Students from the Natspec Student Parliament have submitted a consultation response to the Disability Unit in the Cabinet Office.
Following a lively discussion at the April meeting of Student Parliament, they drew up a list of 10 key things that would improve their quality of life as young disabled people. More opportunities to participate in disability sport, better housing, and improved accessibility in local communities all made the list. Underpinning everything was a plea that policy makers should listen to and hear the voices of young disabled people.
The Student Parliament’s response will be one of thousands from disabled people from across the country who were invited to share their opinions and experiences as part a survey to inform a National Strategy for Disabled People, due to be published this summer.
The Response
What would improve quality of life for young disabled people? Natspec Student Parliament would like to see:
- More disability sport facilities and opportunities to take part
- Better accessibility in lots of different areas: transport, areas of interest, information (e.g. leaflets, menus, signs), IT and in future planning of local communities
- More and better toilets/changing rooms suitable for disabled people
- Increased disability awareness amongst the general public
- Disability awareness education for employers so they know what we are capable of and how they can support us
- More disability funding
- More meaningful social and employment opportunities and more ways to make a positive contribution to society and our communities
- More and better living opportunities: easier processes for sorting out living arrangements and better information about the different options
- More personalised education that builds on our strengths as well as helping us with things we find difficult
- People who make policy and decisions about things that affect us hearing our voices and listening to us.
Download the full response
Natspec Student Parliament: A response to the Disability Strategy Survey April 2021
