1. Small Businesses Employing Disabled People – The Law and Practice Presentation by Michelle Valentine, Practice Development Officer, DRC.

2. Our overall goal ‘A society where all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens’

3. What we are The DRC was set up in April 2000 as enforcement body for the DDA We are independent Offices in Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London – 180 staff many are disabled people We aim to work in partnership with small and large businesses, public sector and voluntary organisations We want to win hearts and minds, not just court cases

4. DDA Part I Definition of Disability “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial, long term, adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day to day activities” Day to day activities: –Mobility –Manual dexterity –Physical co-ordination –Continence –Ability to lift, carry or move everyday objects –Speech, hearing or eyesight impairments –Memory, ability to concentrate, learn or understand –Being able to recognise physical danger

5. DDA Part I – Continued Also covers people with severe disfigurements Can also cover progressive conditions such as: HIV infection Cancer Multiple Sclerosis Muscular dsytrophy Registered disabled people – DDA removed green card scheme and 3% quota system The Act can cover people who have had a disability in the past even if they have recovered – often important for people who have had mental health problems

6. Part II What is Discrimination? 2 Main Types of Discrimination: Direct Discrimination Failure to make reasonable adjustments Justification not possible in either case Also harassment and victimisation will also be unlawful

7. Part II Reasonable Adjustments Recruitment and selection Training Promotion Career Development Transfer Employment arrangements Retention - e.g. allocating some of the disabled person’s duties to another person buildings, furniture, equipment

8. Key Points for SB’s Disabled people have useful knowledge, skills and experience to offer an employer Many reasonable adjustments can be done at little or no cost SB’s will only be expected to do what is reasonable There is help available

9. What help is there? Local jobcentre – Access to Work, Disability Employment Advisers Disabled people in your community Support from Business Links The DRC free Helpline and publications

10. How you can reach us DRC Helpline Telephone 08457 622633 Textphone 08457 622644 email: enquiry@drc-gb.org Website - www.drc-gb.org You can also subscribe to our monthly email bulletin via the website