The Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People are an organisation of disabled people who campaign to promote the rights of disabled people and their inclusion in society.
The coalition hosts the Greater Manchester (GM) Disabled People’s Panel which is made up of fifteen Disabled People’s Organisations across the region. The panel have a partnership agreement with the GM Combined Authority and Mayor Andy Burnham. Through this we work to improve policy across GM for disabled people.
Part of this is to make sure we are hearing from as many disabled people as possible about what is important in their lives and what change they want to see happen. To help us we are running the second GM Big Disability Survey. The survey is targeted at any disabled people who live or work across Greater Manchester and specifically aims to find out their attitudes and feelings towards the current cost of living crisis.
The survey builds on the 2020 survey from the Panel, which saw nearly 1,000 disabled people in Greater Manchester respond about their views on the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of the last survey where 90% of respondents said that the pandemic had a negative impact on their mental health, has helped the panel to apply pressure to decision makers about the services available to them. The 2020 survey also raised big issues with digital exclusion, as much of the emergency response was relying on digital platforms. This insight has helped to develop Greater Manchester’s response to digital inclusion.
The new 2022 survey focuses on the challenges people might face relating to the current cost of living. Whilst it is an online survey, the Panel are encouraging people to complete the survey in whichever way suits them, with postal, BSL and in-person support available if people need it.
If you are a disabled person in the Greater Manchester area, or know anyone who is, please complete or share the survey before the end of July: gmbigdisabilitysurvey.com.
Watch our webinar on ‘Disabled people’s innovation for inclusive and participatory social policy’, including panellist Gemma Roberts from The Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People:
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