Islington's Mayor, Cllr Jyoti Vaja is launched the borough's first Disability Action Plan, which spells out what action the council will take to improve services for disabled people and when they will happen. The Action Plan sets ambitious targets to test council services, and those provided by its contractors, and if necessary make adjustments so they don't discriminate against people with disabilities. Islington Council's Disability Action Plan was drawn up after extensive consultation with people with disabilities.
Cllr Lucy Watt, Islington Council's Deputy Leader, who is due to speak at the launch event, said: "We have listened and taken on board people's suggestions and used them to develop a robust Action Plan. Not only to help eliminate disability related discrimination, but to give people with disabilities the same chances as others to get the support they need to be independent and achieve their full potential. Our Action Plan will help bring this about. It gives clarity for residents and staff by showing how the council will achieve equality for people with disabilities throughout all its services.
"For example, next year the council will review its customer service centre, Contact Islington, to find out if it provides useful information to people with disabilities and in the format they need.
"Help will be offered to businesses, run by people with disabilities, to bid for council work. 'Mystery shoppers' will also be used to test whether all council services are accessible to people with disabilities and not discriminating. By November 2008, the council hopes to have introduced dropped kerbs and 'disabled friendly' paving at all crossings.
"I want to thank Disability Action in Islington, who supported the council with the consultation and made it our most successful consultation for people with disabilities yet."
Three consultation sessions were organised earlier this year and drew the largest ever turnout of people with disabilities in Islington - scores turned up to take part. Feedback from the consultation, which is based and peoples' experiences with the council, was used to set the targets in the Disability Action Plan.
Copies of Islington Council's first Disability Action Plan will be distributed at the launch event on 4 December, 2006 .
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Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008