As Welsh Conservatives, our policies stem from a belief in the social model of disability — that disability is caused by the way society is organised, rather than being a necessary consequence of particular impairments.

Welsh Conservatives are committed to helping all people reach their potential, supporting disabled people to live full and independent lives, and working to remove the barriers, whether to involvement in our communities or to finding the right employment.

Our manifesto will contain a wide range of pledges aimed at achieving this — including increasing the uptake of direct-payment support packages, fighting for the retention of Hear to Help centres, and increasing inclusive representation for public bodies. A key pillar of a Welsh Conservative Government’s legislative programme would be a new Autism Act that would finally end the condition’s lack of statutory identity in Wales.

Where we are already campaigning to make life better for disabled people, we will continue to fight, for example by battling against avoidable delays faced by disabled people who need essential home adaptations. We are also committed to protecting funding for the Supporting People Programme. Public transport can play a vital role in enabling many disabled people to access opportunities, and Welsh Conservatives have long advocated the role of audio and visual announcements on the Welsh bus network.

Welsh Conservatives are proud of our disabled citizens’ achievements and would ensure that these are better recognised — particularly by working with broadcasters to increase screening of disability sport. We all have our part to play — every tier of Government, the third sector and our community groups — in working together to promote access and inclusion, allowing everyone the opportunity to live life independently and to the full.

Mark Isherwood was the Shadow Minister for Social Justice in the Welsh Assembly