DRC launches advertising campaign highlighting discrimination of disabled people

Policy makers are “not thinking about disability,” according to Bert Massie, chair of the Disability Rights Commission today.

“It is considered something over there for the specialists to deal with. Something to do with wheelchairs and ramps,” he added.

His comments came in a speech to launch a new DRC advertising campaign on how poverty, exclusion and discrimination affect disabled people.

The gap between opportunities for disabled and non-disabled people is bigger than ever, according to the commission.

“Successive governments have failed to break the culture of low expectations that holds disabled people back – including the present administration,” said Massie.

Society tends to respond to disability “through care, welfare and charity, rather than extending rights, opportunities and citizenship,” he explained.

The DRC is calling for disabled candidates to be on the shortlist for all vacant parliamentary seats and for far greater representation by disabled people on public bodies.