1 October 2005 - One year since new disability laws but attitudes still need to change
As recent rights for disabled people reach their first anniversary today, more on the horizon will provide a comprehensive package of civil rights for disabled people.
Marking the anniversary, Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, spoke about the real changes which have taken place both in the high street and in the workplace but she stressed much more needed to be done. Anne McGuire said:
“Last October was a real landmark in the history of disability rights as the Government legislated to extend protection against discrimination in employment, and introduced new duties for service providers to tackle the physical barriers millions of disabled people face every day.
“Today - one year on - we can see the progress across the country. With a bit of common sense, businesses are improving their own accessibility and gaining financially by tapping into the £80 billion annual spending power of disabled people.”
Anne McGuire continued:
“Clearly the world is changing, but it is changing slowly. There is more to be done so that disabled people can participate fully in all aspects of life, whether it’s in work, leisure or representing the community. The challenge is for us all to make this a reality, by recognising and responding to the needs of disabled people.
“The Government has an important role to play to take things further, and later this year we will start to implement the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 to provide disabled people with the comprehensive civil rights that they deserve. “
Notes for editors
- On October 1st last year, new duties came in under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 which extended protection against disability discrimination in employment. In particular, it applied the employment provisions to small employers and to previously excluded occupations like police officers, firefighters and prison officers.) This extended the scope of the employment provisions to an additional 1 million employers and 7 million jobs and to 600,000 disabled people already in them.
- On the same date, providers of goods, service, and facilities to the public were required for the first time to take reasonable steps to tackle physical barriers (like steps and high counters) to disabled people accessing their services.
- The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005 extended the scope of the DDA 1995 under which new duties, the first of which will come into force on Monday 5 December 2005: www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2005/jul/21-07-05.asp
- The DDA defines disability as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
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