Recommendations & Conclusions
9 items
4
Recommendation
First Report - The National Disability …
Accepted
Disabled people and groups continue to feel excluded from having meaningful input into policies directly affecting them. This suggests the Government has not learnt lessons from the concerns raised over the development of the National Disability Strategy and that its efforts to engage are perceived to be superficial. The Government …
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Disabled people and groups continue to feel excluded from having meaningful input into policies directly affecting them. This suggests the Government has not learnt lessons from the concerns raised over the development of the National Disability Strategy and that its efforts to engage are perceived to be superficial. The Government needs to improve its engagement with disabled groups, to listen to and act on what disabled people want, if its policies on improving their lives are to be effective.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that its existing stakeholder engagement framework, which includes regular meetings with disabled people's organizations, regional networks, and charities, already ensures meaningful input from the disability sector, effectively addressing the recommendation.
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Government Equalities Office
5
Recommendation
First Report - The National Disability …
Accepted
The Government should immediately establish a national advisory group bringing together the DPO Forum England and the chairs of Regional Stakeholder Networks. The advisory group’s remit should include reviewing all government policy proposals targeted towards people with disabilities; advising ministers on issues facing disabled people; and working closely with the …
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The Government should immediately establish a national advisory group bringing together the DPO Forum England and the chairs of Regional Stakeholder Networks. The advisory group’s remit should include reviewing all government policy proposals targeted towards people with disabilities; advising ministers on issues facing disabled people; and working closely with the Disability Unit and the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work on the further development, implementation and evaluation of the National Disability Strategy. (Paragraph 28) 20 The National Disability Strategy Evidence
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation to establish a new national advisory group, stating that its existing stakeholder engagement framework, which includes regular meetings with DPO Forum England and Regional Stakeholder Network chairs, already effectively replicates the proposed group's remit.
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Government Equalities Office
6
Recommendation
First Report - The National Disability …
Accepted
The Disability Unit, in its response to this Report, should provide specific details on the steps it is taking to improve the evidence base on disability, including on disabled people’s lived experiences and the intersection with other protected characteristics. (Paragraph 32) Progress on remaining actions
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The Disability Unit, in its response to this Report, should provide specific details on the steps it is taking to improve the evidence base on disability, including on disabled people’s lived experiences and the intersection with other protected characteristics. (Paragraph 32) Progress on remaining actions
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and details specific steps the Disability Unit is taking to improve the evidence base on disability, including conducting research, collaborating with other departments to improve data quality, and building a case for a new national disability survey.
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Government Equalities Office
8
Recommendation
First Report - The National Disability …
Accepted
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work should immediately update Parliament and disability stakeholders with specific timescales for delivery on all outstanding actions in the National Disability Strategy. (Paragraph 39) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work should immediately update Parliament and disability stakeholders with specific timescales for delivery on all outstanding actions in the National Disability Strategy. (Paragraph 39) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work already provided a full update to Parliament on 18 September 2023 regarding progress on the Strategy and outstanding commitments, and will publish further updates.
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Government Equalities Office
2
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Accessibility of produc…
Accepted
Not all businesses are considering the needs of disabled consumers when bringing products and services to the market. Where accessibility is considered, it is often done so retrospectively, as something to be bolted on to an existing design. Products and services should be inclusive by default. By not embracing inclusive …
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Not all businesses are considering the needs of disabled consumers when bringing products and services to the market. Where accessibility is considered, it is often done so retrospectively, as something to be bolted on to an existing design. Products and services should be inclusive by default. By not embracing inclusive design, businesses risk missing out on the spending power of disabled consumers and restricting the options available to them.
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Government response AI summary
The government responds by detailing the existing Disability Access Ambassadors (DAA) programme, outlining how senior business leaders identify and encourage improvements in accessibility and quality of products and services in their sectors. It provides numerous examples of DAA initiatives, reports, and guides already in progress.
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Government Equalities Office
3
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Accessibility of produc…
Accepted
The Government should task the Disability and Access Ambassadors with engaging with businesses on inclusive design, to seek out and share best practice and to identify the barriers to making products and services in their sectors accessible to disabled people. The Government should then work with each sector to discuss …
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The Government should task the Disability and Access Ambassadors with engaging with businesses on inclusive design, to seek out and share best practice and to identify the barriers to making products and services in their sectors accessible to disabled people. The Government should then work with each sector to discuss relevant interventions and develop guidance on best practice.
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Government response AI summary
The government explains that Disability Access Ambassadors (DAAs) are senior business leaders who already identify accessibility barriers and encourage improvements in their sectors. It details how DAAs meet regularly with ministers and work with other government departments, providing various examples of their existing initiatives, reports, …
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Government Equalities Office
4
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Accessibility of produc…
Accepted
Disabled people face additional costs in their daily lives. These costs are exacerbated by restrictions on their choice as consumers. We support the Government’s commitment in the National Disability Strategy to establish an Extra Costs Taskforce to better understand the extra costs faced by disabled people, including how this breaks …
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Disabled people face additional costs in their daily lives. These costs are exacerbated by restrictions on their choice as consumers. We support the Government’s commitment in the National Disability Strategy to establish an Extra Costs Taskforce to better understand the extra costs faced by disabled people, including how this breaks down for different impairments. The Government originally planned to set up the taskforce by summer 2022. We recommend that the Government establish an Extra Costs Taskforce as a priority and by no later than summer 2024.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and states it will set up the Extra Costs Taskforce. The Disability Unit will bring together disabled people, regulators, and businesses to examine the additional costs faced by disabled individuals.
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Government Equalities Office
7
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Accessibility of produc…
Accepted
Several banks and financial providers have innovated to make their services accessible to blind and partially sighted customers, such as issuing debit and credit cards with tactile indicators. However, this is not standard practice across the banking sector as providers continue to phase out embossed cards. We are also concerned …
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Several banks and financial providers have innovated to make their services accessible to blind and partially sighted customers, such as issuing debit and credit cards with tactile indicators. However, this is not standard practice across the banking sector as providers continue to phase out embossed cards. We are also concerned that not all banks properly consider the needs of disabled people in the provision of ATMs.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need for accessible banking services, referring to existing legal requirements for banks to make reasonable adjustments. It details ongoing industry efforts and collaborations, such as tactile payment cards, talking ATMs, and guides for electronic point-of-sale devices, indicating these measures are already …
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Government Equalities Office
8
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Accessibility of produc…
Accepted
The Financial Conduct Authority should work with the retail banking sector and organisations such as the RNIB to ensure all banks embrace inclusive design from the outset when innovating or phasing out existing services. We recommend that all banks: • roll out flat bank cards that are accessible to disabled …
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The Financial Conduct Authority should work with the retail banking sector and organisations such as the RNIB to ensure all banks embrace inclusive design from the outset when innovating or phasing out existing services. We recommend that all banks: • roll out flat bank cards that are accessible to disabled people, and continue to issue embossed cards to customers who request them; • in addition to tactile indicators, ensure that all flat bank cards have a clear visual design, including colour, good contrast and large font size; and • where ATMs are provided, ensure they have been user tested with disabled people, installed in locations accessible to all and are regularly checked to guarantee that accessible features are in working order.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that banking services must be accessible and highlights existing legal requirements for reasonable adjustments. It details ongoing work by the financial services industry with RNIB, including features like dot/notch on cards and talking ATMs, but does not commit to the specific new …
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Government Equalities Office