
This is the start of a new long term approach to help improve the daily lives of disabled people, backed by £600,000 from the Scottish Government. The committee will work with a wide range of disabled people and their organisations to strengthen and develop the Independent Living movement in Scotland and support the involvement of disabled people in shaping the Scottish Government’s approach.
Hosted by the Commission, the project aims to cost the steps that will enable Scotland to achieve the Independent Living vision and influence the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2009 and 2012.
Morag Alexander, Scotland Commissioner, Equality and Human Rights Commission said:
‘This project marks a step change in ensuring that all disabled people are afforded the opportunity to make real choices in how they live their lives.
‘We recognise that it may take years to remove all of the barriers which currently prevent disabled people from fulfilling their social and economic potential but the Government’s pledge to support this project is an encouraging statement of purpose towards increasing disabled people’s autonomy.
‘We look forward to working with the Scottish Government, disability organisations and disabled people themselves in ensuring that the right to independent living becomes a reality.’
The joint meeting will also bring together representatives from the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Northern Ireland Commission and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to discuss promoting and monitoring the implementation of the UN Disability Convention.
Notes to editors
1. The £600,000 announced today will support the work of the expert group, which includes a grant of £400,000 to support the direct involvement of disabled people in this work.
2. The Scottish Government announced 1.4 million in funding for projects to assist disability organisations and disabled people on 31 May 2008. The funding announced today is in addition to that.
3. Nearly one in five people of working age (0.9 million or 19 percent) in Scotland are disabled.
4. Only 50 percent of disabled people of working age are in work, compared with 80 percent of non disabled people of working age.
More information about Independent Living in Scotland:
Scottish Government pledge to support Independent Living for disabled people