Justin Tomlinson MP has praised the work of local disability campaigners Mums On A Mission (MOAM) and Benjamin’s Smile in Parliament for their continued work to improve accessibility in local parks.
Justin has supported their efforts and wrote to both the Department for Housing, Communities & Local Government to ensure accessible play equipment was included in every new play park, as well as every Parish Council in Swindon to ask that they include accessible equipment as part of future refurbishments.
Justin Tomlinson MP, the former Minister for Disabled People, has welcomed the Conservative Government’s new Disability Action Plan as part of their long-term plan to help disabled people across Swindon fulfil their potential and ensure nothing holds them back.
As the former Minister, Justin played an integral part in helping to bring this plan forward through his Disability Strategy, and has also paid tribute to both the team and all the local and national stakeholders who have helped shape this Disability Action Plan, which has been vital to co-ordinate efforts to remove barriers to deliver a fully inclusive society.
Informed by the views of over 1,300 disabled people, their families and interested parties, the action plan sets out 32 practical actions to transform the everyday lives of disabled people and make the UK the most accessible place in the world. Measures include building an online information hub for local authorities on opening accessible playgrounds, creating a new fund to support disabled people who want to be elected to public office, improving support for people with assistance dogs, and leading new research into emerging issues affecting disabled people in the UK over the next 20 years.
The Cabinet Office’s Disability Unit will also be working with other government departments to explore bidding to host and deliver the 2031 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
The Disability Action Plan builds on the strong progress of successive Conservative Governments. Since 2013, 2 million more disabled people have entered work, including 1.6 million since 2017 – overdelivering on the Government’s commitment to get one million more disabled people into work by 2027, five years ahead of target.
The Conservative Government is also continuing to expand employment support for people with disabilities through programmes including the £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan which includes reforms to help those with disabilities and health conditions and changing the Work Capability Assessment to reflect the modern world of work and the opportunities available to disabled people. These measures will help to remove barriers facing disabled people and ensure that everyone can fulfil their potential.
The Conservative Government is continuing to deliver on its long-term plan to build a brighter future for disabled people in the UK.
