Disability Equality Policy Statement and Legislation

We think that the biggest problems faced by disabled people is the failure to provide services that meet their needs as well as discriminatory and prejudiced attitudes. We know that in addressing disability issues in terms of equal opportunities, there is a tendency to focus only on issues of access and employment for people with physical disabilities. We will address all various forms of disabilities including mental health and learning disabilities.

We support the right of disabled people to lead a full and independent life. We will base our policies and services on the principles of the full integration of disabled people. We are committed to providing services and improving access and facilities to alllow disabled people to make full use of our services and to take up employment.

We are working to stop discrimination against disabled people in our policies, procedures and practices both in terms of providing services and employment and we will adopt the social model of disability. This is based on the belief disabled people are disabled by the way in which the environment is organised or built and by people's attitudes.

Legislation

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995

The Act places a duty on service providers and employers not to treat disabled people less favourably and to put into place reasonable adjustments. We must make sure our services and premises are accessible to disabled people.

Disability Discrimination Act 2005

This Act places a new duty on public authorities when carrying out their functions to stop unlawful discrimination against and the harassment of disabled people and to promote the equality of opportunity. The Act also amends the definition of disability in terms of people with clinically identified mental health problems. It also extends the protection for disabled people to include HIV, cancer and multiple scleriosis from the point of diagnosis.