South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle’s blog: September 25, 2015

In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.

Disability Wales

I was a speaker at the launch in the Senedd of Disability Wales’ manifesto for the 2016 Assembly elections.

As Plaid Cymru spokesperson on equality, I’ve raised the issue for the establishment of the post of Disability Commissioner in Wales to act as a strong voice for disabled people.

The idea received overwhelming support from disability organisations and after the First Minister initially called it an interesting idea it has been put on the back burner by the Welsh Government and I’m baffled as to why.

I’m against discrimination so why a commissioner for children, older people and the Welsh language – all of which I support – but not for disabled people? In my book that smacks of discrimination.

During the launch, I also raised the issue of incidents of hate crime against disabled people and the fact that far too many people with disabled children are living in poverty.

I won’t rest until I see Wales lead the way not only in the UK but across Europe in creating a nation where to be disabled might mean to have some physical or mental impairment but that does not prevent people with disabilities from being equal in every other way to the rest of society.

The Welsh Government needs to push this forward and not try to bury it. I certainly will continue campaigning.

Ty Hafan

I also attended the launch of a report on palliative care for children and young people in Wales which was commissioned by the Ty Hafan charity.

At the event were some of children with life limiting illness and you had to admire the bravery of those young people.

Ty Hafan’s hospice in Sully does a magnificent job of care and relies so much on the generosity of the public to deliver their fantastic services to children and their parents.