The full (pdf) report is worth reading:
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-0689/POST-PN-0689.pdf I'm sure it's not perfect and I'm very much out of touch with the focus of general disability advocacy but this looks like a positive development, I may have missed supportive positions but this seems to implicitly at least act as a complete abrogation of the Lord Freud era, for example the Social Model of Disability is quoted with approval:
"The social model of disability
The social model, developed by disabled people in the 1980s, is a way of understanding disability that explains how disability is created by barriers in society.36 In 2014, the Government Equalities Office endorsed this model. 37 Research indicates that many disabled people feel that they are still viewed as a ‘problem’ to be solved.12,38–4"
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The definition of disability seems sound:
"Definition of disability Under the Equality Act 2010
a person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has ‘substantial’ (more than trivial or minor) and ‘long term’ (12 months or greater) negative effects on their ability to do normal daily activities.31,42 This definition applies to many people with invisible disabilities. Some conditions may not be visible at the time of diagnosis, but may become more visible over time (‘progressive’), such as multiple sclerosis. Other conditions are more or less visible at different times or in different settings (‘recurrent’ or ‘fluctuating’).43
This definition applies to many people with invisible disabilities. Some conditions may not be visible at the time of diagnosis, but may become more visible over time (‘progressive’), such as multiple sclerosis. Other conditions are more or less visible at different times or in different settings (‘recurrent’ or ‘fluctuating’).4"
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The report does reference ME:
Assessment processes
"Assessments are required for disabled people to access financial support under Government schemes.67,68,73 People with conditions that fluctuate or do not have an objective diagnostic test, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), report that their impairments are less recognised in assessment processes.25,74–76 Concerns raised by stakeholders about the current assessment process include: impairments being assessed in isolation from each other; failure to assess impacts of cognitive fatigue and dysfunction; and, variability between different assessors.77–80"
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There's a lot more about work and education, which also seems generally good. Of course without the resources to make any of this real it is just another Government report but I'd file it under 'reasons to be optimistic'.
