EHRC says the Welsh Government’s plan for disabled people risks being “symbolic”

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has called on the Welsh Government to commit to clear targets and timeframes for improving disabled people’s rights as its current plan risks “becoming symbolic”.

In a new report, the equality regulator said that the draft Disabled People’s Rights Plan failed to deliver the services disabled people need and stronger accountability measures are required to ensure disabled people in Wales see meaningful improvement.

This plan, based on the work of the Disability Rights Taskforce, sets out a cross-government 10-year ambition to ensure disabled people can flourish as equal members of Welsh society, and to challenge discrimination and prejudice. This plan replaces the Welsh Government’s ‘Action on Disability: The Right to Independent Living’.

Four overarching areas addressed by this Plan are neighbourhoods and places; employment, income and education; independent living, and justice and supporting environments. A consultation was held between 15 May 2025 and 7 August 2025.

Response to the Disabled People’s Rights Plan

While the EHRC commended the long-term strategy in the draft plan to improve disabled people’s rights, the regulator warned that poor accountability and a lack of scrutiny in the government had historically prevented disabled people from seeing timely and meaningful change.

It also calls for it to continue working with disabled people to design and deliver policies affecting them, especially in areas like employment, education and transport. As active engagement is a key human rights obligation, the watchdog advised the government to involve disabled people in policymaking as standard practice.

Interim Chair of the EHRC’s Wales Committee, Martyn Jones JP DL, said: “As Britain’s equality regulator, we are committed to promoting the rights of disabled people and ensuring they can participate easily and equally in society.

“We welcome the Welsh Government’s ambition to improve disabled people’s rights, but it’s crucial they go further to make Wales as inclusive and accessible as possible. For too long, the Welsh Government has failed to deliver the services disabled people need. Without revisions, the commitments made in the draft Disabled People’s Rights Plan risk becoming symbolic.”

Disabled people face inequality in employment and education

The EHRC also noted in its consultation response that disabled people continue to face inequality in human rights areas such as employment, education and transport. It encouraged the Welsh Government to close the disability employment gap, which remains high in Wales; to reduce school exclusions, which disproportionately affect disabled pupils; and to introduce national minimum accessibility standards across all transport in Wales.

It also said that a rights-based approach must be included in the design and delivery of social care, housing and community services. The Is Wales Fairer? 2023 report, and recent inquiries, highlight significant challenges to independent living, particularly relating to social care, accessible housing and user-led support.

The report added: “Our Human Rights Tracker has identified ongoing problems in implementing the right to work and just and fair conditions at work, highlighting the need for targeted, measurable action. We recommend that the final version of the plan sets out clear expectations for public bodies and employers to improve disabled people’s access to fair, dignified and inclusive work.

“Our Human Rights Tracker highlights only some action has been taken by Welsh Government on implementing UN recommendations in social care.

“Evidence from our Is Wales Fairer? 2023 report highlights persistent inequalities faced by disabled learners across all stages of education. These include lower attainment, higher rates of school exclusion and inadequate support for transitions into further education and employment. We welcome the Welsh Government’s commitment to improving the rights of disabled people, but stronger, measurable action is now needed to ensure those rights are put into practice.”

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today.

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