Plans to transform the lives of disabled people have been announced by the government.
The Independent Living Strategy, published by the Office for Disability Issues, aims to give disabled people more choice and control over the support they need and greater access to employment, transport, health and housing opportunities.
It includes £750,000 funding for 12 organisations that are run by disabled people.
Welcoming the strategy, the prime minister, Gordon Brown, said: "We are committed to a vision of equality for all disabled people by 2025. A vision for Britain where all citizens are respected and included as equal members, and where everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
"This strategy sets out how we will make progress towards achieving that goal. Transferring power to those needing support and joining up services to ensure this happens, changes the way in which support and services are delivered and experienced."
Bringing together initiatives on employment, housing and social care to remove barriers and to improve access to services, the strategy makes a series of new commitments involving six government departments.
These include regional plans to develop independent living opportunities for older disabled people with high levels of support needs, a national strategy to enable people to remain in employment when they acquire an impairment or their condition worsens, an awareness campaign and a new toolkit to assist the development of local independent living strategies for older disabled people.
According to the strategy, 'independent living' means not necessarily doing things for oneself, but having choice over support and equipment, and equal access to public services and opportunities.
James Purnell, the secretary of state for work and pensions, said: "Disabled people should have the same choice and control over how they live their lives as everyone else.
"The strategy is unique as it was developed in partnership with disabled people from the outset, to ensure it reflects their real life experiences and has drawn on their expertise to identify how to address the barriers they face."
Disabled people also will be involved in reviewing the strategy annually for the first five years of its life. If delivery does not happen, says the strategy, new legislation has not been ruled out.
Investment of up to £3m was pledged for the strategy today in addition to previous funding promises for a £460m disability facilities grant over the next three years, £33m to enable an extra 125,000 older people every year to get repairs and adaptations to their home, £520m to help local authorities transform social care services, and investment of £340m to help transform services for disabled children.
In addition, the Department of Health announced grants of £50,000 or £100,000 for 12 organisations led and controlled by disabled people, which help them have more choice and control over their lives.
The health and care services minister, Ivan Lewis, said: "User-led organisations are key to achieving independent living for disabled people. Today's announcement is a step toward a more self-sufficient system for disabled people to lead their own lives, with the availability of advocacy support if it is needed."
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