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Policy

BDF responds to court ruling on National Disability Strategy

The High Court has found the Government’s National Disability Strategy to be unlawful due to a lack of consultation with disabled people. BDF has issued a response.

Statement

The recent ruling on the National Disability Strategy provides another opportunity for us to highlight the vital need for the Government to consult with disabled people in an accessible and meaningful way. The strategy aims to improve the lives of disabled people. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and cannot be achieved without the direct involvement of disabled people.

Business Disability Forum is a member of the Disability Charities Consortium (DCC). Prior to the publication of the strategy DCC published a manifesto calling on the Government to look beyond online data collection to a wider consultation with multiple formats of participation – allowing all disabled people to share their views in the way they choose.

We also called for consultation and engagement to continue throughout implementation and reviews stages of the strategy, as well as ongoing updates from the Government on how this has been achieved.

The ruling reinforces the absolute importance of truly meaningful engagement and involving disabled people from the outset. We would welcome a detailed plan and timetable on how the Government intends to consult and communicate with disabled people on the strategy going forwards so that the maximum number of people can take part.

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