Transcript Emma Allen Outreach Caseworker Manchester

What is the DED?
Emma Allen
Outreach Caseworker
14 March 2008
Changing the world for deaf
and hard of hearing people
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
What does this mean?
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is a law that was
passed by Government to stop discrimination
against people with a disability.
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What is a disability?
“…a person has a disability for the purpose of this
Act if he has a physical or mental impairment which
has a substantial and long-term adverse affect on
his ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
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Disability
Deafness and
hearing loss
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Dyslexia
Mental Health related
issues
Deafblind
Wheelchair user
and other mobility
impairment
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Blind/Partially sighted
What does the DDA cover?
Employment
 Goods, Facilities and Services
 Public Functions
 Buying/Renting Land or Property
 Education
 Transport
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What is the difference between DDA and DED?
The DDA 1995 gives rights and protection to
individuals. This means that you have to actually
experience specific discrimination before you can
take action.
The DED is a way to promote disability equality. It
deals with the underlying causes of discrimination –
not only the effects of discrimination on specific
disabled individuals.
There are two parts: the general duty and the
specific duty
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Aim of the DED
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To get public authorities to think and act proactively on
disability equality issues from the start – promote
disability equality – eliminate discrimination
The DED aims to help public authorities see where
unnecessary barriers stop equal participation by disabled
people who use their services, as well as current or
potential disabled employees
Changing from medical model view of disability to social
model – making changes to focus on barriers that
disabled people face
e.g. inaccessible transport, housing, education
provision.
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Q: What is the DED?
A: This duty says that public sector bodies must give
due regard to promoting equality for, and eliminating
discrimination against, disabled people, in every
part of what they do.
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Q: Why do we need it?
A: Disabled people often experience discrimination
and disadvantage because public authorities do not
take account of their needs.
Disabled people do not always have the same
opportunities as non-disabled people. This is
because society creates barriers.
The DED helps public authorities to break down
barriers for disabled people in society.
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How will the DED tackle discrimination?
A: The DED makes public authorities consider
disability equality at all stages.
It means that public authorities have to build equality
for disabled people into everything they do. This
puts equality at the heart of what an authority does
– rather than thinking about equality once the
service or policy has been created.
Public authorities should build in equality – not bolt it
on later.
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Who is subject to the DED?
ALL public authorities have a general duty.
Many public authorities also have specific duties.
Specific duties apply to a broad range of authorities
who have been listed: local authorities,
inspectorates, government departments,
educational providers.
The duties help authorities to meet the general duty.
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How is the General Duty being met?
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Promoting equal opportunity
Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Eliminating harassment
Promoting positive attitudes
Encouraging disabled people to participate in
public life
Taking steps to take account of a person’s
disability – even if it means treating them more
favourably.
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Specific duties (DED)
Authorities have to:
- publish Disability Equality Scheme,
- involve disabled people in developing and
implementing scheme,
- take the steps in action plan within 3 years of
publication,
- publish an annual report.
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Examples of good practice – eliminating the barriers
for deaf and hard of hearing people
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Partnership working with other PA’s
Implement staff training – Communication tactics
Clear link between disabled people’s input and
action
Diversity amongst disabled people
Introduce different monitoring mechanisms
Covers all roles and functions
Shared responsibility
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Disability Equality Impact Assessments
Impact assessments will be part of a Disability
Equality Duty.
They help an authority identify where the ways it
operates may have a negative effect on disabled
people.
This helps the authority to identify problems and plan
how to change a policy or practice to stop these
happening.
Impact assessments can include looking at existing
policies.
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Action Plan
Priorities of disabled people as elicited through
involvement
 The strategic priorities of the PA
 Evidence of where the problems and priorities lie
 Specific outcomes which the PA wishes to achieve
to promote disability equality set out against a
realistic timescale
 Measurable indicators of progress towards those
outcomes
 Lines of accountability
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Who enforces the DED?
Individuals can enforce the general duty through
legal action called judicial review
Only the Equality and Human Rights Commission
(EHRC) can enforce the specific duties.
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Where to get more information on the DED
For information on the DED, go to:
www.dotheduty.org
www.equalityhumanrights.com
www.officefordisability.gov.uk
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Contact RNID
RNID Information Line
 0808 808 0123 (voice) 0808 808 9000 (text)
 Email: [email protected]
 Website: www.rnid.org.uk
 Aeroworks, 5 Adair Street, Manchester. M1 2NQ
 0161 276 2322 (voice)
 0161 276 2313 (text)
 [email protected]
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