DDB 69 Trade Union Disability Alliance
Submission
by the Trade Union Disability Alliance to the
Joint Committee on the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill
| I am writing on behalf of the Trade Union Disability Alliance to support the two submissions made by the Trade Union Council and the Disability Rights Commission.
We would wish to emphasise the following points:-
1. The definition of disability as included in the Current DDA and although there are proposals to extend the definition to include people with HIV, cancer and MS there is still a fundamental issue of the recognition of the social model of disability to be addressed. The issue of people with mental health impairments must be further emphasised as they currently experience very high levels of discrimination particularly in the field of employment where government statistics tell the tale. TUDA will continue to campaign for the definition to be changed to a social model definition which recognises that it is the barriers, physical, attitudinal, communication and policy that discriminate.
2. We are also very concerned that transport again a huge barrier to disabled people getting into work seems not to be taken into account to the degree we would wish for.
3. We would also emphasise the need for volunteers to be covered under the provisions as often this is how disabled people return into work.
4. The continued use of County Courts is also an ongoing problem which immediately excludes many disabled people from having the ability to see recourse against discrimination under Part 3 cases.
5. School governors should be covered otherwise what is the point of having regulations regarding making schools accessible for children if there are no governors with the direct experience of disability to pursue and ensure these powers are being met.
6. Finally we would emphasise the need for fast and extensive reform and would support the need for the Bill to be introduced before the end of this session with an aim to achieving Royal Assent before the next election and implementation shortly thereafter.
Sheila Blair,
Co-Chair,
Trade Union Disability Alliance.
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