Conference welcomed the new disability equality duty, to be imposed by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 at the end of this year.  I is hoped that the duty will provide equality of opportunity for the millions of disabled people who are in work, wanting work and those who need public and private services to promote independent living.  But these is also concern that the duties will not cover all major private sector employers and that the all-important cash to assist employers to remove barriers to employment will not be available.

In particular, there is a worry that funding for Access to Work, available to help towards any extra employment costs that result from a person's disability will be restricted just to service employers.

"As disabled people the support we receive from the government is vital" said Kim Silver of Newham local government branch.  "There are too few employers in the country would think of employing disabled people, if have to fund reasonable adjustments by themselves".

Ms Silver, who is blind, said that her council employer paid for the equipment necessary for her to do her job with some contributions from Access to Work scheme.  "But if they are not properly funded I stand the chance of becoming another sad statistic of joining the 75% of blind people who are long-term unemployed, living in poverty, surviving on benefits.  "I will also become much more dependant on public services for my basic survival.  I don't see that as my purpose in life!"

Conference agreed that the NEC should work with Labour Link, the General Political Committee and Service Group Executives to: