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Coventry's Largest Teaching Union
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Anti-academies
Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005 introduced a general duty on all public bodies including schools to promote disbaility equality. (This is similar to the duty to promote race equality under the 2002 Race Relations Amendment Act).
 
This represents a shift from individuals with impairment having to complain about poor treatment to placing the onus on public bodies to plan ways in which people with disabilities are treated fairly. When carrying out this function, public authorities must have regard to the following:
 
  • Promoting positive attitudes towards disabled persons
  • Encourage participation by disabled persons in public life
  • Promote equality of opportunity
  • Eliminate disability related harassment
  • Use positive discrimination if necessary (unlike race / gender issues,positive discrimination is allowed).
 

Definition of Disability

 

"A person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substntial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities".

 

In the Act, a person must be substantially affected by their disability in one of the follwoing capacities:

 

  • Mobility
  • Physical co-ordination
  • Manual dexterity
  • Continence
  • Ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday  objects
  • Speech, hearing, eyesight
  • Memory for ability to learn, concentrate or understand
  • Perception of risk or physical danger

 

 Disability Equality Scheme

 

With effect from December 5th 2006, all public bodies should publish their Disability Equality Scheme (DES), which includes all Secondary Schools, Primaries, PRUs and Special Schools. 

For more information go to the 'do the duty' website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For curriculum ideas and discussion about teaching with moving image media, 'Disabling Imagery' by Richard Rieser £20. Short films and film clips exploring disability issues and accompanying ideas for lessons - suitable for KS3 & KS4.

Available from Disability Equality in Education - telephone number 0207 359 2855 or fax 0207 354 3372. Also available from DEE is a catalogue of resources for Primary and Secondary age pupils