Welcome to Disability Wales

Welcome to Disability Wales on-line – your first port of call for information, comment, opinion and opportunities for getting involved in campaigning for disability equality.

Disability Wales is the national association of disabled people's organisations, striving to achieve the rights, equality and independence of disabled people in Wales. 2012 is the organisations 40th Anniversary!

We work to the Social Model of Disability, recognising that people are disabled more by poor design, inaccessible services and other people's attitudes than by their impairment. This guides our work in promoting and campaigning for Independent Living.

Our aims are to:

• develop and support the work of organisations led by disabled people
• be an effective advocate for the views, priorities and interests of our Members
• influence policy and decision makers at all levels
• develop and deliver services that benefit disabled people.

This is a growing, regularly updated site. Please contact us if you have any comments or ideas. Your input will be welcomed.

A celebration of 40 years of Disability Wales

40 years championing the rights of disabled people across Wales; breaking down barriers past, present and future

Disability Wales was established in 1972 as the ‘Wales Council for the Disabled’ following Welsh Office recognition that a national coordinating voluntary body was required to liaise with central and local government that could speak on behalf of disabled people on matters of common concern.

The Council for Social Service in Wales (now known as Wales Council for Voluntary Action) was commissioned by the Welsh Office to undertake a series of consultative conferences across Wales to seek the opinion of disabled people and their local organisations. Receiving enthusiastic support, the identified priorities to be tackled by the proposed new body included finance, employment, mobility, care services, access, education and recreation.

Forty years on these issues remain as relevant as ever notwithstanding the transformation in legislation, social policy and public attitudes towards disabled people.

Key Achievements

Since 1972 Disability Wales has contributed significantly to the development of disability related policy in Wales, pioneered innovative services, established new organisations and initiated campaigns to secure the rights, equality and independence of disabled people. Noteworthy achievements include:

• The first Aids and Equipment Resource Centre in Wales (1978)
• Access Building Awards Scheme (1979 -91) and the first ever Access Design Guidance Notes (1978)
• Mobile information service (DAI) (1989-97)
• Development of new national and local disability organisations in the fields of sports, the arts, young people and access (1980s - )
• First programme in Wales to train disabled people to become Disability Equality Trainers (1992)
• Providing advice to over 2000 disabled people about establishing their own business through the Enter DW Project (2001-8)
• High profile campaigns on Access to the High Street, Disability Hate Crime, Independent Living and Welfare Reform (2008- )
• Leadership role in Coalition on Charging Cymru (2000 -) actively contributed to development of Social Care Charging Measure 2011

To learn more about some of the significant dates in the history of Disability Wales and its members view Disability Wales Timeline

Membership

Vital to Disability Wales' success over forty years is the role and support of our membership, enabling us to speak to Government authoritatively on the everyday experiences of disabled people with the purpose of informing and influencing policy. To add your voice to ours, or to find out more about our work, explore our website and contact us