Policy Development

The Policy Think Tank is a Breakthrough UK initiative and has two major aims:- To influence government, or other strategic bodies, on matters to do with disability, from a ‘social model’ perspective. And to provide briefings on current matters to do with disability, for general dissemination.

This report is about the threats that disabled people face to their existence, mostly at the start of life, from a society that has mixed feelings about the inherent value of their lives.

We send out a regular e-bulletin covering policy developments around disability, employment and independent living. Our latest bulletin came out on 22 March 2013.

Read our latest article here

Are you a disabled person living in Greater Manchester? Have your say on disability matters!

The current debate and campaigns about keeping Remploy factories open is in danger of appearing to be one-sided. There are plenty of voices advocating – quite rightly – for the disabled people who currently work at Remploy to not lose their jobs. But we believe the call to keep the factories open is potentially damaging...

We submitted a response to the government's discussion document 'Fulfilling Potential' about what should be in their new Disability Strategy. We also held an engagement event with local disabled people to gather their views and the report from this can also be found on this page.

"Rights of disabled people may be at risk", says Human Rights Committee. Committee takes on board issues raised by Breakthrough and local disabled people.

In 2011, our Policy Think Tank commissioned disabled writers to fill the 'policy vacuum' of disabled people's voices in the debate about 'right to live' issues. We are now pleased to make following paper on human rights at the start of life available.