Direct payments created more control over support for some disabled people.
The Community Care Direct Payments Act 1996 allowed local authorities to make direct payments to eligible people so they could arrange their own support.
This matters because it shifted some control from services to disabled people themselves, supporting independence and choice.
Awareverse sees choice and control as central, but also knows that managing support requires accessible systems, information and backup.
A common mistake is treating direct payments as freedom without recognising the admin burden they can create.
Who had power here, who was left outside, and what would have changed if the human being was seen first?
These deep dives open out from this part of the timeline.