Fulfilling Potential Forum on Disability 
Thursday 3rd April 2014
10.30 – 16.00

Summary of the first Forum

This note provides a summary of the discussions held at the first Fulfilling Potential Forum on Disability. 

Welcome and introductions 

1.	Hugh Pullinger, Deputy Director, Office for Disability Issues opened the Forum and welcomed attendees from a range of disability organisations across the England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

2.	A full list of attendees is shown at Annex A. 

3.	The Forum aims to provide us with a place where we can all come together, that is disability organisations and government, to discuss some of the real strategic issues around how we can ensure that disabled people around the country can have the best possible opportunities to fulfil their potential and to live independent lives.  Given the range of membership, the Forum hasn’t been designed for specific policy detailed discussions, although such issues can be logged for separate discussion. The Forum builds on the Equality 2025 group. 

4.	Terms of Reference for the Forum have since been agreed, see Annex B 

5.	The discussions which fed into the Fulfilling Potential Strategy identified the importance of building inclusive and accessible communities. The aim of the first Forum was to talk more about what might be done to bring that about, who might need to be involved and what specific actions might be.  

Setting the scene 

6.	A question and answer session was held with Mike Penning, Minister of State for Disability. The main issues arising included   

•	The need for training and skills for young disabled people and a suggestion that BIS and DfE work closely together on this issue. 
•	Recognition that there are nearly 1 million BME disabled people in the country who may need particular consideration. 
•	The Minister noted that, his diary permitting, he is keen to meet with a wide range of disability stakeholders.
•	Clarity was sought on how the Forum links in to the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Disability (IMG).  The Minister recognised the importance of the two forums linking together, for example, ideas generated by the Forum can be put to the IMG. He welcomed new ideas for action in the short and medium term which can be put to the IMG to consider. Other Ministers from across government will be invited to attend relevant Forum meetings. 
•	One important issue identified was hate crime. The Minister noted the need to maintain momentum from the Paralympics in terms of developing positive attitudes. There is also a role for the Home Office to make sure the Police treat hate crime seriously. 
•	The need for accessible information for disabled people was identified, especially for people with learning disabilities. The Minister agreed with the importance of recognising and considering hidden impairments in our work. It was noted that the Welsh Government has introduced a strategic framework for action on the Independent Living Fund. The Forum includes representatives from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and representatives from across the English regions. Forum members were encouraged to share ideas and best practice. 
•	The campaign to ‘Give us back our pavements’ was raised. The Minister acknowledged the difficulties that parking on pavements and mixed-use spaces can pose for people with different disabilities. These are issues for local planners to consider and the Department for Transport has a role to play too. The Minister also acknowledged potential safety issues, given that his Ministerial portfolio also includes the Health and Safety Executive. 
•	Transport issues were identified such as ensuring public transport provides visual information displays. The question posed was whether there is an appetite to address such issues through legislation and regulation. The Minister acknowledged the Government’s de-regulation agenda and the stage we are at in the current political cycle. With this in mind he is keen for Forum members to bring forward new ideas that do not require new rules and regulations. 
•	When asked about his priorities, the Minister said he is keen to identify concrete new ideas for action we can achieve together, utilising existing resources and without requiring new legislation. 

‘Fulfilling Potential’: Building inclusive and accessible communities 

7.	Hugh introduced the theme of ‘building inclusive and accessible communities’, which was identified in Fulfilling Potential. The IMG support working under this theme. 

8.	The aim of this session was to explore what an inclusive and accessible community might look like, to identify the essential criteria or steps to take to achieve this, and explore how communities can promote or demonstrate their progress.

9.	Discussions were held in small groups and fed back to the Forum as a whole. 

10.	What is an inclusive and accessible community? Views and ideas included 

•	A community without segregation that meets the needs of individuals, including different people from different impairment groups, BME and people from LGBT communities.  
•	A community where all disabled people have the power to make and influence decisions.  
•	There is no need to start with a blank sheet of paper when answering this question as the sector has been defining and developing these ideas for many years. There is great definitive work like improving life choices for people, the independent living strategy, that still map out that vision and have an implementation strategy.  We should build on that learning. 
•	Key principles are equality of access, equality of opportunity and equality of respect.  
•	A community where local organisations, businesses and people, all work together and share what resources they have, rather than working for the interests of one particular group.
•	Recognition of the huge diversity in any particular area and acceptance of every aspect of that diversity.  
•	Community that involves disabled people in all aspects of design, ie genuine co-production. 
•	A community that recognises differences, that celebrates differences and meets different people's needs.  
•	Areas designed as shared spaces may not work for different types of disability. Engineers and architects need to work with disabled people. 

11.	The essential criteria or steps to take  

•	Ending segregation and working together while recognising people’s differences.  
•	Recognising that disabled people are not a homogenous group and that there are communities within communities.  
•	An inclusive community requires appropriate resources and tools with appropriate commissioning of services. 
•	Any accessible and inclusive community has to start by viewing the support it offers disabled people – both financially and otherwise – as an investment and not a drain on resources.  
•	The removal of barriers, whether physical or attitudinal is essential. 
•	Apply a genuine Social Model approach to all the challenges and barriers disabled people face. 
•	A positive public narrative on disability that avoids potential hostility and hate crime. Measure disability hate crime. 
•	Personalisation wherever possible, of social care support that is person-centred. Enable disabled people to access to communities their community through activities and days out; don’t just focus on meeting basic personal care needs.   
•	Delivering services in a customer led way, joining up the funding streams that already exist.  Conduct user satisfaction surveys and measure building accessibility.
•	Personalise employment support and incentives need to exist to employ disabled people. 
•	Positive public attitudes are essential including employers, service providers and families being disability aware and confident.  
•	An inclusive and accessible community considers the range of needs including transport, workplaces, home and house building, education, health and social care.  
•	Legislation, regulation, standards and good practice can help ensure impacts are monitored.  
•	Central government policy and strategy may not translate the same at a local level. Similarly, every commissioner will be different and disabled people should be empowered to hold any organisation to account.  
•	Passion and local activism, from the bottom up, is important. There was a debate about the role of disabled people being proactive to demand inclusion from certain providers.  
•	Sharing good practice and lessons from across the country is essential. 
•	Inclusive education is important, linking special schools and mainstream schools with an inclusive education curriculum designed by disabled people, and mainstream pupils. Train and educate the school governors in what we mean by an inclusive education system.

12.	How a community can promote and demonstrate its progress towards becoming inclusive and accessible.  

•	It is probably for local communities to set their own measurement for progress outcomes.  
•	The Disability Equality Duty must be a target.  There is potential for it to be strengthened and reclaimed by disabled people. 
•	Local communities can show how they are embedding every aspect of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
•	There is a need for detailed analysis on the actual benefits that disabled people bring to the country, in terms of running their own businesses and employing other people, arts and leisure and other areas. This would help to tackle discrimination and perceptions and provide levers for change. 
•	A community can demonstrate progress through genuine co-production, ie by involving disabled people in planning, development and monitoring impacts.  

Norman Lamb Minister of State for Care and Support 

13.	Norman Lamb Minister of State for Care and Support held a question and answer session. The main issues arising included 

•	The Minister presented some of his recent priorities such as the refresh of the Autism Strategy and his department’s new guidance on the use of restraint.
•	A question was asked about the timing and impact of the Care Bill. The Minister noted that the cap on care costs comes into effect in 2016 but the main provisions of the Care Bill come into effect next year. He acknowledged the debate about substantial versus moderate care needs and associated costs. The Bill also introduces a duty on local authorities to provide prevention services.  
•	The draft Strategy on hearing loss was raised as an important document but which was being developed very slowly. The Minister agreed to ensure the Strategy was finalised soon. 
•	A question was raised about independent living and people being detained in psychiatric hospitals, under compulsory treatment orders or in residential care. The Minister talked about the transformation programme to get people out of institutional care in cases where they shouldn't live there and where they are capable of living independently. 
•	The previous week, the Sick Of It report was launched by Sound Health. A debate in the House of Lords the previous week had got side tracked into discussing cochlea implants rather than the issues that deaf people face in accessing health care. The Minister thanked the speaker for identifying this report to him. 
•	A conversation was held about the Social Model of Disability and how it might be used in the health sector.   
•	The Autism Strategy was welcomed and the Minister was questioned on the need for a race and disability strategy, looking at multiple discrimination and multiple needs.  The Minister mentioned the black mental health conference he had recently attended in Wolverhampton which was incredibly revealing about people’s experiences and views. He questioned whether a new strategy per se was the correct approach to address these issues. 
•	Concerns were identified about the lack of any reference in the Care Bill to independent living and a suggestion that the well being definition does not go far enough. The Minister was invited to a meeting with independent living users and other social care users to learn more. He agreed to try and set up a meeting, diary permitting. 
•	Accessible information was identified as being important particularly for people with learning difficulties.  There is a need to make sure that health information, whether that comes from the GPs or any NHS body, is in an accessible format.  Easy Read material can be cheaper.  The Minister was aware of the need to challenge jargon and improve clarity. He plans to produce an easy read version of the NHS constitution at so everybody can know what their rights actually are within the NHS. Under the Care Bill there is a duty on the local authority to provide information in an accessible format. 

‘Making it Happen’: Ideas for inclusive and accessible communities 

14.	Hugh introduced plans for a day of activity in September around building inclusive and accessible communities. This would provide an opportunity for government to identify and highlight success stories from around the country as well as identify the tools available to help local communities. 
15.	As part of the IMG, the Minister of State for Disability has challenged other government departments to identify what further actions can be taken to help disabled people fulfil their potential. Forum members were asked to identify potential ‘quick wins’ to help overcome the barriers and challenges to achieving inclusive and accessible communities. Suggestions were as follows:  

•	A good practice guide or sharing contact names for good practice examples.
•	A repository of what is going on in their area. Local Authorities and DPULO’s could try to do this, but there is an issue of how to ensure that it is up-to-date. 
•	Regarding the Spare Room Subsidy, better communication is needed about the rules and regulations to remove potential for doubt. The real issues for disabled people needs to investigated and reviewed.
•	Guidance on the design and use of shared spaces should be reviewed and the Minister for Disabled People could ask DfT to show examples where shared spaces work.
•	Disabled people could be exempt from paying Stamp Duty when buying their own homes and this money could in turn be spent on adaptations to the house. 
•	Disabled people could be given an advocate in GP surgeries to deal with any social problems that might be affecting a health condition
•	The Forum to identify their top priorities and put these to the IMG.
•	Co-produce a definition of the social model (for example Scotland has a co-produced vision statement of independent living). This could be submitted to the IMG. 
•	Invest in disability equality training for employers 
•	Involving disabled people at an early stage in local public health strategy. 
•	The Red Cross guided newspaper editors about language used regarding refugees. Could similar guidelines be provided on how they report on or portray disabled people?
•	It is difficult getting access to European funding through local authorities. This could be made easier. 
•	Tenders coming up in the next 6 – 12 months should demonstrate commitment to inclusion (local organisations, disabled people, employment etc.) 
•	Clinical commissioning groups could ring fence money for disabled peoples group.  
•	Local authorities could start their own disability forums to better work with disabled people.  
•	Everyone (especially drivers) should have compulsory eye tests every 10 years. 

16.	Themes identified as being important and to be considered in the medium term were welfare reform, health, independent living, co-production and advocacy provision. 
17.	The key actors identified who can influence change were disabled people and their organisations, and Ministers. 

Summary, next steps and close 

18.	Hugh thanked Forum members for their contributions, ideas and questions throughout the day. But I don't think this is just about making ministers make policy changes.  That is one possible thing.  The other thing is about the local action and can we bring about exclusive and accessible communities around the country, or countries.  So that is where we will want to develop some further ideas and test those with you.  

19.	Forum will be fed back to Mike and Norman and ideas for action will be put to the IMG which next meets on 12 June. 

20.	The next Forum meeting will take place on Thursday 3 July 2014, venue to be confirmed. 

21.	It was agreed to include the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People on the agenda. Forum members are invited to identify other agenda items and relevant Ministers will be invited. 

Annex A

Forum Members 

 Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE)          	Tara Flood
British Deaf Association (BDA)                             	David Buxton
British Institute for Learning Disability (BILD)    		Anne Chivers
Disability Action Northern Ireland                         	Kevin Doherty
Disability Rights UK (DRUK)                                 	Liz Sayce
Disability Wales                                                       	Rhian Davies
Equalities National Council (ENC)                      	Julie Jaye Charles
Action on Hearing Loss                                         	Paul Breckell
Inclusion Scotland                                                  	Sally Witcher
Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD)                      	Jane Harris
Mencap                                                                      	Cathy Hinman
Mind                                                                           	Paul Farmer
National Federation of the Blind                           	Jill Allen-King
People First Self Advocacy                                    	Andrew Lee
RNIB                                                                          	Steve Winyard
Scope                                                                         	Richard Hawkes
Spinal Injuries Association                                    	Dan Burden
UK Disabled Peoples Council (UKDPC)            		Julie Newman
Age UK                                                                      	Jill Mortimer
British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA)  Heather Nicholson
British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD)  		Ann Chivers
Royal British Legion                                            Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson   
Carers UK                                                                 	Katherine Wilson 
English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS)   		Barry Horne
Marie Curie Cancer Care                                       	Dr Jane Collins
Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities Network (PMLDN) Jan Tregelles
Regard                                                                       	Sandie Foxall-Smith
Rethink                                                                      	Jane Hughes
Sense                                                                        	Richard Kramer
Voluntary Organisations Disabilities Group (VODG)    Claire Pelham
Whizz-Kidz                                                                	Rhiannon Hughes
National Autistic Society                                        	Mark Lever
DPULO London Rep. from Inclusion London                 Tracey Lazard
DPULO NE Rep.  from Darlington Disability                   Lauren Robinson
DPULO NW Rep   from Breakthrough UK                      Lorraine Gradwell
DPULO SW Rep from Access Dorset                            Tess McManus (temp)
DPULO SE Rep                                                      	Charlie Willis
DPULO East  from Disability Resource Centre              Mick Dillon
DPULO Yorks and Humber, from Leeds CIL                 Andrew McDermott
DPULO WM                                                           	Clenton Farquharson
DPULO EM from Disability Direct                                  Amarjit Raju

Annex B

Terms of Reference 

Role and responsibilities

1.	The Forum is convened by Minister of State for Disabled People and Minister of State for Care and Support.  

2.	The role of the Forum is to discuss and input into strategic priorities and direction across government to improve the key outcomes identified by disabled people as set out in ‘Fulfilling Potential: Making it Happen’. 

3.	Members of the Forum are invited to engage in themed discussions by sharing their lived experience and/or representing the needs of the disabled people with whom their organisation works. 

4.	The membership is designed to facilitate a community-based route into government via regional representatives of Disabled People’s User Led Organisations (DPULOs), and for those representatives to feed back to their local communities. 

Ways of working 

•	The Forum will meet quarterly in central London. 
•	Members will be encouraged to suggest agenda items to be discussed. 
•	The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) will send out relevant papers in advance of each meeting. 
•	All discussions will be conducted under ‘Chatham House Rules’.
•	ODI will publish the Terms of Reference, Forum papers and a summary of the discussion on the ODI website.  
•	Members are welcome to share the papers for the Forum with interested parties / their members, unless they are clearly denoted as confidential. 
•	Members will work together to improve key outcomes of disabled people and not to promote individuals or individual organisations. 
  
•	From time to time sub-groups may be formed to work on specific issues as appropriate. 
•	From time to time individuals may be asked to provide specific advice and expertise between meetings, as required. 

Membership 

5.	The Fulfilling Potential Forum will have around 40 members, from a broad cross-section of disability organisations, including: Disabled People’s User-Led Organisations from the English regions and UK nations; disability organisations who have helped develop Fulfilling Potential; and organisations representing harder to reach groups and young and older disabled people.

6.	Membership will be reviewed annually and refreshed as appropriate. Other organisations will be invited to meetings ad hoc, dependent on the agenda, and meeting papers will be made available for public comment. 

7.	The development of the regional structure of DPULOs aims to allow other organisations to feed into discussions.

8.	Terms of Reference were agreed at the Forum on the 3rd April 2014.