Scope response to disability strategy

Esther McVey, the Minister for Disabled People, has published her plans for "delivering on our ambition, that disabled people should be enabled to achieve their aspirations and play a full role in society".

Fulfilling Potential - Making it Happen

She told parliament that the document Fulfilling Potential - Making it Happen underscores the Government's commitment to "harnesses the inspirational power of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games - aiming to deliver further lasting change to attitudes and aspirations".

In response, Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope said:

"If we want to make this a better place for disabled people we have to start by changing attitudes to disability. Disabled people tell us they continue experience bad attitudes. The Minister is right to place huge emphasis here.

"She is also right that the Paralympics were a break-through moment. Disability has never been talked about so openly; disabled people have never been so visible.

"But you don’t change attitudes in a fortnight. The job for charities, for the media, for the Government and indeed anyone with stake in disability is to build on that momentum.

"We want to see an end to the rhetoric on benefits scroungers and the misuse of welfare stats. Disabled people tell us that the negative impact this has outweighs any other work to push positive messages.

"The Minister is clear that the job of making this country a better place for disabled people involves colleagues across Government. This is absolutely right. Disabled people need to see much more leadership and cooperation across Government. This is where the Minister has a key role."

"Times are really tough for disabled people. Incomes are flatlining and the cost of living is spiralling. So far the Government's response has been to slash £28 billion from their financial support, cap welfare spending and reduce the numbers of people eligible for the care and support they rely on to eat, wash, and dress."

"Disabled people want to know how this strategy is going to address these key challenges, and deliver real improvements in their standard of living."