Lack Of Spending For Disabled To Cause “Massive Problems”

A failure to invest in and reform key public sector services will widen inequality and disadvantage Britain’s disabled community, the chairman of the disabled rights commission (DRC) has said.

Sir Bert Massie claims that while new legislation has improved the quality of life of the disabled population, a lack of public spending continues to widen the social gap.

Key public sector services, particularly social care, continue to deprive disabled people of the new opportunities they are entitled to take advantage of.

“The positive developments of the last decade have undoubtedly helped to create a more open road for disabled people to do the things they want to in life,” Sir Bert said.

“But the unhappy irony is that, at the same time, the public services, resources and support many need to take up these new opportunities have either not materialised or have gone into decline because of rationing.”

Sir Bert lamented the fact that many disabled people “have been invited to look to the stars, only to find the ground opening beneath them” as a result of the inadequate funding.

“It is clear, that without action now, the challenges of the coming years will create new patterns of inequality and disadvantage that Britain can ill-afford,” the DRC chairman continued.

The disability agenda “offers a fresh approach both to existing and new challenges expected over the next ten years”, he added, noting that around a third of all children in poverty have a disabled parent – evidence of the great need for change.