New report is launched from Lewisham Disabled People's Commission

• Most extensive report launched in a London borough to find out the barriers faced by deaf and disabled residents
• Lewisham Disabled People’s Commission aims to put deaf and disabled people at the heart of decision making
• Part of Lewisham Council’s commitment to make Lewisham the best place to live, work and learn for every single resident

If not now, then when? is the report from Lewisham Disabled People’s Commission that was launched at the Lewisham Council’s Annual General Meeting on 29 March. This comprehensive report offers detailed insight into the experiences of deaf and disabled residents and makes a number of recommendations for practical and strategic changes that will protect and advance the rights and inclusion of deaf and disabled people in Lewisham.

In December 2019, Lewisham Council commissioned the Lewisham Disabled People’s Commission to make recommendations on practical and strategic changes that will protect and advance the rights and inclusion of deaf and disabled people in Lewisham. The Commission is independent and user-led and aims to put deaf and disabled people at the heart of decision making.

This is the start of a much longer piece of work to address barriers for deaf and disabled residents and co-production will be a vital part of this process. The report will be reviewed thoroughly and a response will be brought back to Mayor and Cabinet in the summer.

You can read the full report and EasyRead and BSL versions of the executive summary on our website.

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham said:

“In Lewisham we have always tried to make sure we support our deaf and disabled communities. I have taken away a lot from this report which shines a light on the barriers that too many deaf and disabled people face. 

We need to be better at making sure deaf and disabled people are at the heart of our decision making and as a Council, we must embed the ethos of ‘Nothing about us, without us.’

I would like to thank Jamie Hale and all the commissioners who have worked so hard for the last three years to produce this detailed report. We all agree that this is just the beginning of a much longer piece of work towards our ambition to make Lewisham the best and most accessible borough.” 

Jamie Hale, Chair of the Lewisham Disabled People’s Commission said:

“Conducting research on this report has been a privilege, and I am deeply grateful for the steadfast support and commitment shown by both Commission members and the Council and other strategic partners. Our research produced one clear outcome: we must centre deaf and disabled people in decision making processes utilising co-production to develop long-term strategies. These need to address both broader borough access barriers and the barriers to independent living, which respond to the needs of our residents.

This work taken forward by Lewisham Council and the wider Lewisham Strategic Partnership could serve as a national model for ensuring that the voices of deaf and disabled people are centred in all aspects of life. We hope that the progress following our report continues to embody the ethos of the slogan which roots and connects the campaigning histories of deaf and disabled people: Nothing about us, without us.”

ENDS

Notes and Photos

Image of Jamie Hale, Chair of the Lewisham Disabled People’s Commission with members of the Commission and Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham, Cllr Paul Bell and Cllr Juliet Campbell.

20% of the population of Lewisham could be considered disabled people (statutory definition).

For more information, please contact the Media Relations team at Lewisham Council on media.relations@lewisham.gov.uk or call 020 8314 9001. 

About Lewisham Council

Lewisham is a vibrant and culturally diverse borough. This reflected in all aspects of daily life, from the response to the pandemic where the community rallied to support our most vulnerable residents, to the 170 languages spoken in our homes, schools and businesses. We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

As we plan ahead, we are working towards a fairer, greener, healthier and more economically sound future for all in Lewisham. This means continuing our efforts to tackle climate change for generations to come; ensuring that good health and wellbeing is equally accessible to everyone; and safeguarding local jobs and upskilling residents with tools they need to succeed. Building on the community spirit and activism that has helped us through the pandemic, we are committed to creating a Future Lewisham we can all have a part in.