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Discrimination against disabled people

Disabled people aren’t disabled by physical impairments. They can, however, be disabled by things in society – by discrimination, by practices, by an inaccessible environment and and by prejudice. Using a wheelchair doesn’t stop someone getting into a building – but the lack of ramp can.

Prejudice against disabled people is often called ‘disablism’. Some people think disabalism will be the most difficult prejudice to get rid of – because many people aren’t aware that they have disabalist attitudes. They simply unthinkingly accept a negative view of the actual and potential skills and abilities of disabled people.

There are now a number of important laws that help protect young people with disabilities from discrimination. For example, by law, organisations must take reasonable steps to change policies and practices which make it unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service. There is a legal duty of employers to make reasonable changes to their premises and practices to avoid disadvantaging disabled workers or prospective employees.

Disability discrimination laws offer rights in areas such as:

• employment
• education
• access to goods, facilities and services, including shops, restaurants, transport, and pubs and clubs
• buying or renting land or property, including making it easier for disabled people to rent property and for tenants to make disability-related adaptations

• functions of public bodies, for example issuing of licences.

If you would like to talk to someone about any kind of disability discrimination or harassment that you have experienced or witnessed, it’s important to know that there are people out there for you to contact. You may wish to talk to a friend, a family member, a teacher or head teacher. You can also get confidential advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline Wales at 0845 604 8810.

You may like to visit Frank and Honest’s ‘Disability, Travel and Transport’ page.

Contact Details and Links

Name: Equality and Human Rights Commission
Web: www.equalityhumanrights.com
Email:
Tel: 0845 604 8810 (Wales specific line)
Textphone: 0845 604 8820 (Wales specific line)
Info: The Equality and Human Rights Commission is charged by law to protect individuals against discrimination, to enforce the laws on equality and to promote fairness and human rights for everyone. The Commission relates to Wales, England and Scotland.

Name: Disability Wales
Web:www.disabilitywales.org
Email:info@disabilitywales.org
Tel: 029 20887325
Info: Disability Wales is the leading organisation campaigning for disability equality

Name: Citizens Advice Bureau
Web: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Web: www.adviceguide.org.uk
Info: Citizens Advice Bureaux provide free, confidential and independent advice from over 3,000 locations including in bureaux, GP surgeries, hospitals, colleges, prisons and courts.

Name: Community Legal Advice
Web: www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk
Tel: 0845 345 4345
Email:
Info: Community Legal Advice is a free and confidential advice service paid for by legal aid.

Name: Direct Gov
Web: www.direct.gov.uk
Info: Directgov is the website of the UK government. It provides information and online services for the public all in one place.

Name: Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
Web: http://www.acas.org.uk
Email:
Tel: 08457 474 747
Info: Acas has a range of services which can help individuals or groups of employees to avoid or resolve problems and disputes in the workplace.
Name: Welsh Assembly Government
Web:http://wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/?lang=en
Email:
Tel:
Info: Transport policies in Wales are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government. The link will take you to their transport pages.

Name: Welsh Assembly Government – Concessionary Bus Travel Pages
Web:http://wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/IntegratedTransport/concessionary/fares/?lang=en
Email:
Tel:
Info: Welsh Assembly Government – Concessionary Bus Travel Pages

Name: DirectGov – Transport Pages
Web: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/index.htm
Email:
Tel:
Info: Government funded site with loads of info on public transport around the UK.

Name: DirectGov – Disability Living Allowance page
Web: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10011731
Email:
Tel:
Info: Government funded site with loads of info on Disability Living Allowance.

Name: Department for Transport (DfT)
Web: http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/
Web: www.dft.gov.uk
Email:
Tel: 020 7944 3000 (Helpline)
Info: Government department dealing with a wide range of transport issues. However, many transport issues in Wales are devolved to the Assembly. The DfT deals more with issues relating to England than with Wales issues, but they do have responsibility for some UK and England and Wales joint issues.

Name: DIAL UK
Web: www.dialuk.org.uk
Email:dialuk@aol.com
Tel: 01302 310123
Minicom: 01302 310123
Info: The Disablement Information and Advice Lines (DIAL UK) provide services for people with disabilities around the UK. Their information is impartial, free and confidential.

Name: DisabilityNet
Web:www.disabilitynet.co.uk
Email:
Tel:
Info: DisabilityNet is an internet resource for anyone with a disability, and their families, carers and friends. Join in chat room discussions, keep up to date with the latest news and everything else you can imagine, including job adverts, a huge information section and archive, abbreviations, a search engine, and hundreds of useful addresses.

Name: Motability
Web: www.motability.co.uk
Email:
Tel: 01279 635666
Info: Motability is a national charity helping disabled people to become more mobile. If you receive the higher rate mobility component you may be able to lease or buy a car through the organisation Motability.

Name: The National Federation of Shopmobility UK (NFSUK)
Web:www.shopmobilityuk.org
Email:Info@shopmobilityuk.org
Tel: 08456 442 446
Info: The National Federation of Shopmobility UK (NFSUK) is an independent registered charity, which aims to achieve equal access and independence of disabled people by encouraging new Shopmobility Schemes to form throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland and overseas and continuing support for existing Shopmobility schemes.

Name: Centre for Accessible Environments
Web: www.shopmobilityuk.org/
Email: info@cae.org.uk
Tel: 020 7357 8182
Minicom: 020 7357 8182
Info: The Centre for Accessible Environments is committed to the provision of buildings and places which are accessible to all users, including disabled and older people, and to the enhancement of quality in design.

Name: Mobility International
Web: www.mobility-international.org
Email: secretariat@mobility-international.org
Tel: 00 32 2 410 62 97 (Please note this is an international number – Brussels, Belgium)
Info: Mobility International is a non-profit making international organisation promoting the independence of persons with a disability by their rehabilitation, integration and full participation in society.

Name: The Mobility Trust
Web:www.mobilitytrust.org.uk/
Email:
Tel:
Info: The Mobility Trust provides powered wheelchairs and scooters for severely disabled children and adults who cannot obtain them through statutory sources or purchase such equipment themselves.

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