Disability charity publishes Easy Read summary of 2014 Budget
The national disability charity, United Response, has published an easy read summary of last Wednesday’s budget speech. Using simple words and images, the publication is aimed at making the Chancellor’s announcement more accessible to the 1.5 million people with learning disabilities in the UK.
Speaking about the easy read budget, United Response’s Campaign’s Officer, Rachel Bowen, said:
“The Budget is a hugely important part of British politics and also one of the most inaccessible. Every year the Chancellor delivers an array of changes to spending policies, which can have a big impact on people’s lives but which can also be very difficult to understand. This is especially true for people with learning disabilities who often find it hard to absorb complex information. “
United Response’s easy read budget summary has been published as a special edition of the charity’s accessible news magazine, Easy News. The magazine was created to present news to people with learning disabilities in an easy to understand format, after research carried out by the charity showed that only 37% of people with learning disabilities could name a recent news event. A year on from its launch and the magazine now has over 3,000 readers, and 73% are now able to name a big news event.
Rachel Bowen said:
“People with learning disabilities should have access to the same information as everyone else. The intention behind Easy News has always been to make the news more accessible for people with learning disabilities, who are so often excluded from debates just because information isn’t presented in a way that makes sense to them.”
“MPs are already debating the new policies outlined in the Budget and on Tuesday will be discussing the new welfare cap before voting on the new measure on Wednesday. It’s an issue which is likely to be of real importance for people with learning disabilities as many rely on support from benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Housing Benefit. However, without accessible information, many people will be unaware of the changes and won’t be able to tell politicians what they think. We hope that our easy read summary will help to change that.”
The special budget edition of Easy News can be downloaded at http://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/press/campaigns/easy-news/
For more information, please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on 020 8246 5200 or email sarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk
Notes to the editors:
United Response is a community based charity that works with people with learning disabilities, mental health needs or physical disabilities- including some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Our vision is of a society where disabled people are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
We are a top 100 national charity with a turnover of over £69 million, working with more than 2,500 people at around 330 locations across England and Wales. We employ approximately 3,500 people and regularly win awards for our innovative, high quality range of services
We provide everything from 24-hour care to a few hours of support a week. Our support is always designed around each person because we know one size does not fit all. Some people may require minimal support; those with complex needs may require considerably more.
To find out more about the work of United Response, please visit www.unitedresponse.org.uk
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