Government confirms new Disability Action Plan will be published in 2023

A new Disability Action Plan will be consulted on and published in 2023, the UK Government has unveiled.

The new Disability Action Plan will set out the practical action ministers across government will take over the next two years to improve disabled people’s lives.

The policies in the Disability Action Plan will be further developed in the New Year, with a consultation expected in 2023, so that disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, and other interested parties can have their say.

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said: “Over one in five people in the UK are disabled. It’s vital we continue to take concerted action across government to improve disabled people’s lives.

“I’ll be bringing forward our Disability Action Plan in 2023 to build on government reform of the disability agenda, underlining our global leadership on disability rights and leading the way in areas such as assistive tech and accessibility.

“It was inspiring to visit the GDI’s new research lab where this type of innovation is in action – unlocking opportunities so that more disabled people can reach their potential.”

This announcement follows the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, officially opening the new Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) research lab at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to mark the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3 December 2022.

GDI Hub – the world’s first centre on assistive technology to collaborate with the World Health Organization (WHO) – intends to forge the path internationally to improve disabled people’s lives.

GDI Hub will be researching and creating a new generation of advanced technologies, ranging from AI-powered navigation aids for visually impaired people to using mobile communication to strengthen disabled communities.

Earlier this year, the hub launched the Lived Experience Experts Bench to provide invaluable insights and perspectives across five thematic areas: accessible and assistive technology (AT), inclusive design, inclusive education technology, inclusive climate, and crisis resilience and cultural participation.

The Lived Experience Experts Bench is for people with specific experience of disability that would like to provide expert insights and reflections to drive disability innovation impact globally.