Disability

Hertfordshire's Disability Equality Scheme

From 4th December 2006 The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will be amended to place a duty on all public authorities to actively promote disability equality. This means that we need to ensure that we:

• promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons
• eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Act
eliminate harassment of disabled persons that is related to their disabilities
promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons
encourage participation by disabled persons in public life; and
Take steps to take account of disabled persons disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled persons more favorably than other persons.

There is also a specific requirement within the new legislation to publish a Disability Equality Scheme which sets out the action that we need to take to achieve disability equality at HCC. An important part of this work is the involvement of disabled people. In order to collect information a questionnaire was sent to a range of disabled groups across Hertfordshire as well as to disabled employees. The questionnaire aimed to identify what improvements would make the biggest difference to disabled service users and employees. In addition a consultation event took place so that disabled people had the opportunity to comment on Hertfordshires proposed scheme and make sure that our action plan reflects what they told us.

To view Hertfordshires Disability Equality Scheme please follow the link titled 'Hertfordshire's Disability Equality Scheme' below.