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Disability Equality Duty
Public sector organisations and 'Disability Equality
Schemes'
The Disability Equality Duty
Since December 2006, there has been a legal duty on all public
sector organisations to promote equality of opportunity for
disabled people.
Public sector organisations and 'Disability Equality
Schemes'
Public sector organisations include:
hospitals
schools and colleges
National Health Service (NHS) trusts
police forces
central and local government
The Disability Equality Duty (DED) covers the full range of
what public sector organisations do - including policy making
and services that are delivered to the public.
People who work in the public sector have to consider the
impact of their work on disabled people, and take action to
tackle disability inequality. This should mean that disabled
people have better employment opportunities and do not come
across discrimination when, for example, using a service. It
should also help promote positive attitudes towards disabled
people in everyday life.
Since 4 December 2006, significant public authorities have had
to publish a 'Disability Equality Scheme'. The date for primary
schools in England was December 2007, and for all schools in
Wales it was April 2007. The scheme must include:
a statement of how disabled people have been involved in
developing the scheme
an action plan that includes practical ways in which
improvements will be made
the arrangements in place for gathering information about how
the public sector organisation has done in meeting its targets
on disability equality
A year after the publication of the scheme, an annual report
needs to be produced. It should contain a summary of the steps
the organisation has taken to fulfil the duty, the results of
the information-gathering exercise, and how the information has
been used.
Finding out more about the Disability Equality Duty
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has responsibility for
enforcing the Disability Equality Duty and they can take legal
action against public sector organisations that have not done
as they are required.
You can find information about the Equality and Human Rights
commission's approach to enforcement, and the impact the duty
is already having, on their website. There is also a dedicated
website which contains guidance documents in various
formats.
The Disability Rights Commission was responsible for the
enforcement of the Disability Equality Duty until it closed on
28 September 2007.
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