Disability Equality Scheme
South Shropshire District Council Disability Equality Scheme
The Council has a duty to promote equality of opportunity. The DES has been drafted to ensure that the Council fulfills its obligations in respect of disability equality. The Scheme is an accompanying document to the Council's Corporate Equalities Policy and Race Equality Scheme. Together they formalise the Council's commitment to promoting equality and diversity.
Section 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to ensure that when it is exercising its functions it seeks to outlaw unlawful discrimination against persons with disabilities, and promotes positive attitudes towards people with disabilities to encourage democratic participation and ensure that Council services are accessible to everyone.
From December 2006, all public authorities in the UK will have new duties to promote disability equality under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and must:
- Involve people with disabilities in producing the scheme and developing the action plan.
- Identify how we will gather and analyse evidence to inform actions and track progress
- Set out how we will assess the impact of existing and proposed activities on disabled people
- Produce an action plan for the next three years
The Council has sought to involve individuals with disabilities, disability groups, carers and those with a professional interest in disability issues in formulating the key priorities of the DES and in determining actions for inclusion in the Action Plan.
A consultation questionnaire has been formulated and distributed to garner views as to how accessible the Council is to people with disabilities in terms of: its buildings, services, role as employer, communication of information, and involvement of people with disabilities in the democratic process. The questionnaire was formulated with the help of South Shropshire Access Group's Management Board.
On page 7 of the questionnaire there is a section where, if they wish to, respondents can enter their contact details. Willing consultees will be contacted from time to time to seek their view and will receive updates on the Council's progress. Thus providing an ongoing consultation in relation to disability equality issues. Following circulation of the DES, Action Plan, and consultation questionnaire willing consultees have registered their details with the Council and the group will be contacted to inform them of the Council's decision regarding the draft DES. Consultees will also receive updates on progress against targets identified in the action plan and their views sought as to how the Council can improve communication and services to people with disabilities.
Based on representations received to the consultation questionnaire, and issues highlighted by those Service areas having already completed Equalities Impact Assessments, a set of priorities were developed, which are found on page 4 of the DES.
The priorities were reviewed as a result of responses received during consultation over the DES. The Council's Policy Committee approved a draft DES, and Action Plan for consultation with individuals with disabilities, disability groups, carers, those with a professional interest in disability issues and partner organisations at a meeting on 14th September 2006. Responses were invited on the draft DES and action plan ahead of the Council meeting on 23rd November were the Scheme was unanimously approved.
The Disability Equality Scheme and associated action plan will be monitored by the Corporate Equalities Group, who meet quarterly. The Scheme and action plan will be updated annually and reviewed after three years.
See these pages for related information:
- Disability Equality Strategy
- Disability Equality Action Plan
- 01/12/2006 Disability Equality Duty Consultation
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Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: regeneration. Last Updated: 6/12/2006.
