Disability Equality Duty
The 2005 Disability Discrimination Act places a Disability Equality Duty on the Council
Disability Equality Duty
The 2005 Disability Discrimination Act places a Disability Equality Duty on the Council
The Disability Equality Duty is a legal requirement for the Council to publish a scheme that sets out how it will:
- promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other people
- eliminate discrimination
- eliminate harassment of disabled people that is related to their disability
- promote positive attitudes towards disabled people
- encourage participation by disabled people in public life
- take steps to meet disabled people’s needs
The Disability Equality Duty also required the Council to publish its Disability Equality Scheme by 4 December 2006. Guidance from the Disability Rights Commission recommends that the Council’s Disability Equality Scheme (DES) has three broad themes:
- The council as an employer: Improve how the council recruits, develops and retains disabled employees
- Putting Residents First: Improve how the council’s services and functions take account of the needs of disabled people.
- Children and Young People: Improve the educational opportunities and achievements of disabled learners
Under these headings, the Hammersmith & Fulham DES has focused on the predominant issues that disabled people have consistently raised:
- Information and communication
- Access to services
- Access and the built environment
- Involvement, participation and consultation
The is not a one-off piece of work – the Council produced its first DES in December 2006, and through ongoing involvement and consultation with disabled people, will revise the scheme in June 2008.
Appendix A: Disability equality performance indicators
Appendix B: The Council as an employer action plan
Appendix C: Putting Residents First action plan
Appendix D: Children and Young People action plan
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If you would like to comment or feed back your views, please contact:
Pinakin Patel
Principal Corporate Projects Officer (Diversity)
Assistant Chief Executive’s Department
Organisational Development Division
Corporate Diversity Team
Third Floor Town Hall
King Street
London W6 9JU
Telephone 0208 753 5727
Facsimile 0208 753 2619
Email pinakin.patel@lbhf.gov.uk
