Written Statement: Publication of the Disabled People’s Rights Plan 2025-2035

A Decade of Commitment to Inclusion and Equality in Wales

Today is a landmark in our commitment to forging a truly inclusive and equal Wales, as we proudly launch the Disabled People’s Rights Plan 2025-2035 - a bold blueprint to drive lasting change, which has been shaped by disabled people. This Plan is not just a document; it is a ten-year commitment to advancing inclusion and equality for all disabled children and adults throughout our nation.

We are also guided by the principles and obligations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People, which includes the right to independent living and sets out measures for social protection. The convention recognises the right of all disabled people to have a proper standard of living for themselves and their families, and to the enjoyment of that right without discrimination.

I thank everyone who supported the development of the Disabled People’s Rights Plan through the Disability Rights Taskforce, its working groups and recommendations, and in particular Professor Debbie Foster, for her strong and influential leadership as Taskforce co-chair. 

On 15 May, I launched a 12-week consultation on the draft Disabled People’s Rights Plan. During this period, we welcomed invaluable feedback which both celebrated the strengths of the Plan and identified opportunities for further improvement. Respondents highlighted the importance of establishing clear methods to measure impact, enhancing the focus on digital inclusion for disabled people, acknowledging more fully the significant contributions of parents and carers, and ensuring that working with disabled people remains central.

Strong oversight is essential for putting the Disabled People’s Rights Plan into action. We are moving forward with setting up the Disabled People’s External Advisory Board, which will be both influential and independent. This Board will help shape the Plan, track its progress, and make sure it has the greatest possible impact. It will act as a vital connection between disabled people, decision-makers, and service providers. 

To secure meaningful progress for disabled people, it is crucial that we and future administrations are held to account for delivering clear, measurable actions and outcomes that improve equality for disabled people in Wales. Transparency must underpin every stage of implementation, with robust mechanisms in place to monitor and report on progress. 

The Welsh Government adopted the social model of disability back in 2002, making a clear commitment to recognising that disability is created by barriers within society.  More than two decades later, this commitment remains pivotal to our work today and is reflected in the efforts of the Disability Rights Taskforce and our Disabled People’s Rights Plan.

The Disabled People’s Rights Plan acknowledges that society is moving rapidly towards digital-first services and increasingly cashless transactions, the necessity for accessible digital technology and a customer focus approach to service design which includes non-digital routes, has never been greater. Disabled people face unique barriers in accessing digital platforms, travel, housing, education, healthcare or financial services, particularly as traditional cash options reduce. 

The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that digital transformation in Wales is truly inclusive - providing accessible interfaces, alternative formats, and robust support for all users. Accessibility must be a core principle, not an afterthought, as we shape the digital future of our nation. 

The Disabled People’s Rights Plan demonstrates our shared ambition for a more inclusive, equal, and resilient Wales. But its success depends on the continued commitment of all stakeholders - policy makers, advocates, service providers, and the wider public. I urge everyone to embrace the values of accessibility, inclusion, and coproduction in their work. 

I remain steadfast in my commitment to ensuring that disabled people can participate fully and equally in every aspect of Welsh society, free from barriers and discrimination. As part of this commitment our Claim What’s Yours campaign this year will include a focus on disabled people in Wales, as one of the main target audiences for the campaign - to ensure everyone is claiming all that they are entitled to. This will include a £100 cost of living payment for people in the Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction Scheme who also claim Council tax reduction. This has been designed in line with our Welsh Benefits Charter.

Let us move forward, united in our determination to deliver on this ten-year promise and to build a Wales where every disabled person not only survives but thrives, enjoying equitable rights, social protections, and the empowerment to lead, shape, and influence the future of Wales.