Section 2 Disability Equality Duty

The Disability Discrimination Act (2005) has amended the Disability Discrimination Act’s (1995) definition of disability.

In addition, it now places a positive duty on all public authorities, including the National Audit Office, to :

Promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other people;
Eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Disability Discrimination Act;
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, even if this requires more favourable treatment.

The Act also places a specific duty on public bodies to produce a Disability Equality Scheme by 4 December 2006 outlining how it will meet the general duty.

In the process of producing the Disability Equality Scheme the National Audit Office is required to:

involve disabled people in the development and production of the scheme and its accompanying action plan;
identify how it will gather and analyse evidence to inform its actions and track progress;
set out how we will assess the impact of its existing and proposed activities on disabled people and improve these when necessary;
produce an action plan setting out the steps it will take to promote equality for the next three years;
report on progress each year and review and make appropriate revisions to this scheme when necessary.

In the development of our Disability Equality Scheme we have adopted the “Social Model of Disability”. This is in contrast to the “Medical Model of Disability” which sees disabled people as the problem and focuses on what is “wrong”. The Social Model of Disability is based on the fact that disadvantage and social exclusion stem from the barriers disabled people face rather than from an individual’s disability. Following the social model of disability should result in a better working environment for disabled people.

Equality for disabled people may in some instances mean treating them “more favourably” to ensure equality of opportunity with non-disabled people.

Medical model

The “problem” to overcome is the individual disabled person’s impairment

The solution is to find a cure, to offer charity or to provide care

Institutionalisation, segregation

Professionals are seen as experts

Disabled people have “special needs” which require special schools, special transport services and special jobs.

Social model

The ”problem” to overcome is how society treats or reacts to people who have a disability

The solution is to stop and prevent discrimination. Disabled people have a right to access information, services and resources available to non-disabled people.

Inclusiveness and independent living

Professionals work with disabled people to allow them control and a range of choices.

Disabled people have everyday needs – education, jobs, access to services, social life and community services.

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