This group was jointly established in 2002 by Hackney Social Service and City and Hackney Primary Care Trust (CHPCT). The group was set us as a forum to consult with disabled people and actively engage them in the process of developing policies aim to improve the quality of public services for disabled people. Disability Hackney is managing the group to ensure that it is user led and managed.
In 2004, an election was conducted and a chairperson for the group was elected with a steering group to oversee its operations. Three service users were also elected to represent disabled people in the Disability Sub Board, where local policies on disability are discussed.
The group used to meet once in every month to discuss policies on various public services for disabled people. In some of these meetings, senior managers and Directors of the Local Authority and Primary Care Trust were invited to clarify issues of concerns to members of the group.
Transport services and community care have been the most popular issues discussed in the group's meetings in 2004. This is because many of the group members are directly affected by the introduction of charges for community care, the eligibility criteria for freedom pass and blue badges.
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