Memorandum from the Trade Union Disability
Alliance (DDB 69)
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.
February 2004
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