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The ODI aims to be a central resource for both government and disabled people themselves by gathering and disseminating strong, representative evidence.
In the last year, the ODI commissioned research to identify and review available evidence on the potential costs and benefits of investment in independent living for disabled people. This analysis was part of a wider programme to make the case for providing disabled people with more choice and control over the support they need.
The ODI has also published research into the implications for health and social care budgets of investment in housing adaptations, improvements and equipment. Both pieces of research informed the Independent Living and Comprehensive Spending Reviews.
In the last year, the ODI has commissioned the Office for National Statistics to develop plans for a longitudinal disability survey of Great Britain. This will track the experiences of disabled people over time to see what happens when they become disabled, move from childhood to adulthood or in and out of work. People's experience of receiving benefits and services over different life stages will also be captured.
The survey will involve interviews with groups of disabled people, non-disabled people and people who have recently experienced the onset of impairment. Survey development and testing, which involves disabled people, is now underway. An initial baseline survey is expected to be completed in 2010.
As part of the ODI's evaluation of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), research has been published on how organisations (Simms C. et al (2007) Organisations responses to the DDA , DWP Research Report 410, CDS) and landlords (Aston, J. et al (2007) - Landlords responses to the DDA, DWP Research Report No. 429, CDS) are responding to their DDA duties. These reports will be used to inform disability rights policies, including policies for communications about the DDA. In particular, the research involving landlords will form a baseline for future monitoring of residential premises issues.
Research published by the ODI this year (2007) explored organisations' awareness of and responses to the DDA.
Key findings were:
The ODI commissioned an audit of how public bodies were meeting their duties under the Disability Equality Duty (DED). This was completed in January 2007 and gives a snap shot of compliance during that month.
The study found that over 70% of public authorities covered by the audit had published a disability equality scheme. Of those authorities with a scheme in place three-quarters had involved disabled people.
The information that was captured during this audit was then passed on to the Disability Rights Commission. Follow-up work revealed that, by the end of March, more than 95% of public authorities covered by the original audit had a scheme in place. This suggests that the swift action taken jointly by the ODI and Disability Rights Commission ensured that compliance with the requirement to have a scheme was taken seriously by the vast majority of public bodies.
Learning from the audit was consolidated by a series of events for public bodies held in March and April. A report of the events was published in June.
One year on, the ODI has commissioned further research to assess how well public bodies are implementing their Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plans. The research will explore whether public bodies are correctly interpreting and implementing the legislation. It will also look at what contribution the Duty has made to organisational change and improved outcomes for disabled people. The report, due to be published in summer 2008, will also help identify best practice in implementing schemes and areas for further improvement.
A large research project on the experiences and expectations of disabled people is underway. It aims to provide a broad picture of the key issues affecting all aspects of disabled people's lives. This research will become a primary source of data on disability.
This research will be used to improve our evidence base as well as feeding into future research such as the development of a longitudinal disability survey and helping to develop outcome based indicators for measuring progress towards equality in 2025. Its wide-ranging nature will enable it to inform future policies in many areas which are of importance to disabled people, for example: education, employment, conducting everyday life and relationships, and experience of discrimination and disability rights.
A group of disabled people has been brought together as a reference network for the experiences and expectations research project. This includes academics and disability activists, as well as disabled members of the public.
The project steering group also acts in an advisory capacity, representing major disability organisations and overnment departments.
The reference network is involved in all elements of the study, including the design of the programme of research, content of the questionnaire, the data analysis and reporting.
This project will be used as a template to provide guidance on conducting future research with disabled people in an inclusive manner.
Page last reviewed: 11 August 2008