Forum Brief: Disability rights

A group of 12 disabled young people were set to meet Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday.

The "PM for the day" event is part of a Disability Rights Commission campaign which aims to raise awareness of new rights for disabled people in the education system and to create a more equal society for disabled people of all ages.

Forum Response: Disability Rights Commission

Bert Massie, chairman of the DRC, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for young disabled people to voice their issues to the most powerful person in the county.

"Many disabled people miss out on real opportunities; they are half as likely to get any qualifications, half as likely to go to university and half as likely to get a job as non-disabled people. Yet young disabled people have the same ambitions to get on in life and be a part of everyday society.

"This must be encouraged and sustained by tackling the problems that stand in their way, so that all disabled people can have a better future".

Forum Response: Voice UK

Kathryn Stone, spokeswoman for Voice UK, told ePolitix.com: "What a fantastic way of enabling young people to have their say.

"We, here at Voice UK, have just written an advocacy booklet with NSPCC for those working with children and young people with learning disabilities.

"The young people we worked with on this were very keen to have their say and want to make sure they are listened to by those who have power to make things better for them.

"The prime minister is certainly in a position to do that."

Forum Response: Epilepsy Action

A spokeswoman for Epilepsy Action told ePolitix.com: "Awareness of the transport difficulties faced by people with disabilities is very poor. People with so-called 'invisible' disabilities, like epilepsy, face not only access problems but also discrimination from bus drivers etc who doubt a disability they can't see.

"Epilepsy Action has had reports from young people who have been challenged and even accused of having stolen the travel card because they don't 'look' disabled. We also know of young people who have been thrown off public transport when they have had a seizure because the staff mistakenly think they are drunk or misbehaving.

"Transport is a major issue for people with epilepsy - active epilepsy means they are unable to hold a driving licence. Transport difficulties can make every area of life harder than it need be, for example some local authorities don't allow the travel discounts during peak travel, thereby penalising people in employment.

"Addressing the problem needs far more than an ad hoc localised system of partial discounts. We need a true public transport system for all sections of the community, and a network that doesn't assume everyone has access to a car or lives in a city."