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<p>The Government is committed to supporting disabled people affected by the COVID-19
outbreak. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people using existing
and new data sources.</p><p>The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work has
had discussions with charities, disabled people's organisations and individuals to
understand the range of experiences disabled people have had during the COVID-19 pandemic
and to identify the support needed as lockdown restrictions are eased.</p><p>We are
ensuring that disabled people continue to have access to disability benefits, food,
medicines, essentials, accessible communications, updated guidance, including workplace
and transport related guidance, as well as financial and other support during the
COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>The Government continues to provide disability employment
support through initiatives such as Access to Work, Disability Confident, the Work
and Health Programme, Intensive Personalised Employment Support, and other forms of
support that disabled people need to retain, adapt and move into employment.</p><p>The
Cabinet Office Disability Unit works with disability stakeholders and across Government
Departments to ensure that the needs of disabled people are considered in the UK Government’s
response to COVID-19. We are clear that consideration of equality impacts must be
integral in all key policy decisions. All equality and discrimination laws and obligations
continue to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>We will publish the National
Strategy for Disabled People taking into account the impacts of the pandemic on disabled
people. The Strategy will focus on the issues that disabled people say affect them
the most in all aspects and phases of life.</p><p> </p>
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