In the UK the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that has an adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities. It must also be substantial and have a long term effect, i.e. it must last or be expected to last for 12 months. For a fuller explanation of the definitions of disability under the DDA please read the provided document.
The British council has a Disability Working Group in place that supports the Diversity Unit. The group aims to raise awareness and generate discussion about disability discrimination issues and supports the organisation in demonstrating good practice in its employment practices.
We set up an external Disability Advisory Panel (DAP) in 2006 to help us develop our IES. The panel comprises a wide range of people who have extensive personal and/or professional experience of disability. Members are familiar enough with the British Council to be able to constructively challenge our practices. The involvement of the panel in the development and implementation of the IES has been vital.
The panel now meets twice per year, terms of reference have been agreed, and they comment on action we have taken as well as offer suggestions and share experiences about how we can better promote disability equality throughout our work. Evaluation of the panel is ongoing with feedback leading to improvement sought from members. One member commented “I am encouraged that the Panel brings together overview and personal experience’.
Issues that have been addressed that have been instigated by the panel include:
- reviewing the UN Convention on the rights of disabled people
- aiming for greater representation of people with disabilities in the organisational publicity material
- reviewing the structure and format of panel meetings, to ensure full participation, through a range of different methods and techniques
- discussing the definition of disability that should be employed by an international organisation
- panel members discussing their own experiences of working with the British Council
At the September 2007 meeting Naomi Chappell of Stepping Stone, who has participated in the Connect Youth programme, gave a presentation about her involvement with Connect Youth and a recent Multilateral Exchange visit between Greece, Malta, Germany and the UK. Naomi stressed that an important benefit of the programme was the development of levels of confidence in the young disabled people who participated. She also highlighted the benefits to the young people of developing an understanding of international issues such as cultural differences, different political issues, geography and languages.
The development of similar panels is currently being discussed in a number of countries, including Egypt, China, Israel, Jordan and Russia.
Leonard Cheshire, one of Britain’s biggest disability charities, has engaged Aardman Animations, famous for it Wallace and Gromit cartoon characters, to produce a series of six characters each with a disability. The characters form the basis of an advertising campaign aimed at reshaping attitudes to disabled people. To access the online adverts please visit http://www.creaturediscomforts.org
New Short Break services for families with disabled children.
Government ministers have announced the start of a 3 year transformation in short break services for families with disabled children.
Our consultant June Jackson gave a presentation on our behalf at the National School of Government to the Civil Service Disability Network to mark the International Day of Disability. Please read the text of the presentation.
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The International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) estimates that there are 610 million disabled people worldwide of which 387 million are of working age(Based on the WHO estimate that 10% of the world's population has a disability and the UN world population statistics 1998.). |
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In 2001 the ILO reported that in some countries the unemployment rates for disabled people were as high as 80%. |
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In 2000 the European Parliament estimated that there were 37 million disabled people within the population of member states. |
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The level of disability increases with age: 34% of those aged 50 to state pension age have a current long-term disability. (DRC Disability Briefing: Feb 2003) |
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There are 5.6 million disabled people of working age covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. (DRC Disability Briefing: Feb 2003 ) |
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The Act gives disabled people the right not to be discriminated against in the areas of employment; access to goods and services; the management, buying or renting of land or property and education. |
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The EC Equal Treatment in Employment Directive, prohibits direct or indirect discrimination in employment on grounds of disability, age, religion or belief.
This directive requires that all EU counties should have civil anti-discrimination legislation protecting disabled people in employment by November 2003, irrespective of employer size. Countries may have requested extensions; however the latest date for compliance is November 2006. |
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Member states are called upon to place particular emphasis on the promotion of employment opportunities for people with disabilities, within the framework of their national employment policies, and develop policies to assist their integration into the labour market. |
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The European Social Charter is a treaty that protects human rights. It seeks to ensure the rights of disabled people to independence, social integration and participation. |
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