Disability Matters: Changing the Landscape of Disability in the UK
Disabled children and young people face many barriers in their everyday lives; from social events and sports through to accessing health services and coping at school and at work. The statistics on public perceptions of disability are startling.
Did you know?
- 38% of people believe disabled people are a burden on society (1)
- 65% admitted they avoid disabled people because they don't know how to act around them (2)
- 62,000 disability motivated hate crimes are estimated to be committed per year in England and Wales (3)
1. Office for Disability Issues Updated Department for Work and Pensions estimates based on Family Resources survey (2009/10)
2. BT- Ready, Willing and Disabled event (2011)
3. Crime Survey for England and Wales 2013, Office for National Statistics (2013)
What is Disability Matters?
Disability Matters is an exciting and innovative new programme that aims to tackle the inequalities that disabled children and young people face in their daily lives by providing free, practical online resources for those who work or engage with disabled children, young people and their families.
Disability Matters will provide employers and staff across the UK with free access to a suite of high quality online and group learning resources covering over 30 topics related to disability.
Who is it for?
The programme is designed to support organisations, their workers and volunteers across all sectors in developing the communication and problem-solving skills required to engage confidently with disabled children and young people.
Through words, pictures and signs, disabled children, young people and their families will challenge learners to reflect on their own attitudes and beliefs about disability. The online learning explores the practical things people can do that could make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of disabled children.
Want to find out more?
Sign up to receive email updates on Disability Matters.
Download the latest Disability Matters eNewsletter.
Get in touch
Disability Matters is being co-developed with disabled young people and parent carers. The practical tips delivered within the programme are based on real, lived experiences and we are hugely grateful to all our contributors so far.
There are many ways you can get involved in the programme as a disabled young person or parent carer. If you would like to have a chat about the programme we would love to hear from you, or, if you would prefer you can send us an email.
Please contact Alexandra Lesmes, Disability Matters Project Manager directly on 020 7092 6112 or alexandra.lesmes@rcpch.ac.uk
Media enquiries
If you have a media enquiry which relates to Disability Matters, please contact the RCPCH’s press office:
- Melissa Milner, Head of Media and External Affairs
- melissa.milner@rcpch.ac.uk / 020 7092 6005
- If you have an out of hours media enquiry please call 07837 973 413
