LPDMG have been working with their political party to promote the better inclusion of disabled people within the political structure and hopes that this work achieved by the Speaker's Conference will go considerably toward achieving this aim.

  Until we get a greater percentage of disabled people in public appointments the equal representation of the public will not be achieved.

  Although LPDMG works within it preferred political structure it's over all aim to assist all disabled people to achieve in all aspects of life within the community and political structure without coming across any barriers.

  LPDMG would be available to work with the Speaker's Conference in anyway to assist and achieve their aims.

  The Conference invited written statements from interested organisations were invited and this is ours.

  1.  During electioneering disabled people are discriminated against because of inaccessible transport.

  When visiting the public to talk to them disabled people usually have to rely on their party members to take them round the wards, as not everywere has transport or accessible transport. They also have other access requirements, such as the need to supply British Sign Language interpreters. Therefore there is a need for the use of taxi's on these occasions. The cost often negates this being achieved and the candidate should not always have to rely on members of the CLP; who might not be available at the same time as they wish to talk to the public.

  There is a need for extra funds to be available to meet the access needs of those who have a disability who wish to go out electioneer when they want—just like any one else.

  We suggest that a scheme similar to the Access to Work Scheme be put in place, which pays for the disability access needs in the workplace, including for MPs, is set up and administered by the Electoral Commission.

  These available funds for those with a disability should be well advertised within the political structure and the same for public appointments; as well as structures in place to ensure that these extra funds are not used for unfair gain to achieve the appointment they are applying for.

  2.  Disabled people have few role models within society to look upto; people who have achieved regardless of their disability; thankfully with the better media coverage of the Paralympics we now have role models in sports.

  But if we want to see more disabled people in public office then those within public office should be willing to declare their disability; if they have one.

  This not only shows the younger generations what they have achieved but also the job market.

  It says that they should not be ashamed or in fear to declare their disability to achieve their aims in life.

  The fear of discloser could be greatly assisted if more disabled people in public office declared their disability voluntary and all who hold already a public office have a part to play in this.

  Most people go into public office with an aim to right the wrong in one or two areas; nothing wrong with this—so disabled people should be leaders in the work, providing the solutions in all manner of subject and not just disability and the only way this can happen is being part of the organisation—an MP; MEP, or even a Commission for example

  3.  When a disabled person is elected into office, be it in Local Government or as a MP there is a need to ensure that the office is accessible physically and the information that they will use to achieve their job is accessible for them

  Not every disabled person wants to see to all the access needs for disabled people within the organisation or the building when they attend their first day in office; in fact why should they?

  But unfortunately they have to if they want to be included in what they were elected to do.

  Many Local Government offices and officers are not fully aware of their obligation to ensure the office of being a Councillor is fully "accessible" in the real sense of the word.

  Under the legislation there should be procedures ready for all types of access to information and offices, buildings and all amenities accessible but there seldom is.

  A review of Local Councils should be achieved to find out who is adhering to the law and a means to ensure that this is achieved should be put in place for those who are not.

  4.  Young people of today seem to know little and understand even less of the structure of politics.

  It is a fundamental thing to use your vote; an aspect of life that 50% of the public fought for and it has a great effect on every ones future.

  During their education, politics should be mandatory within the Citizenship section of the curriculum.

  But it seems that not all schools teach this section of the curriculum or that they have to.

  LPDMG would support the mandatory inclusion of citizenship within the curriculum and it should certainly include politics, which should lead to involve those who are underrepresented in the political process, including disabled people in the political process.

  5.  LPDMG invented an Access Guide so all CLP's could understand their obligation under the law to their members.

  LPDMG believes that the principal behind the policy should be undertaken by all political parties and even organisations that offer public appointments; thus ensuring that any member of the public with a disability who wants to involve them selves in politics by attending their "parties" meetings or organisations can be assured that they will be able to enter and be fully involved from the start. Good practice would suggest that notices of political party meetings should simply say that if people have access needs they should contact the Secretary or other designated officer so that reasonable adjustments can be made.

  Many disabled people are so used to not having their access needs meet that they don't even ask, but they need to be met before they arrive at a meeting.

  Panel forms filled out when Party members apply to join the panel of potential council or Parliamentary candidates, should ask whether the person considers themselves to be disabled and if so whether they have any access needs.

  A support network for disabled candidates and potential candidates similar to ones already available for women and BAME candidates should be established.

  It is not for the disabled person to make the political parties aware of their obligations to meet the letter of the law or organisations.

  Each political party does not do enough to ensure that their disabled members have access to their local CLP's and this also appertains to the House of Commons and the House of Lords and many organisation that offer public appointments.

  Under this comes the access to the actual polling stations.

  Many authorities are making progress in making polling stations accessible but until all are the political structure is discriminating against disabled people.

  Local Authorities should ensure they meet the letter of the law and have all of their polling stations accessible.

  Another aspect of accessibility is the availability of the MP to the public when elected; too many "surgeries" are still held in inaccessible venues and the public, especially disabled people, will perceive this as another reason for seeing their view not being of value.

  In conjunction with this is the availability of information; perhaps even a reply to a letter, not being available in "other formats upon request".

  LPDMG have had numerous conversations with people who have receive correspondence back from their MPs ignoring their access needs—even when they have been informed of them; this is perceived as ignorance, laziness and a lack of understanding of basic disability issues that really should not be condoned in any way.

  Perhaps there is a need for Disability Awareness Training for MPs too?

  6.  There are aspects of statute within the House of Commons that require an MP to stand down from their office if they sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

  These archaic policies should be re-looked at under the DDA, as LPDMG believes they could be discrimitory; there is a need for support when people are ill and under the DDA reasonable adjustment to their work, job and time; with the lack of coordination across the country people with disabilities are left feeling very unsure about going into an job were "reasonable adjustment"—which could be for treatment they could need in the future of even might be undertaking then—is not considered.

  Councillors are covered by the DDA but not MPs (are MEPs the same?) so does the House of Commons make reasonable adjustment when needed?

  Often opportunities are missed to put aspects of legislation right on matters such as these and so it is LPDMG's hope that the Government will take the opportunity during the forth coming Equalities Bill to include a "duty to make reasonable adjustment" applicable to the MPs as already for Councillors.

  Of course out of this must come a procedure for monitoring?

  7.  LPDMG finds that there are disabled people who are willing to place themselves forward for public appointment but know little about the procedures on how to achieve this.

  They have the life experiences, not just on disability, but lack the practical experience and along with the fear of disclosure of their disability, usually play safe and do not go further than think about it.

  Society has for generation's equated disability with mental incompetence and many disabled people feel they are fighting on more than one front when placing them forward for public office.

  So to combat this there is a need for leadership development and not just for those who attend or are involved in groups whether they are under-represented or not and to ensure that the development of this person in the leadership training continues there should be a mentoring scheme available along side the training scheme.

  This scheme will provide support and continued encouragement.

  There are more disabled people that are not members of disability group who want to work for the community and not just on disability issues than who are members of organisations.

  It is this section of the disability community that are not considered.

  Why should you have to join a group to be interested in taking up a public office?

  All political parties and public bodies from the beginning of the process of elections should provide clear policies, which inform the candidate on reasonable adjustment.

  8.  Often the first person that a disabled person encounters when enquiring on how to place himself or herself forward for election is the front line staff.

  There is a great need to ensure that staff have received disability awareness training and the officers of the organisation too.

  This will go well to allow disabled people to feel able to ask for reasonable adjustment during the election and certainly improve and change negative attitudes that face all disabled people.

  9.  The perception that the media portray of disabled people being heroes when they have only achieved what abled bodied people have achieved, but probably in a different way due to their disability, gives a negative view to the public—always bringing the disability forward as the subject and not the work and achievements of that person.

  The language used to portray disabled people continues to perpetuate this portal of society having to care for disabled people and the way this is portrayed perpetuates the public conception that disabled people are not capable of doing a job within a public body.

  Although the media, (journalists), have said that they are changing their language, disabled people know that they are not listening to them on this matter and until they do they will continue to get it wrong and lead the public in this negative aspect of portal of disable people.