DISABLED PEOPLE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES' EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICIES

In debates on equal opportunities, disabled people's issues are often ignored. Disability is typically seen as a medically defined category populated by individuals 'with problems'. This article presents an alternative perspective which re-defines disability and demands that the authenticity of the disabled people's movement be acknowledged. Surveys estimating the numbers of disabled people in the UK are reviewed, as are local authority equal opportunities statements. Two case studies of local authorities, Manchester and Lambeth, are used to show how progress on disabled people's issues has been achieved by account being taken of the demands of the disabled people's movement. The article concludes by looking at the implications of recent legislation and suggests that equal opportunities policies for disabled people are most likely to be implemented when they organize themselves effectively and make coalitions with other disadvantaged groups.