Equal rights and democracy

Disabled people still face discrimination and abuse in many aspects of their lives, at work, at home and in their community – and evidence shows that attitudes towards disabled people are getting worse.

“They’ve tried to shove my power-chair off the kerb and said I’m just a scrounger and want attention.” Disabled respondent to our latest poll.

Despite the considerable challenges still faced by disabled people, the Government recently announced plans to review crucial parts of our equality law. See the plan on the Home office website.

Lots of disabled people are worried about what this will mean for their rights and feel the Government is sending out a mixed message about its commitment to promoting equality for disabled people.

We need your help to persuade the Government to strengthen rather than weaken the equality law. But it is not only our equality laws that are under review. With proposals to reform our current human rights protections, we have been calling on the Government to look to the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People to ensure that it lives up to its international obligations.

Do you want more say over the way things are done where you live?

If so, then the Access to Elected Office Fund could help you. This fund is designed to help more disabled people get elected by covering some of the extra costs they face, such as extra transport or British Sign Language interpreters.

If you want to make a difference in your local area, then take the next step and submit your application online on the Fund website (create a login account before applying), by post or over the phone. The fund will be open for applications until March 2014.