Welcome to the website of the UK Disabled People's Council (UKDPC). We were first established in 1981 as the British Council of Disabled People, to be the umbrella body for disabled people’s organisations across the United Kingdom.
We believe in, and strive for, the full inclusion of disabled people in society and the workplace. For us, inclusion is a human rights and civil liberties issue that must be effectively tackled. By working in partnership with disabled people’s organisations, the government and other bodies, we believe that equality can be achieved.
Our membership includes local, regional and national organisations. We are working with over 300 disabled people’s organisations, and are running consultation and capacity building events all over the country. These events aim to strengthen the role of disabled people’s organisations, as it is only through them that we can achieve true equality.
We also have a proactive role internationally through our own International Committee and our membership of Disabled People’s International. Please visit our Position Statements section for detailed information on our areas of work.
These achievements highlight some of our work which has contributed to considerable social changes:
How to contact us:
If you would like to get more information, or become involved in our work by becoming a member of UKDPC, then please get in touch with us through our Contact Us page.
UKDPC is a partner in Disability LIB, which is an alliance of seven organisations offering capacity building support and advice to Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) in England. This support and advice is offered using rights based principles and business skills, at a time of financial crisis and political opportunity.
We recognise that the DPO movement plays a vital role in challenging disablism and discrimination. We value the diversity of DPOs and support their development as a specific and distinct sector within both local communities and wider society.
The Disability LIB report Thriving or Surviving shows how DPO’s are disadvantaged and restricted in a range of areas. This includes fundraising, access costs, competitive tendering processes, skills retention, governance and leadership.
Furthermore, Disability LIB offers DPOs capacity building advice, support and training. This is in management and governance, business skills, campaigning, inclusion and leadership. Disability LIB is active in promoting the work of DPOs and their status within public, private and the 3rd sector.
Our working approach is based on a peer to peer model. What we offer is not fixed and the same for all, but rather based around what an individual DPO needs. The way it works is that once we have made contact with a DPO, we work with them to complete a DPO assessment tool. This asks a number of questions, such as, what the DPO does, its history, structure, finances, income, problems, challenges and opportunities for growth.
Following this assessment Disability LIB looks to match DPO needs with skills and resources across the seven Disability LIB organisations and team of twenty five staff who have a range of diverse skills and expertise. From this a work plan, set times and dates are created to work to together.
For more information visit www.disabilitylib.org.uk or email contactus@disabilitylib.org.uk
