Department for Work and Pensions
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More control for disabled people
A national consultation that could dramatically change the way every disabled person lives their life is being launched today by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper.
Right to Control is a shake up of the way disabled people can use the funding they receive from the state. The policy forms part of the Government's radical welfare reforms and will for the first time enshrine in legislation the principle that disabled people are the experts in their own lives and have the right to choice and control over their support.
Under the new scheme, disabled people will be able to choose who delivers their services and how they receive them. They can have as much or as little control as they wish and they could choose to spend the money on a wide range of support to help them to live their lives with greater independence and freedom.
For example, public bodies may currently only be able to offer a limited choice of services, such as access to a daycentre and a specific employment programme. In the future, a disabled person could decide to employ someone directly to help them with work, home and leisure activities. They could decide to keep things the way they are, or have a mixture of both.
Disabled people and their organisations are being asked to help shape this initiative - by taking part in the consultation they can influence how the Right to Control works.
Yvette Cooper said:
"Disabled people know more about their own lives than anyone else, and the Right to Control will give them the power to decide what support they need and who should provide it.
"We've involved disabled people in developing this policy and we hope to get as much feedback as possible from individuals and from disabled people's organisations - and we encourage them to hold their own consultation events."
The Right to Control is a major part of the Government's goal to achieve equality for disabled people by 2025.
The scheme will be tested in a limited number of trailblazer areas, before a decision is made on whether to implement the policy nationally. Pilots in a small number of public authorities will run in England from 2010 for an initial period of 2-3 years.
The national consultation launch event, hosted by RADAR, takes place at the London Marriott Hotel Regents Park today.
Individuals and organisations can take part in the consultation by visiting http://www.odi.gov.uk/right-to-control or calling 020 7449 5093.
Notes to editors:
1. Chapter 3 of the White Paper "Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future", published in December 2008, outlined the Government's intention to legislate for a Right to Control for disabled people, and to test it in selected trailblazing areas.
2. It also contained the commitment to consult widely on the details of this right to help construct the right system of implementation around the broad framework primary and secondary legislation puts together.
3. We have been consulting with our Advisory Group since its inception in May 2008. They have helped shape the green and white papers and have now turned their attentions to the implementation of the Right to Control.
4. The launch event takes place at: London Marriott Hotel Regents Park, 128 King Henry's Road, London, NW3 3ST
Media Enquiries: 0203 267 5123
Website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk
