THE welfare system should be turned on its head to give disabled people control over how they live, according to charity Scope.

It says that the Government should put the concept of independent living at the heart of its reforms of the system.

Tony Manwaring is chief executive of the cerebral palsy charity.

He was speaking at the launch of a report by thinktank Demos called Independent Living: The Right to be Equal Citizens on the first anniversary of the charity's Time to Get Equal campaign.

The Government has confirmed that it intends to carry out a thorough review of Incapacity Benefit to help find jobs for an estimated one million disabled people who want to work. This week's report calls for reforms to the system to be founded on the principle that disabled people themselves are best placed to identify how to meet their own needs.

And Eddie Murray an administrator for the Swindon Coalition for Disabled People is supporting these calls for reform.

He said: "As an organisation we totally agree. Disabled people are as important as all other members of society. They should be given the same rights.

"There is legislation to allow disabled people to organise their own care packages. Why this can't be stretched across the entire welfare system I do not know."

These care packages are ways for disabled people to interview and select their own carers. This makes them employers and gives them control over the care they receive.

Mr Murray said: "The welfare system should be turned upside down to suit individuals. The information and forms disabled people need to use are not always accessible in the right format for them and I only ask why?"

Mr Manwaring said: "Put independent living at the heart of its welfare reforms. Work in partnership with disabled people and their organisations to develop the reform programme.

"Give disabled people economic power by establishing mechanisms such as direct payments and personalised budgets. Give disabled people the tools to exercise choice and control over their lives. Only then can disabled people achieve equality."

Demos director Tom Bentley said: "Our report calls for a radical overhaul of support for disabled people, to create a system founded on the principle that those best placed to identify the needs of disabled people and how to meet those needs are disabled people themselves.

"We now face a unique opportunity to create a system which empowers disabled people to lead a self-determined life and fulfil their potential."

Lyndsay Scanlan