Co-production with Disabled People during the Pandemic: The Creation of a New Political Discourse that Acknowledges the Role of Human Rights in Policymaking in Wales?

Abstract

The Government of Wales acknowledged the disproportionately negative impact of COVID-19 on disabled people by establishing an enquiry led and controlled by them. The outcome, a report written by disabled people, evidenced the impact of past social and health inequalities, failures in social policy, and concerns about human rights. In response, the Welsh Government established a Disability Rights Taskforce to co-produce a 10-year Disability Rights Action Plan. The Taskforce of policy makers and disabled people is governed by four agreed principles: the social model of disability; the value of disabled people’s lived experiences; co-production, and the incorporation of the UNCRDP1 into Welsh law. This article reflects on the challenges and achievements and wider learning from the Taskforce’s work.