Disability service ‘must improve’

THE introduction of quality standards for disability services was long overdue, a lobby group for people with disabilities said yesterday.

The standards which will apply to day, residential-respite training and home support services funded by the Department of Health will be phased in from October. A registry of approved services will be set up from 2004.

The standards will apply to services for children and adults with autism, intellectual, physical and/or sensory disability funded by the department and provided by both statutory and non-statutory agencies.