A Disability Equality Scheme for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Council has now developed a disability equality scheme which includes an action framework which will bring together all work and plans to improve disability access for both current and potential employees and service users.
The principle objective of the scheme is to support the Council's aim of promoting and employing good equalities practices by ensuring that we meet the needs of disabled people and employees in Northamptonshire. Click below to read the full version of our Disability Access Scheme:
We have also published a summary document of our Disability Equality Scheme and also a leaflet outlining the responsibilities of council employees under our policy. Click below to read these documents:
Our approach to disability access is divided into six elements, forming an action framework where we will focus on particular standards and future actions that are proposed to make a difference. The areas are:
- Buildings access - improve access through altering buildings and equipment
- Training - our employees' awareness of what the issues and their responsibilities are regarding disability
- Service delivery - includes e-government to enable access for all
- Employment - recruitment and retention of disabled people
- Democratic participation - encouraging disabled people to become councillors and take a greater part in the democratic process
Background to our Scheme
Since 2000 the County Council has used the 'social' model of disability as standard. In the past many public services framed the issue of disability as a 'medical' model where the solutions tended to focus around the idea of curing the person or making them 'better'.
The social model moves beyond this by gearing services to accommodate disabled people on the basis that we are all equal whether we have a disability or not. This means that we will adopt the principles of inclusive design and inclusive services wherever possible in terms of designing, managing and monitoring the built environment and service delivery.
Following the social model should result in:
- A better environment for all service users and the entire community
- Access for disabled people becoming the norm rather than the exception
Disability Discrimination Act
In order for us to employ good practice in the area of disability access it is crucial that we meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995.
The DDA makes discrimination against disabled people unlawful in employment, education and access to goods, facilities, services and premises.
Effective measures to make the workplace accessible to those with disabilities must be taken by October 2004.
The DDA defines a disability as "a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities". A guide to the DDA can be downloaded here:
Equality Standard for Local Government
The Equality Standard for Local Government sets out a generic 'quality' framework for local authorities to mainstream and audit equality of opportunity across all service areas and through which their statutory obligations in respect of anti-discrimination laws can be met.
Through the Equality Standard we must assess whether there is any adverse impact on disabled people or the promotion of equality of opportunity. Where there is a need to improve or change, plans will be put into place to ensure that this is done.
Disability Access Champions
A group of people from across the County Council have been included in developing the disability equality scheme. They are people who are interested in and have some knowledge and expertise of disability access in their own service areas.
If you have a query about the scheme or an aspect of service delivery that concerns disability access you may wish to speak with someone from the service area involved. The following document is a list of these people:
Businesses and service providers throughout the UK can now provide an online disabled access register about what access and facilities they currently provide via their website (see Related Links below).
Useful Pages: