Developing an approach to understanding disabled people’s needs and costs

Since 2006, CRSP has undertaken work looking at what people need for a minimum socially acceptable standard of living, which sets out a Minimum Income Standard (MIS) for different households in the UK.  MIS uses a consensual approach, with needs identified through discussion with members of the public, and at a level to enable participation in society. The team has used the MIS approach to start looking at the additional needs and costs associated with some types of disability or condition, such as vision impairment and autism. This provides useful information and insights, but there is an interest in looking more broadly than by single condition, while recognising the challenges given that needs and resources required can vary widely between and within different disability groups.

This study will explore the potential for drawing on the MIS approach to research additional and different needs and financial costs across disabilities and conditions. It will involve a series of workshops to consult individuals from a range of organisations and experts-by-experience to discuss and feedback on research approaches, considerations and potential ways forward.  The study will be Scotland focussed but will have relevance across the UK and beyond. The findings will feed into a report which will be published at the end of the project.