Minister for disabled people Maria Eagle

The European Year of Disabled People campaign bus has arrived in the UK.

Welcoming the promotional initiative, minister for disabled people Maria Eagle, said: "The arrival of the bus adds to the momentum already gathering behind European Year of Disabled People here in the UK. It is a celebration of ability, of the positive part that disabled people play in our society.

"With 171 innovative projects sharing funding of £2.3 million and the government making real progress on improving anti-discrimination law, I am confident 2003 will have a lasting impact on disabled people's lives well into the future."

Forum Response: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Matt Grainger, spokesman for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, told ePolitix.com: "We'd like to welcome the European Year of Disabled People campaign bus to the UK and encourage everyone to pay it a visit.

"The rights and opportunities available to disabled Europeans vary enormously and the campaign has a major role to play in highlighting the vital need for full civil rights for all."

Forum Response: The Disabilities Trust

Matt Townsend, spokesman for The Disabilities Trust, told ePolitix.com: "The Disabilities Trust is supportive of the European Year of Disabled People and it's good to see the campaign bus has now arrived in the UK.

"The year represents an important initiative that rightly seeks to increase awareness of the needs and interests of people with disability throughout Europe.

"The Trust as a major service provider here in the UK would urge policy makers once again to recognise the role that people with disabilities can and do play in our society.

"As the minister has said it is important that this year be seen as a celebration of what disabled people achieve despite the continuing barriers that they do face in too many areas of life."

Forum Response: The Disability Rights Commission

Bob Niven, chief executive of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) said: "No one has forgotten the acute disappointment felt when much needed disability reforms were not included in the last Queen's speech.

"The absence of comprehensive measures to tackle the serious shortcomings in the Disability Discrimination Act within the government's legislative programme would be a major blow to disabled people and would raise justifiable concerns that the momentum for change is slowing.

"The European Year for Disabled People has been an excellent platform to promote and raise awareness of the abilities and ambitions of disabled people. But awareness raising without concrete actions will breed a cynicism among disabled people and complacency in society at large."