Disabled people must have equal employment and life chances - Alexander

Disabled people must have equal employment and life chances - Alexander

18 September 2006

The Liberal Democrats today passed a motion to give disabled people more choice and control over their lives - at home, at work and in their community.

Currently £6.7 billion of incapacity benefits are paid to disabled people, many of whom want to go back to work. The motion passed today addresses the barriers disabled people face gaining equal access to education, training and ultimately employment.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Disabled People, Danny Alexander MP said:

"With over 2.5 million people claiming incapacity benefit, the 'one size fits all' approach for disabled people is clearly failing.

"It is essential that we create a flexible personalised benefits system in tandem with improved community support, so disabled people can live fulfilling independent lives and wherever possible find suitable employment.

"Services should not lock disabled people into a culture of dependency but enable them to make their own choices. Direct payments and individual budgets for disabled people, with the support of a network of Centres for Independent Living are key to achieving this.

"When disabled people have greater rights and responsibilities for their own lives, the contributions they are able to make to the economy and to their communities benefit us all."