As of yesterday, England has its first law for a specific disability in the shape of the Autism Act 2009. The last day of the latest parliamentary session also confirmed the passage of legislation to introduce direct payments for healthcare (the Health Act 2009) and encourage more disabled people, people who misuse substances and lone parents to take steps to enter work (the Welfare Reform Act 2009).
There's pretty strong support among autism charities and support providers for the Autism Act, which is designed to give the government's forthcoming autism strategy for adults teeth.
As for the Health Act, the idea of giving people cash payments to pay for their healthcare is quite a revolution in the NHS. This will be piloted next year - as part of wider personal health budget pilots - and will be watched with interest. The Act will also give self-funding social care users recourse to complain to the local government ombudsman about standards of provision.
The Welfare Reform Act embodies the government's principle that all jobless benefit claimants - apart from those who are very sick or who care for very young children - should be taking steps to gain work or make themselves more employable.
The government recently softened its stance on substance misusing job seekers - removing plans to mandate treatment and limiting instances in which people would face mandatory drug tests. However, significant concerns remain about what this would mean for disabled people, people who misuse drugs or alcohol and lone parents.
More legislation to come next Wednesday when the government announces its plans for the final session before the election in the Queen's Speech. From what we've reported before there won't be too much on the adult social care front.
Leave a comment