Recommendation 17

There was a clear divergence of opinion between some disabled people and their organisations, who felt excluded and ignored by the Government, and Ministers, who described their engagement with disabled stakeholders during the pandemic as very positive, open and effective. Addressing perceived weaknesses in the Government’s consultation and engagement with disabled people must form a key strand of the proposed National Strategy for Disabled People. The Government must consult widely with disabled people and their organisations on ways to embed in the Strategy genuinely effective mechanisms by which disabled people can influence policies and practices which directly affect them.