Disabled people, voluntary organisations and participation in policy making

Abstract

English This article focuses on the involvement of disabled people and voluntary organisations in the deliberative processes of governmental policy creation. In recent times traditional disability charities have enjoyed significant access to government and have asserted the legitimacy of their participation on the basis of representing a constituency comprising disabled people and carers. However, many disabled people have declared their preference for self-representation and have rejected the interposition of the traditional disability charities between themselves and government. The purpose here is to document the barriers that continue to obstruct disabled people’s access to policy making, including the potential conflict between the aims of minority groups and the rule of majority mandate.