Many disabled people are having harsh challenges trying to get vital adaptations to their home, with long waits and some having to resort to crowdfunding to pay for them, an investigation has revealed.
The Bureau Of Invesigative Journalism through its Bureau Local team, which works on stories that matter to communities across the UK, has been looking into Disabled Facilities Grants, which are provided by local authorities to help meet the cost of adapting a property for the needs of a disabled person in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
They report says: “After contacting all UK councils and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for data on DFG delivery and waiting times, we discovered long and growing waits for assessments and for adaptations to be completed. In a first of its kind analysis, we were also able to uncover the full extent of the wait for adaptations across much of the country. Meanwhile, disabled children and adults are turning to crowdfunding to pay for major adaptations, and sacrificing their independence and dignity for years. Others are trapped inside or locked out of their own homes.”
The story was broadcast on Channel 4 News and you can read the details here.
