Disability 2020: Opportunities for the full and equal citizenship of disabled people in Britain in 2020

Disabled people in Britain currently have very limited opportunities to exercise full and equal citizenship, despite the progress that has been made. Both the Government and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) agree this represents an unacceptable social injustice and have strategies designed to end this inequality.

Disability 2020 assesses key health, demographic and policy trends in order to gauge the possible circumstances and experiences of disabled people by 2020 against the ambition of full and equal citizenship for all disabled people.

The trends assessed in Disability 2020 pose significant challenges to achieving the goal of full and equal citizenship for disabled people by 2020. However, the challenges are not insurmountable and there are significant opportunities to move towards a situation in 2020 where disabled people can exercise full and equal citizenship.

Six key priorities for action have emerged out of the evidence in this report. The priorities are to:

1. Develop needs-led public services to promote independent living.
2. Promote opportunities for social and civic participation by disabled people.
3. Promote employment opportunities for disabled people.
4. Boost efforts to tackle health inequalities.
5. Promote better understanding of disability.
6. Identify and allocate the necessary resources to implement the above.

Disability 2020 is a report by ippr trading ltd for the Disability Rights Commission.