Mencap welcomes finding of the JCHR Report on the Right of Disabled People to Independent Living

Thursday 01 March 2012

Mencap responds to Joint Committee on Human Rights Report on the Implementation of the Right of Disabled People to Independent Living, which has warned that changes to housing benefit, the Disability Living Allowance and social care support "risk interacting in a particularly harmful way for disabled people".

Mark Goldring, Mencap’s chief executive:

"The report highlights the concerns of many disabled people and disability organisations. Reform of the Disability Living Allowance and cuts to social care budgets risk undermining the already limited opportunity for people with a learning disability to live independent lives.

It is essential that despite the financial constraints it faces, the Government does not act against its stated commitment to protect and enhance the right to independent living for disabled people. We urge the Government to act with urgency to reform our failing and underfunded social care system, and to closely monitor the effects of its changes to disability benefits, which will see 500,000 disabled people no longer supported with the additional costs of their disability."

ENDS

For more information please contact Pasca Lane on 0207 696 6017 or email pasca.lane@mencap.org.uk

The Joint Committee on Human Rights published its Twenty-third Report, Implementation of the Right of Disabled People to Independent Living today as House of Lords Paper 257 and House of Commons Paper 1074.

Notes to editors

• About Mencap

There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability and their families and carers by fighting to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also one of the largest providers of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. People with a learning disability and their carers can find out more about our services by calling Mencap Direct on 0300 333 111 or by visiting www.mencap.org.uk

• What is a learning disability?

A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.

People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complex information and interact with other people.

The level of support someone needs depends on individual factors, including the severity of their learning disability.