Press Release
9th June 2006
Disabled people must have the right to choose where they live
National disability charity United Response has lent its support to Lord Ashley’s new Independent Living Bill, published today.
The bill calls for disabled and older people to be given greater choice over where they live.
Su Sayer , Chief Executive of United Response said:
“As a national charity supporting over 1,500 people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to make choices about how they live their lives, we fully support Lord Ashley’s bill. And we commend him for campaigning so tirelessly on this issue.
“Without choice our lives become nothing more than a series of someone else’s decisions.
“We have supported many people to move out of long stay institutions and into their own homes, where, with the right kind of support, they have been able to take control of their lives, perhaps for the very first time.
“But as Lord Ashley highlighted choice and control is only possible if support is available.
“With four times as many people likely to need social care by 2050 as do so today, we must not allow a lack of available support to stop disabled and older people from having the right to choose how and where they live.
“Equally, we must ensure that control over the quality of the support received is exercised by the people receiving it.”
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Notes to editors:
United Response is a national charity supporting over 1,500 people with learning disabilities or mental health needs across England. Its builds its care and support around each person, supporting them to take control of their lives and live as independently as possible.