The European Year of People with Disabilities

Disability – in one form or another – affects around 10% of the British population. To mark the European Year of People with Disabilities (2003), John Bowis spoke in the European Parliament about the importance of giving people with disabilities the opportunities to reach their full potential.

John said that we should not only highlight the problems but also celebrate the achievements of people living with disability, and he described how people can and do achieve, despite severe physical and mental disabilities.

When John was a Health Minister in the last Conservative Government he introduced the system of Direct Payments whereby people can have the cash equivalent of social services to purchase the services from the supplier of their choice. Being able to buy your own services, meals, transport and so on, puts people in charge and gives some dignity and independence.