We’re really excited that Disability Positive is part of the newly launched Cheshire Disabled People’s Panel (CDPP), which held its first meeting in April 2021. The panel is made up of Disabled People’s Organisations from across Cheshire.

The founding organisations are Cheshire Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), Deafness Support Network (DSN), Disability Positive (the new name for Cheshire Centre for Independent Living), Dial West Cheshire, and Disability Information Bureau (DIB).

The purpose of the CDPP is to bring together disabled people’s organisations and groups across Cheshire to work collectively to act as the voice of people with lived experience of disability and long-term conditions in the county. 

Our Chief Executive Officer at Disability Positive Lynne Turnbull will be Chair of the panel and said:

‘‘Cheshire Disabled People Against Cuts and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Disabled People’s Panel approached us last year with the idea of forming a Cheshire Disabled People’s Panel which fitted in perfectly with Disability Positive’s strategic aims to work in partnership and amplify the voice of people with lived experience of disability and long-term conditions in Cheshire.

Too often, there are no disabled people in the room when key decisions are made that directly affect the lives of disabled people. This is an outdated way of doing things.  Disabled People’s Organisations in Cheshire have seen new and inspiring ways of working in Greater Manchester, which we need here.

I am delighted that after six months of planning, the Cheshire Disabled People’s Panel launched on 27 April.  The Cheshire Disabled People’s Panel want to work in co-production with public sector decision-makers at the highest levels, to ensure that the rights of disabled people are widely understood and upheld in our region.’’

The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham has also given the panel his support saying:

“It’s great to see that the Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel has provided a model for our colleagues in Cheshire”

The panel will hold virtual meetings every month and will  work on priorities of accessible transport, improving health and social care and working to embed the social model of disability. 

If you’d like to find out more about the work of the panel,  please get in touch by email at cheshiredisabledpeoplespanel@gmail.com