Government plans for improving the lives and prospects for disabled people by 2025 can be found in the report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People.
It sets out a wide ranging programme of action to create an environment where ‘disabled people in Britain should have full opportunities and choices to improve their quality of life and will be respected and included as equal members of society’.
One of the key measures specified is helping disabled people to achieve independent living. This entails a number of initiatives including establishing User Led Organisations (ULOs).
The government strategy states each locality covered by a council with social services responsibilities should have a ULO by 2010.The programme for implementation will be led by the Department of Health.
ULOs are controlled by disabled people and carers. They are critical to delivering personalisation, promoting independent living, implementing the Disability Equality Duty, tackling social exclusion and empowering disabled people.
Groups can choose to become ULOs and deliver their own services, or work with other voluntary and community organisations to form a Centre of Independent Living (CIL). insert link.
At a minimum ULOs will be expected to provide -
· information and advice
· advocacy and peer support
· assistance with self-assessment
· support in using individual budgets
· support to recruit and employ personal assistants
· disability equality training
· consumer audits of local services.
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