Who is covered by the Act?

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 covers people with a variety of impairments, such as:

• learning disabilities;
• mental health conditions;
• mobility impairments;
• blind and partially sighted people;
• deaf and hearing impaired people, and ;
• progressive long-term health conditions such as multiple sclerosis and HIV.

It also includes:

• people with hidden impairments, for example people with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, and;
• people who do not consider themselves to be disabled such as some older people with acquired visual or hearing impairment.

The duty to promote Disability Equality

The general duty under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 is:

All public authorities, when carrying out their functions, must have due regard to the need to:

• Promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other persons;
• Eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Act;
• Eliminate harassment of disabled persons that is related to their disabilities;
• Promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons;
• Encourage participation by disabled persons in public life
• Take steps to take account of disabled persons' disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled persons more favourably than other persons
• Develop, produce and publish a Disability Equality Scheme detailing how we intend to fulfill our general and specific duties;
• Implement certain aspects of the scheme; and;
• Report on the outcomes of the scheme

Despite recent progress, disabled people still face significant levels of inequality, discrimination and harassment and do not enjoy the same life opportunities as everybody else. For example:

• Only 50% of disabled people of working age are in work compared to 80% of non-disabled people (1)
• Nearly one in five people of working age (7m, or 18.6%) in Great Britain have a disability (1)
• The average gross hourly pay for disabled employees is £11.08 compared to £12.30 for non disabled employees (1)
• 30% of disabled people live in relative poverty as opposed to 16% of non-disabled people (2)
• Disabled people are 4 times more likely to be victims of crime compared to non-disabled people (3)
• The annual spending power of disabled adults in Britain covered by the DDA is estimated at £80 billion per year (4)

The Council is committed to ensuring that any action we take improves outcomes and experiences of services for disabled people. To ensure that the Council is achieving this desired goal, we will continue to consult with disabled people at every available opportunity. If you wish to be involved please contact the Equalities Team on 01508 533902 or email equalities@s-norfolk.gov.uk

1 Office for National Statistics Labour force survey Jan-March 2009
2 Leonard Cheshire Disability 2008
3 British Council of Disabled People 2007
4 Disability Rights Commission - Disability in Scotland 2004: Key Facts and Figures – 2005