Majority of Contacts with UK Disability Rights Commission Concerned with Employment Issues
More than 4,000 disabled people who have faced discrimination have been supported by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) since it was set up two years ago. Some 105 of these cases attracted full legal representation as they were judged to have potential strategic importance in securing rights for disabled people.
On its second anniversary in April, the DRC reported that it has taken over 144,000 calls on its Helpline from disabled people, employers and service providers from April 2000 to March 2002.
The majority of calls to the DRC related to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Of these:
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57 per cent were concerned with employment issues
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30 per cent were concerned with goods, facilities and services.
Other issues discussed by callers include education, property, transport and the general scope and implications of the DDA.
Out of the 4,000 cases, 65 per cent have been resolved in favour of the disabled person. These cases reveal the extent of the discrimination faced by disabled people throughout the country. Although the majority of cases are settled positively, the DRC has provided legal representation in 105 cases that have been pursued through the court or employment tribunal system under the terms of the DDA.
The DRC has dealt with more cases of discrimination in its second year than in its first. In 2001/02 it handled 2,283 cases as against 1,890 cases in 2000/01.
Examples of recent cases
Examples of recent cases where legal representation has been provided by the DRC include:
Ms R was a catering assistant at a university in Yorkshire. She had spent a short time in hospital with depression. Aware of this her colleagues bullied her while the university did nothing about it. Ms R became unable to work, was sacked and contacted the DRC. The employment tribunal found that she suffered discrimination: firstly at the hands of her colleagues and secondly because the university failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the bad treatment and then sacked her. The university paid Ms R a substantial five-figure sum by way of compensation.
Bert Massie, Chairman of the DRC commented: "We believe we have made a significant start over the last two years but there is still much work to do. Our vision is a society in which all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens. However, the rights that have been hard won by disabled people are constantly threatened and need vigilant defending."
A good example of prejudice is the case of Mr H who has a skin condition causing blisters on his hands and neck. He was barred from a nightclub and told his condition would cause offence to other customers. After taking his case to the DRC, the nightclub accepted it had been at fault and agreed to pay £2000 compensation.
Further information
The DRC Helpline team information and is available to provide practical advice. Disabled people, employers and service providers can call the DRC's Helpline on 08457 622 633; textphone: 08457 622 644; Fax: 08457 778 878; email: enquiry@drc-gb.org; web site: www.drc-gb.org
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is an independent body set up by an Act of Parliament in April 2000 to enforce the rights of disabled people.
The DRC has offices in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff. It employs 150 staff and has 15 Commissioners, 10 of whom are disabled.
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