Southampton Centre for Independent Living

On February 14, the Disability Rights Commission launched what will probably be its last major inititative before it is merged into the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights in October 2007.

The Disability Agenda sets out what the DRC consider to be the major public policy challenges that Britain is facing and the action required to meet them.  These include promoting a culture of human rights and equality, bringing an end to child poverty, increasing life chances through learning and skills, ending poverty and widening employment opportunity, increasing participation in public, civic and community life, developing a social care system fit for the future, tackling health inequality, meeting the future housing challenge and building stronger safer communities. 

All very worthy aims and remarkably similar to the 12 basic rights that SCIL adopted 20 years ago. Although at first glance, the agenda just looked like a bunch of worthy aims but with no substance, the DRC has drawn up a list of recommendations for each aim, which hopefully both central and local government as well as others will consider when drawing up their future strategic plans.

It is still unclear how much attention the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will give to disability issues but hopefully the Disability Agenda will be adopted by the new Commission and others in an effort to effect change over the next 10 years.

Don’t panic. SCIL hasn’t given up on the blog, we’ve just all been really busy working on some new exciting projects – Details to follow.

Blogging is taking off in a big way. We’ve been surfing the blogosphere and have unearthed a few gems that you might want to check out while you’re waiting for SCIL to find time to get back to regular blogging.

Attitudes2Disability is a blog that describes itself as ‘Disability fossilised in myths, literature, theatre, folklore, biography and history’. If the initial short articles are anything to go by, it looks like it may develop into a useful and thought provoking site.

Rob Trent’s blog is an excellent example of a blog writer that lets off steam in his blog but at the same time gives you plenty to think about. His current battles with Hampshire County Council’s FAB team are fully chronicled.

If you’re looking for something on the lighter side, try the Lame Champion Comics blog which features a range of cartoons, many with an impairment angle.

Progress on Independent Living issues in Serbia are widely expected with the news that Gordana Rajkov has become the first disabled person to be elected as a MP in the Serbian Parliament.

Gordana Rajkov is on the Board of the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) and has been heavily involved in the development of the Centre for Independent Living in Serbia. Gordana spoke with passion at the recent ENIL conference in Valencia about the importance of Direct Payments and Personal Assistance within Serbia.

It is encouraging that Disabled People in Europe are securing positions in the political sphere where they can hopefully influence policies that have a direct effect on Disabled People’s lives.