Calls for disability champion role to be reviewed

Saturday 03 February 2018

The current States Disability Champion says the role "doesn't have any powers or resources" and she would like that to be reviewed, to see if it can be improved to ensure changes are made to benefit people with different needs in our communities.

Deputy Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel has also welcomed the recent appointment of two experts to oversee the implementation of disability legislation saying it feels like things are "moving forward".

Deputy Hansmann-Rouxel says: "its great news that two such well-regarded experts in their field are eager to work with us to get our legislation in place. With a timeline in place, the project feels like it’s moving forward. Although the legislation will hopefully be in place by the end of this term work needs to continue around preparing Guernsey for the implementation of the new law, that is where islanders will feel the actual difference in their lives."

Dr Shivaun Quinlivan and Dr Lucy-Ann Buckley have both been appointed from the National University of Ireland Galway's centre for disability law and policy. They will work under the Committee for Employment & Social Security "to accelerate progress on the development of Disability Discrimination Legislation."

Deputy Hansmann-Rouxel has also spoken this week at a public scrutiny hearing looking at progress made with the strategy and the new legislation. It was said then that the draft legislation should be complete by the end of March.

Pictured: Deputy Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel

The Vale politician spoke about her role during the hearing too and speaking to Express afterwards she said she is still pushing for "a review of the role of the Disability Champion as it isn’t an official States role and as such doesn’t have any powers or resources."

Deputy Hansmann-Rouxel continued: "However I will continue to fulfil the objectives of the role, dealing with cases where individuals or organisation’s interactions with the States fall short of what is expected, raising awareness within the States and the community and scrutinising the States departments and policies being implemented in the States." 

The States disability champion says she has seen some success in the role, despite its political limitations: "In 2017 there were 25 cases that were handled resulting in policy changes in some cases and in other cases individuals needs met after initial failure in their interactions with the States. This year I want to see the different States departments implementing the recommendations from the Disability audits that took place last year, and I hope to see proper equalities training being rolled out by the real experts, people with disabilities themselves."