Rapid Evidence Assessments for the ODI

The purpose of the project is to assist and advise the Government Office for Disability Issues in building an evidence base to inform policy development towards key strategic equality goals.  The focus of the reviews will be on the ODI-defined themes of 'choice and control' and 'access to goods and services', in support of the Government's independent living strategy.  Using selective reviews of published evidence the project seeks to identify disability research that answers a range of important questions. 

• What does 'choice and control' mean to disabled people?
• What are the issues that disabled people say are important to them in terms of improving choice and control?
• What driver would have the biggest impact in improving disabled people's overall choice and control, particularly in respect of the equipment and assistance they receive?
• What services are most important to disabled people?
• What kinds of difficulties or barriers do disabled people face in accessing them?
• What improvements would make access to these services easier both in terms of physical access and other barriers, for example attitudinal?

The methods include systematic searches and engagement of external stakeholders to identify examples of disability research contributing value to UK policy development.  The resulting synthesis reports will be published on the ODI and CDS websites.