Consumers, Employees
February 01 2003
by Maria EagleBriefing sound-bite: Maria Eagle, Minister for disabled people
"The European Year of Disabled People is about celebrating ability, about demonstrating the enormous contribution disabled people can and do make to society. We have come a long way, but the barriers that still face millions of people every day need to be challenged. The Year will give us all individually the opportunity to positively change our behaviour and attitudes to really make a difference to disabled people's lives.
But I also want to encourage companies to contribute by supporting the Year in their area - businesses could offer mentoring opportunities or get involved in sponsoring European Year of Disabled People projects.
There are over 8.5 million disabled people in the UK with a collective spending power in excess of £45 billion. So getting involved in the Year is not only the right thing to do but it makes good economic sense too. Let's make 2003 the year when equality for disabled people stops being an ideal and starts being a reality.
Together with funds from the European Commission, we recently announced funding totalling £2.3 million for 171 European Year projects across the UK to promote rights and participation of disabled people."