Including the missing voices of disabled people in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities

Description:

All four nations of the UK have produced numerous policy documents expressing the need for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities to be treated more fairly and criticising the high levels of discrimination and oppression they routinely experience. These reports have had little effect and discrimination against GRT communities across the UK remains rife, despite the range of anti-discrimination legislation which offers protection in terms of race and disabilities. This report was designed in response to a funding call from the National Lottery Community Fund to identify the ‘missing voices’ of Disabled people. The voices of GRT Disabled people were identified as ‘missing’ by a project group led by the University of Worcester in partnership with Shaping Our Lives Service User and Disability Network, a user-led organisation. There is virtually no mention of Disabled people’s needs in the relevant policy documents, and their voices have not been heard within their communities – indeed, GRT Disabled people often encounter discrimination, stigma and shame within their own communities. This report aimed to provide a platform for the narratives of Disabled people who live in GRT communities regarding experiences in accessing health and social care services. This potential also explored the opportunity to involve GRT Disabled people in key policy forums, including Deaf and Disabled people’s Organisations (DDPOs).
In partnership/with support of: School of Allied Health and Community, University of Worcester