Office for Disability Issues (poster presentation)
Nicholas Campbell,
Office for Disability Issues
Co-presenter(s): Bairbre Kelly
Abstract
The Office for Disability Issues1 (ODI) was set up to help government deliver on the commitment made in the report, 'Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People'2 to achieve equality of opportunity and choice for disabled people by 2025. In supporting this commitment, the ODI needs to base its work on robust evidence which reflects disabled people's experiences. Our research and analysis will play a key role in understanding the impact of current government policies.
Improving the evidence base is a priority for the ODI and we are approaching this in a variety of ways such as publishing new research, monitoring progress to equality and sharing good practice. Across all our work we are actively involving disabled people.
In July 2008 we published 'Experiences and Expectations of Disabled People'3, a national study aimed at improving our understanding of being disabled in Britain today and identifying barriers to participation across a range of life activities. We are also developing a new longitudinal survey of disability. This survey will provide a significant future source of quantitative data to support and inform policy in government.
ODI analysts will play a leading role in measuring progress to equality by 2025 by developing and monitoring indicators across government. These measures, designed in consultation with disabled people, will ensure that outcomes can be tracked over time.
We are also working to bring together government social researchers and the wider disability research community by sharing and promoting good practice in research, scanning the evidence horizon and identifying gaps in knowledge. This will encourage a joined-up approach to disability research based on the gathering and dissemination of strong, representative evidence.
1 http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk/default.asp
2 http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/work_areas/disability/