Draft Disabled People’s Rights Plan: short-term actions
Actions we are taking to improve the rights of disabled people living in Wales.
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Many of these actions are cross-cutting and will be implemented by various policy areas. For instance, not all actions linked to the Independent living: social care working group will be carried out by social care policy.
These actions will uphold the principles of the articles outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People (UNCRDP) and align with the Welsh Government’s National Equality Objectives (NEO).
Neighbourhoods and places
Travel
Action
The Welsh Government to work with local authorities and transport operators to collect and update data on the availability and location of parking spaces for Blue Badge holders and integrate them into transport websites.
UNCRDP
Article 9: accessibility.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to improve the engagement with disabled people in the development of accessible transport services and oversight arrangements.
UNCRDP
Article 4: general obligations.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to ensure that transport organisations conduct regular and inclusive consultations with disabled children and young people.
UNCRDP
Article 7: disabled children.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3/5.
Action
The Welsh Government to develop a standardised programme of training for all customer facing staff in transport including rail, bus, taxi, private hire vehicles and airports.
The training includes Social Model of Disability, equality legislation including guide and assistance dogs, and good customer care for disabled people.
UNCRDP
Article 8: awareness-raising.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Accessible and affordable housing
Action
The Welsh Government to work with local authorities and service providers to improve the provision of accessible accommodation for disabled people, their carers, and their children when fleeing from violence.
UNCRDP
Article 16: freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3/4.
Action
The Welsh Government to review the Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021, including its impact and effectiveness.
UNCRDP
Article 28: adequate standard of living and social protection.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2/3.
Action
The Welsh Government to work with local authorities to continue to improve accessibility and coordinated delivery of housing adaptions and the supply of equipment.
UNCRDP
Article 19: living independently and being included in the community.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3/2.
Action
The Welsh Government to work with housing organisations to help improve the dissemination of more accessible housing information to disabled people, including those who are digitally excluded.
UNCRDP
Article 21: freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to work with disabled people’s organisations and experts to design and deliver training to housing organisations.
UNCRDP
Article 4: general obligations.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government will engage with disabled people to understand the specific barriers to housing, for example for disabled Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people.
UNCRDP
Article 19: living independently and being included in the community.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2.
Social model of disability
Action
The Welsh Government to reflect the Social Model of Disability in its approach to socially responsible procurement.
UNCRDP
Article 4: general obligations.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2.
Action
The Welsh Government to review and revise existing policies, to ensure that they do not create barriers for disabled people.
Involve disabled people in the design, implementation and monitoring of new and improved policies, practices, and procedures.
UNCRDP
Article 4: general obligations.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2/5.
Employment, income and education
Employment and income
Action
The Welsh Government's Disabled People’s Employment Champions to signpost employers to information, advice and guidance on fair, flexible and inclusive recruitment and working practices.
UNCRDP
Article 27: work and employment.
NEO
National Equality Objective 6.
Action
The Welsh Government to engage with employers, unions, Disabled People’s Organisations and the public, to raise awareness of disabled people’s employment rights, challenge stereotypes, and improve understanding of the benefits of employing a diverse workforce and the support available to do this.
We will deliver this by: using our network of Disabled People’s Employment Champions and creating opportunities for key partners such as employer representative bodies, trade unions, Disabled People’s Organisations, and others to come together and collaborate in efforts to foster a more inclusive and supportive working environment.
UNCRDP
Article 8: awareness-raising.
NEO
National Equality Objective 6.
Action
The Welsh Government, working collaboratively with Medr, to review support services for disabled adults who want to return to education or training.
UNCRDP
Article 24: education.
NEO
National Equality Objective 6.
Action
The Welsh Government to improve accessibility and awareness of support services for self-employed, freelancers and disabled people who are business owners.
UNCRDP
Article 27: work and employment.
NEO
National Equality Objective 1/6.
Action
The Welsh Government to conduct an evaluation of the Inclusive Apprenticeships plan, and to update where required.
UNCRDP
Article 27: work and employment.
NEO
National Equality Objective 1/6.
Children and young people
Action
The Welsh Government to review non-academic and alternative pathways to employment, such as vocational training, apprenticeships, and internships.
UNCRDP
Article 27: work and employment.
NEO
National Equality Objective 6.
Action
The Welsh Government to work with local authorities to develop an education workforce plan through understanding workforce gaps and workforce planning, including the specialist workforce for disabled children and young people.
UNCRDP
Article 27: work and employment.
NEO
National Equality Objective 6.
Action
The Welsh Government to update guidance on healthcare needs, attendance, behaviour management and exclusions, taking account of the needs of disabled children and young people.
UNCRDP
Article 24: education.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to update its anti-bullying and safeguarding guidance to protect disabled children and young people.
UNCRDP
Article 16: freedom from exploitation, violence, and abuse.
NEO
National Equality Objective 4.
Action
The Welsh Government to work with ticketing agencies, event organisers, venues, and operators to establish and implement fair and transparent pricing policies that consider the needs and circumstances of disabled children and adults, and provide discounts, concessions, or free admission, where appropriate.
UNCRDP
Article 30: participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport.
NEO
National Equality Objective 5.
Independent living: wellbeing, health and social care
Well-being
Action
The Welsh Government to include information relating to the Social Model of Disability in the grant application and the evaluation process for all projects.
UNCRDP
Article 19: living independently and being included in the community.
NEO
National Equality Objective 5.
Action
The Welsh Government to work with cultural, heritage, arts, sport and leisure organisations to increase the availability and quality of accessible exhibitions, performances, matches and events, ensuring they are representative of the diversity of Wales.
This includes removing physical barriers with clear provision of British Sign Language, audio description/autism friendly, for example.
UNCRDP
Article 30: participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport.
NEO
National Equality Objective 5.
Action
The Welsh Government to review how the Childcare and Early Years Capital Programme supports the accessibility of the physical environment for inclusive registered childcare and play services.
UNCRDP
Article 7: disabled children.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to work with local authorities and sector stakeholders to support childcare and play workers to access training and resources required to support disabled children to access childcare, in Welsh and English.
UNCRDP
Article 7: disabled children.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to establish an external advisory board to provide advice and support on the delivery of the cross-Government disabled people’s rights plan.
UNCRDP
Article 29: participation in political and public life.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2.
Independent living, social care
Action
The Welsh Government to collaborate with disabled people's organisations to design and deliver a new funding stream that addresses social care needs.
UNCRDP
Article 19: living independently and being included in the community.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action 2
The Welsh Government to involve disabled children and adults in considering how to take forward work to embed rights on disability.
UNCRDP
Article 4: general obligations.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2/5.
Action
The Welsh Government to work with disabled people on the findings of the National Centre for Independent Living feasibility study.
UNCRDP
Article 19: living independently and being included in the community.
NEO
National Equality Objective 5.
Action
The Welsh Government to work in partnership to develop health (including prison health staff) and social care workforce training on the social model of disability ensuring coproduction with disabled children and adults.
UNCRDP
Article 25: health.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to continue to work with all providers, including local authorities, to ensure that disabled individuals are able to live independently at home, wherever possible.
UNCRDP
Article 19: living independently and being included in the community.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to develop policy for timely access to British Sign Language (BSL) for deaf babies/children and their families.
UNCRDP
Article 25: health.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3/5.
Action
The Welsh Government to work with its Inspectorates and Regulators of health (HIW) and social care services (CIW) to embed the social model of disability into guidance for inspection teams.
UNCRDP
Article 25: health.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to convene a task and finish group to review the use of health economic measures including Quality Adjusted Life Years and Disability Adjusted Life Years impacting on NHS Wales resource allocation decisions, to explore any differential impact on disabled people, and make recommendations for any necessary changes.
UNCRDP
Article 5: equality and non-discrimination.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Justice and supporting environments
Access to justice
Action
The Welsh Government’s Equality and Human Rights Division to contribute funding to the Hate Hurts Wales 2025 to 2027 campaign, ensuring there is a focus on crimes against disabled people.
UNCRDP
Article 16: freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse.
NEO
National Equality Objective 4.
Action
The Welsh Government to review the International Committee of Rights of Disabled People (2024) report and its recommendations and implement them where relevant.
UNCRDP
Article 35: reports by states parties.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2.
Action
Provide disabled survivors and victims, with equal access to appropriately resourced, high quality, needs-led, strength based, intersectional and responsive services across Wales.
UNCRDP
Article 16: freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3/4.
Action
The Welsh Government to support disabled people's understanding of what a hate/mate crime is, how to report it, and where to get support, via collaborating with disabled people and Disabled People's Organisations.
UNCRDP
Article 8: awareness-raising.
NEO
National Equality Objective 4.
Action
The Welsh Government to make representations to the UK Government to improve our access to data on the disabled population in prisons, including women prisoners accommodated in England.
UNCRDP
Article 31: statistics and data collection.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2.
Action
The Welsh Government to ensure appropriate training on the social model of disability is in place for health and education staff working in prisons, and to make representations to partner agencies on the importance of training where justice staff are the responsibility of UK Government.
UNCRDP
Article 4: general obligations.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2.
Action
The Welsh Government to ensure the rights and needs of disabled people are reflected in our broader representations to the UK Government on justice matters, especially on key issues that create barriers to accessing justice.
UNCRDP
Article 13: access to justice.
NEO
National Equality Objective 3.
Action
The Welsh Government to ensure prisoners are assessed appropriately and early in order to improve access to education in Wales.
The assessment would be restricted to communication for the purposes of education.
UNCRDP
Article 24: education.
NEO
National Equality Objective 1/3/5.
Action
The Welsh Government in their development of the Preventing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse Strategy will ensure the needs of disabled people are central.
UNCRDP
Article 31: statistics and data collection.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2/4.
Access to services
Action
The Welsh Government to educate its press teams, legal services and staff in the Social Model of Disability.
UNCRDP
Article 8: awareness-raising.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2.
Action
The Welsh Government to educate cabinet secretaries, ministers, and their staff in the Social Model of Disability.
UNCRDP
Article 8: awareness-raising.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2.
Action
The Welsh Government will collaborate with disabled people's organisations to develop a public campaign to challenge ableism, promote positive attitudes, address language barriers for the deaf BSL signing community and Welsh speakers, and focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People, highlighting the right to independent living and the barriers of a cashless society.
UNCRDP
Article 8: awareness-raising.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2/5.
Action
The Welsh Government to encourage organisations and employers to appoint a Disabled People’s Champion and share examples of good practice and resources.
UNCRDP
Article 27: work and employment.
NEO
National Equality Objective 2/6.