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About WCB.
Wales Council of the Blind is the umbrella agency representing vision impairment within Wales. We work to campaign, lobby and support the improvement of services for people with sight loss. [Read more...]
Latest news.
Welsh Government Consultation on Draft Disabled People's Rights Plan 2025 to 2035
The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on its 10-year Draft Disabled People's Rights Plan for Wales.
The plan is based around the Social Model of Disability and the principles and obligations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People. It defines four overarching areas for action:
- Neighbourhoods and places.
- Employment, income and education.
- Independent living.
- Justice and supporting environments.
Disabled People’s Rights plan for Wales
The Welsh Government will shortly be consulting on a draft Disabled People’s Rights plan for Wales.
This plan, based on the work of the Disability Rights Taskforce, sets out their cross-government 10-year ambition and the long-term outcomes they are working towards to ensure disabled people can flourish as equal members of Welsh society, and to challenge discrimination and prejudice. A Taskforce worked together to develop the recommendations which informed this plan. Disabled people were active partners in the Taskforce’s process, sharing insights and lived experiences, which have shaped actions to address disabled people’s rights and dismantle existing barriers.
They now want to encourage all members of the public, in particular disabled people and stakeholders, to take part in the consultation. Your input is essential to improving the Disabled People’s Rights Plan, making sure it meets the needs and goals of disabled people.
Wales Council of the Blind will be working with its members to hold a series of workshops on this – if you would be interested in taking part, please contact bec@wcb-ccd.org.uk.
Disability Wales and allies call on the UK Government to reconsider its approach to disability benefits reforms
Disability Wales has put out a statement raising concerns about the impact of the UK Government's changes to disability benefits, which it says will 'leave many disabled people in Wales considerably worse off without fundamentally tackling the systemic barriers to employment and independent living'.
The statement, 'Fear and anger across Wales as UK Government’s heartless cuts to disability benefits slashes support and regresses rights' is supported by many organisations working with disabled people in Wales, including Wales Council of the Blind and Vision Support. You can read it here.
Sight loss and other disability organisations are encouraging people who are concerned about the changes to contact their MP. You can do this using a form on the RNIB website. The consultation closes on 30th June.
UK Benefits Reform Consultation: accessible versions and consultation events
Accessible versions of the UK Government's consultation documents are now available, and details of consultation events are also on the website.
You can order consultation documents in the following formats:
- Braille
- large print 20 point
- audio CD
- printed copy of the Easy Read version or the full publication
The Government is running some face-to-face and online events during May and June, including an event in Cardiff on 3rd June. Places must be booked in advance.
For further information, to order an accessible version and book a place at an event, click here. This webpage also includes a link to the consultation document.
How could the proposed changes to benefits affect you? Information from the Macular Society and RNIB
The Macular Society has provided a summary of the UK Government's proposals for changes to the benefits system, which are currently out for consultation. You can read the summary here.
Sight loss and other disability organisations are encouraging people who are concerned about the changes to contact their MP. You can do this using a form on the RNIB website.
You can read the full consultation document, ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’ here. Accessible versions of the consultation document have not yet been published. The consultation is currently set to close on 30th June, but this is subject to extension to ensure that the it will run for a full 12 weeks after all of the accessible versions of the paper are published.
Save the Date - Wales Eyecare Conference 2025
The annual Wales Eyecare Conference 2025 will be held on Thursday 6th November at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
Further details will provided later. For information about previous conferences, click the 'Eyecare Conference' tab at the top of this screen.