Government launches Disability Action Plan consultation

This consultation is an opportunity for everyone – disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, and other interested parties – to have their say on the Plan. 

The Disability Action Plan is separate from the National Disability Strategy. The consultation will run for 12 weeks, and is due to close on the 6 October 2023.  

In response to today’s launch, Kirsty Clarke, Director of Innovation and Business Development at Activity Alliance, said: 

"The Disability Action Plan is an opportunity to recognise some of the changes needed so we can build a society that works for everyone. Over the coming weeks we will put together our response, from our robust insight and feedback and that of our partners. We expect disabled people to be at the heart of the eventual plan and decision making. 

"We are pleased to see that the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP has stated ‘accessibility across sport’ is within the scope of the plan. Activity Alliance wholeheartedly backs the idea of bringing the Special Olympics World Summer Games to the UK in 2031. We work closely with Special Olympics GB and are proud of our association. An event of this scale, as has been shown by the successful Birmingham Commonwealth Games, has the potential to widen awareness about disabled people’s inclusion on a national and international level. 

"While major events are fantastic for visibility it is critical that the plan also addresses the need for increased access to opportunities at all levels, whether playing, working or spectating. We must remove suggestions that sport is a luxury not a right by ensuring a supportive, competent and inclusive workforce and removing barriers right across society. 

"We know that Special Olympics GB and others in sport and further afield would agree that is just one part of ensuring genuine fairness for disabled people in sport and activity. From playground to podium, disabled people deserve the right to access activity at whatever level they choose. 

"As the leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity we will rightly raise awareness of the need to embed inclusive practice into organisations. However, it must not be ignored that sport and activity does not exist in isolation of other factors. We know from transport to education to financial support benefits, one inaccessible element or badly thought through policy has a detrimental knock-on effect that prevents people from having the opportunity to be active.  

"Sport must be viewed as a solution to tackling other challenges and inequalities. At the end of this consultation period, we must see a true commitment across Government to the fulfilment of the Action Plan."

Respondents can give feedback on either the entire Disability Action Plan, or specific actions within it. The consultation can be accessed here.