Disability
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities [Source: www.direct.gov.uk].
Yor-OK
The Children and Young People’s Plan has a priority, which commits to promoting and enabling an inclusive city.
Priority 22: Make sure that a commitment to equalities underpins everything we do by:
- delivering fair services and achieving equitable life outcomes for all children and young people, whilst respecting diverse needs and aspirations;
- recognising that equality is not about treating everyone the same. Children and young people can only achieve their absolute potential if diversity is recognised, valued and supported;
- concentrating support on those children, young people and families struggling against disadvantage and discrimination;
- fulfilling our legal duties in relation to gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, religion and belief, and age.
The Law
The Disability Equality Duty came into force on 4 December 2006. This applies to public authorities and is part of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA), which in turn amended the 1995 Act. The DDA applies to employment and provision of goods, facilities and services. The Act states that every public authority shall, in carrying out its functions, have due regard to the need to:
- eliminate unlawful discrimination;
- eliminate disability harassment;
- promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons;
- take steps to take account of disabled persons' disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled persons more favourably than other persons;
- promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons; and
- encourage participation by disabled persons in public life.
These are the general duties. Public authorities also have specific duties to publish a Disability Equality Scheme (DES), involve disabled peoples in it’s development, carry out the actions in the Scheme, and review and report on the Scheme regularly. Our DES is part of our Equality Strategy (which covers 6 equality areas including disability).
For more thorough information please download the ‘Summary of disability legislation’ produced by the City of York Council Equalities team.
Facts and Figures
If York had just 100 children 17 would have a special educational need, 2 of whom would have a statement, most probably for behaviour, emotional and social difficulties.
In the 2001 Census 28,085 people (16%) in the City of York area said that they had a limiting long-term illness. This compared to a figure for England and Wales of 17.6%. A breakdown of these figures by age group shows that rates of limiting long-term illness are particularly low in men and women under 65, when compared to national figures.
At 31 March 2007 there were 1,140 people registered as deaf or hard of hearing. 895 were registered as hard of hearing with 115 in the 18-64 year old age band, 130 65-74 and 650 over 75. In the year ending 31 March 2006 25 people were newly registered as blind or partially sighted.
In the 2007 resident opinion survey 34% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with facilities for disabled people.
There are over 550 adults with a learning disability known to care management and health services within the City of York Council geographical boundary. This is consistent with the national population data figures of incidence. Within that figure, York has a higher percentage of people with profound and multiple disability than other comparable areas. Emerging trends show that transitions customers (children moving into adulthood) are expected to rise by 70% by 2010. This will encompass a 55% increase in customers with complex support needs.
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment - December 08
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.
Useful Web links
Children AND Inclusion (CANDI) - We are the forum for parents of disabled children and young people, or those who have additional needs, in York and the surrounding area.
The Commission for Equalities and Human Rights is a useful website to check out legislation requirements, codes of practice and get an idea of what the big issues for disabled people are.
The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) is at the heart of information policy, setting standards, delivering access and encouraging the re-use of public sector information. OPSI provides a wide range of services to the public, information industry, government and the wider public sector relating to finding, using, sharing and trading information.
The Government Equalities Office has responsibility within Government for equality strategy and legislation and take the lead on issues relating to women, sexual orientation and transgender equality matters.
