About.

In Guernsey there are many areas of the island’s policy that impact on islanders with disabilities and carers lives. The GDA has been campaigning for changes in relation to legislation, social policy and practices for over a decade.

The Guernsey Disability and Inclusion Strategy is the States of Guernsey plan for raising awareness about disability and improving the lives of people living with disabilities, including carers. See the Gov.gg site on Disability and Inclusion

Background.

The GDA was established in order to affect changes in the way that society includes and views all those who are affected by disability.

In the past, many governments did not routinely consider policy and legislation from the perspective of diversity of persons or diversity of needs.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires governments to actively and routinely consider disability within all policy development and to embed this mindset within all levels of government.

Importantly, the CRPD requires that persons with disabilities are actively involved and closely consulted (through their representative organisations) in all decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities.

This right to be consulted forms the bedrock of all that the GDA does.  We work closely with the States of Guernsey to:

  • Ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are heard
  • Assist the States to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Note:

The GDA’s mandate and resources are focussed on achieving systemic and attitudinal change. The GDA does not have the resources to provide an advocacy service or to assist with individual issues.

Further information.

The key project is Guernsey’s Disability and Inclusion Strategy which is the States of Guernsey plan for raising awareness about disability and improving the lives of people living with disabilities, including carers. You can find out more about this strategy and its works streams here.

We are very fortunate to have a number of volunteers working on our social policy team, they include:

  • Rob Platts MBE – our lead on equality, Human Rights and UNCRPD
  • Rob Harnish  – social policy lead and education
  • Catherine Hall – education lead
  • Mike Read – health lead

We also have a part-time Social Policy Director, Carol Le Page.

Current campaigns are listed in Campaigns. Other projects or campaigns we have worked on are listed in the Campaign History and include areas such as education, health, benefits, transport and more ….