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The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has launched a white paper
called 'Shaping the Future of Britain' and with it looks forward
to creating a new programme on the issue of the rights of disabled
people. It wants to further increase the impetus the equality movement
has gained over the last ten years.
With the white paper, the DRC is hoping to trigger what it calls
the 'biggest and most-wide ranging debate ever on disability in
Britain'.
DRC chairman Bert Massie said: "While massive progress has been
made since the Disability Discrimination Act first came onto the
statute book in 1995, there is still a long way to go to reaching
this goal,”
The campaign will ask stakeholders, policymakers, average citizens
and more to help it identify the top priorities for a new and focused
disability agenda for the next 10 to 15 years. People can join the
debate by visiting:
The DRC plans to consult the public on many issues including how:
- society can ensure disabled people are safe in their communities
and in control of their own lives
- disabled people can get the skills to take on active roles in
society
- the government can modify the welfare state so that it supports
independence
In launching the debate Bert Massie said: "Being an equal citizen
means sharing responsibilities as well as having rights. But if
you live in a society where you are not valued, where prejudice
circumscribes in advance what you can offer and even throws up barriers
to your inclusion, your worth as a member of society diminishes
as does your opportunity to make a valued contribution."
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