When we talk about disability, we mean a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.
People’s experiences of discrimination
People are sometimes treated unfairly because of something to do with their disability. We must make reasonable adjustments to remove barriers so that disabled people can access services and employment.
Examples of disability discrimination may include:
- Holding services or clinics in inaccessible building – e.g. with no lifts or accessible toilets, no hearing loop systems or poor signage.
- Not providing information needed to make informed decisions about a person’s treatment or care in a suitable format – e.g. not providing large print, plain English or Easy Read, or sign language interpreters.
- Treating a disabled member of staff unfavourably such as giving them a warning because they have been absent from work a lot if the absence is because they needed to attend hospital appointments related to their disability.
Carers
The Equality Act 2010 protects people against direct discrimination or harassment due to their caring responsibilities. Because carers are ‘associated’ with someone who is protected by the law because of their age or disability, they are also thereby protected by the Equality Act.
Useful links:
- The Social Model of Disability – Inclusion Scotland
- What is life really like for disabled people? The Disability Diaries reveal all
- Seven things you should stop saying and doing to disabled people
- Exploring the everyday lives of disabled people
- Factsheets and information from the Business Disability Forum
- Information about Carers and employment
Types of disability
Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity is a term that combines ‘neuro’ meaning related to the nervous system and diversity.
Autism
Autism is a condition that affects the way a person communicates, interacts and processes information.
Learning disability
A learning disability affects the way a person learns new things.
Mental health problems
Mental health problems affect people’s mood, thinking and behaviour.
D/deaf
The general term to describe people who have acquired hearing loss and use spoken and written language is deaf with a lower case ‘d.’
Deafblindness
Deafblindness is a combined vision and hearing impairment of such severity that it is hard for the impaired senses to compensate for each other.
Blind or partially sighted
Partially sighted is a term used to describe sight loss that cannot be corrected using glasses or contact lenses.
Physical disability
A physical disability can affect a person’s physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina.
