Memorandum from Changing Faces (DDB 21)
I've been pleased to have a chance to examine
the Disability Discrimination Bill (Cm 6058 Parts 1-3). I would
like to make the following comments:
P16—PART 5A
PUBLIC AUTHORITIES—49A
GENERAL DUTY
Changing Faces is constantly made aware of stories
of teenagers and adults living in all sorts of places around the
country who are too frightened to go out of their homes because
of the harassment meted out to them by other people in their estates
and localities. We believe that it is vital that there should
be a clear definition of harassment in this section of the Bill.
It might be useful to quote disfigurement as a case example when
codes of practice are produced on this point.
P22.12 MEANING OF
DISABILITY
Given that the Government's intention is to
clarify the definition of disability in the DDA 1995, we believe
at Changing Faces that it would be helpful for a further clarification
of the meaning of "severe disfigurement". It is certainly
the case that many people who have disfigurements are unclear
about what protection they have under the Act. It would therefore
be very helpful if this Bill were to be an opportunity for this
area, this issue, to be further refined.
We seek further clarification about the paragraph
2 concerning the regulations that may prevent somebody who has
cancer being covered under the Bill. This needs to be clearly
specified in order for the Bill to be effective.
Overall, we would like to see the Bill considerably
tightened and thereby provide greater security and protection
for disabled people and less room for interpretation and confusion
in the courts and in public in general. This is particularly true
in the case of harassment.
I would be happy to provide further information
or evidence on any of these points—please do contact me
if this would be helpful.
James Partridge OBE, DSc
Chief Executive, Changing Faces
February 2004
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