Disability Equality Scheme 2009 - 2012
The Highland Council’s Disability Equality Scheme is a central part of the Council’s wider Corporate Equality strategy.
The Council recognises that promoting equality will improve public services and employment opportunities and aims to ensure that:
- equality is central to service provision and employment, that equal opportunities objectives are included in all its corporate and service plans, and
- that these objectives will be reflected in policies and procedures.
Services will be required to integrate equality into the service planning process, putting it at the heart of policy making, service delivery, and employment practices. A planned approach to equality and reports on progress will result in delivering quality services that respond to the needs of communities and individuals.
Changes to the Disability Discrimination Act in 2005 introduced new duties on the public sector to promote disability equality. The Disability Equality Duty: When carrying out their functions, this duty requires public bodies to pay regard to the need to:
- promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other people
- eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Act
- eliminate harassment of disabled people that is related to their disability
- promote positive attitudes towards disabled people
- encourage participation by disabled people in public life
- take steps to meet disabled people’s need, even if this requires more favourable treatment
To show how these duties are met most public bodies were required to publish a Disability Equality Scheme by 4th December 2006. These schemes should be reviewed every three years.
Our Disability Equality Scheme 2009 - 2012 has been developed involving council services, community planning partners, service users, and voluntary and community organisations. It contains outcomes which aim to make improvements for disabled people and is accompanied by a plan for action. The Scheme also ensures that we continuously monitor and improve the ways in which we deliver services and take the needs and views of disabled people into account.
The Highland Council’s Disability Equality Scheme will help us to meet the requirements of legislation but also sets our plans to improve access to employment and services for disabled people. It provides a framework to promote equality and eliminate discrimination against disabled people as users of services, employees and members of the community.
The action plan that accompanies the scheme shows how we aim to improve outcomes for diabled people in the following themes:
- Delivering services that are accessible
- Creating fair employment practices
- Increasing involvement, engagement and participation
- Creating a culture that wil promote equality, and tackle discrimination and harassment
- Ensuring that the Council meets its public sector duties
Further Information, comments and contact details
The Council would welcome any comments and feedback on this Scheme. If you wish to comment, or would like a full copy of the Scheme, or to request information in another format or language, please contact:
Rosemary Mackinnon
Equal Opportunities Officer
The Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness, IV3 5NX
Tel 01463 702094 Fax 01463 702830
Email rosemary.mackinnon@highland.gov.uk