Recently I was sent an article by the BBC. The article covered a new government disability transformative plan/strategy to make lives easier for disabled people. There have been mixed responses to the strategy from many charities and organisations, so I felt it would be a good chance to discuss it a little bit in the blog post today.
More Accessible Housing
As I discussed in one of my previous posts, only 9% of houses in the UK are appropriately accessible. This plan is great in that it may address some of the accessible housing issues I’ve faced. I think the only issue is the cost of these properties, especially if these accessible homes require more space to be built. When I’ve come across houses that were adequately accessible, they usually come with a high price tag, especially with new builds.
However, the government plan also hints at adapting existing houses on the market. The plan seems to cover both sides of the coin so it’s unveiled. I’m pretty excited to see what opportunities this will bring to disabled house hunters like me in the future. That said, I shouldn’t give up on looking as this plan may not even go ahead or get delivered.
Opinions – Missed Opportunity?
My thoughts are that this is a starting point to getting more accessible housing onto the housing market. It may not tick all the boxes in terms of supporting every disabled person but it’s an okay starting point nonetheless.
Continue the Conversation
However, we should continue to push for better accessible housing across the UK, especially when it comes to properties on the private housing market and new social housing. We all deserve somewhere to call home, disabled or not.
Consult Disabled People
I would have liked to have been consulted about this plan to give input into this strategy, so it feels like a bit of a missed opportunity there. They could have easily sent out letters to individuals receiving PIP or similar disability benefits to give their input or views on this strategy as a minimum.
Do you want to get involved in fighting for more accessible housing in the UK? Check out my post here to find out more on how you can get involved. Alternatively, if you have your own accessible housing stories, reach out to me via info@buildmyaccessiblehome.co.uk.
Please also consider donating to the blog via the BuyMeACoffee button at the bottom of this post. Donations, no matter how big or small highly appreciated and help me continue writing on this blog, plus go towards purchasing an accessible property!
