Changes to support for disabled people – have your say

The social care system in this country is not working and the Government plans to make changes.

The big question

What changes to make and how to pay for them?

You may have seen the press coverage of the Government consultation about this and will have noticed a big focus on the needs of older people who need personal care.

However this is not the only group covered by the proposals in this green paper. It is vital that the Government also hears the views of other groups: people who were born with a disability; disabled people of working age; older people who can wash and dress themselves but need other support such as a communicator guide.

Deafblind people must be heard

If deafblind people and their families don’t tell the Government what they want, then their voices won’t be heard and their needs may not be met in any new system. Now is the time to get involved!

You can do this in several ways. Firstly, you can attend one of the Government’s consultation events. These are happening all over England between now and the end of October. To book go to: www.coievents.co.uk/careandsupport, telephone 020 7261 8400 or email careandsupport@coi.gsi.gov.uk.

You can find details of other ways to get involved, including joining the debate on facebook, signing up for email updates and writing your own response at http://careandsupport.direct.gov.uk/.

Sense will be doing a response and we encourage all deafblind people and families to let us know what you think to inform our response. If you haven’t had a copy of our consultation questionnaire please ask for a copy.

Please comment on the plans and express your views by selecting 'add a comment' below.

6 comments

National Care Service

The green papers talks about a national care service and this would mean that if a person moves they take their social care assessment with them and do not have to be re-assessed in the new area. This would be good for people who get a decent assessment in the first place but what if your original assessment was bad and you were stuck with it when you moved? Could, or should, there be national specialists for rare impairments/needs within the national care service to ensure people get good assessments?

Ann from Norfolk, 15 August 2009 20:08

DLA

Definitely, Sense will be doing something about this. But it will be a long time before any changes will be made. Nothing is likely to happen before the election next year, and even then it will take time to bring the changes in. That gives Sense lots of time to work with the many other disability charities who want to keep these benefits. If you are worried the best thing to do is write to your MP and feed your views into the consultation process.

Sue Brown from Sense, 14 August 2009 15:41

DLA

I have heard some talk of the government getting rid of DLA. This would be bad news for deafblind people. Will Sense be speaking out about this?

Linda from London, 14 August 2009 15:28

Speak out

I am worried about the failure to address the needs of younger disabled people and needs other than personal care. It is really important for deafblind people to speak out on this. I am glad to see Sense is encouraging it. I hope to go to one of the events and to make a written submission.

Kevin from Chesterfield, 13 August 2009 19:54

Younger disabled people

We do need adequate funding, but we also need to make sure the new system works for younger disabled people not just older people. At the moment there is too little debate about solving the problems people of working age face in the system. It is also important that it isn't all about personal care. Deafblind people need support with things like communication, and that is just as important as washign and dressing.

Sue from London, 13 August 2009 14:33

Time to think realistically!

Adequate funding must be provided to account for rising numbers of disabled people as well as older people and every deafblind person who requires it must be able to access high quality support, however it is funded.

Cinzia Marrocco from Southampton, 13 August 2009 11:59

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