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In 2006, ministers agreed to carry out a review of independent living, and for the Office for Disability Issues to establish a cross-government Independent Living Review project team and an Independent Living panel of experts.
The Independent Living project team, with support from the expert panel, looked at how government and organisations can respond to the recommendations made in Chapter 4 of the 'Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People' report. This chapter looked at the fundamental changes that need to be made to the way existing services for disabled people are delivered.
The Office for Disability Issues assembled an Independent Living Review project team. The team included people with key knowledge and experience, expertise in issues relating to disabled people, older and disabled people and health and social care, and a social services practitioner.
Jenny Morris, who was the lead on independent living for the 'Life Chances' report, was the executive director of the Independent Living Review.
The Independent Living Review project team reported regularly to the Office for Disability Issues Board of Management and the Ministerial Group.
The Independent Living Review project team worked closely with disabled people and the Independent Living strategy has been developed in partnership with disabled people. An expert panel was set up to ensure that the progress and outcomes of the review were shaped by independent living experts.
The Office for Disability Issues set up an expert panel to support the work of the cross-government Independent Living review.
Expert panel members included a range of experts in the field of independent living, including disabled people and people from organisations of disabled people, user-led groups and service delivery organisations. The panel was chaired by Baroness Jane Campbell.
The Independent Living Review project team has worked in partnership with disabled people - making sure that the people whose lives are affected by policies have had a chance, from the outset, to influence and shape what goes on. The expert panel has played a crucial role in this respect.
In addition, during 2007, the project team held a series of workshops and regional events to discuss policy proposals with individuals and their organisations.
The launch of the Independent Living strategy will be followed by a number of consultation events. Find out more on the Independent Living strategy consultation.
The review is an ODI-led cross-government project. In developing the Independent Living strategy, the Independent Living Review project team worked with the following departments: Department of Work and Pensions (DWP); Department of Health (DH); Communities and Local Government (CLG); Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Department for Transport (DfT); and, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).