Disability

Services to support employers

Various support is available to help you, as an employer, comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person because of their disability. You can find out more about the law and your rights by visiting the website of the Equality and Human Rights Commission using the link on the right.

The Centre for Accessible Environments provides guidance, training and consultancy to ensure inclusive design in the environment. They produce publications on 'Designing for Accessiblity' and the 'Good Loo Design Guide'. The centre deals with enquiries relating to the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act and provide information sheets. For more details select the link to their website on the right of this page.

Hertfordshire County Council has produced a CD-ROM, called Access ABILITY, emphasising the ability of disabled employees and support available to employ them in Hertfordshire.

Disability Employment Advisors (DEA), based in Jobcentres, can advise you about adapting your premises and recruiting and retaining staff with disabilities.

They can help you apply for the Positive About Disabled People (2 ticks) symbol, which shows that you are committed to best practice in employing disabled people, in both recruitment and retention of staff.

The DEA can also advise you about the Access to Work scheme which can provide equipment for work or a contribution towards its cost, or payment for a support worker (driver, carer, note taker, etc) to enable a disabled employee to work effectively.

For more details select the link to the Jobcentre Plus website on the right of this page.

Advice on access, equipment and employment issues can also be found by selecting the link to the Disabled Living Foundation website on the right of this page.

AbilityNet can advise on all IT issues. Select the link to their website called 'IT for people with disabilities' on the right of this page.

The Disability Employer Outreach Service sells a Disability Access and Awareness Guide covering access issues, production of literature and websites, fire exits, alarms and equipment, communication issues and employment issues. They also provide tailored and standard training sessions some of which are free.

If you would like to advertise the accessibility features related to your service for disabled customers you can sign up to Direct Enquiries. For more information select the link to the Direct Enquiries website on the right of this page.