Dear colleagues,
A quick email to summarise the latest developments on the disability agenda for you:
* As of today, the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 has extended the definition of disability contained within the 1995 Act to include people with HIV, MS and cancer from the point of diagnosis, and has removed the requirement for mental health impairments to be 'clinically well-recognised'.
* The DRC have published a new information leaflet, Do the Duty, which is available via the disability equality duty area of their website: www.dotheduty.org
* The Office for Disability Issues was launched on 1 December: see www.officefordisability.gov.uk A key aim for the ODI (which will report annually to the Prime Minister) will be to improve support and incentives for disabled people to get into and stay in employment. The ODI has been designed as a cross-departmental unit so will assist government in taking a 'joined-up' approach to disability issues. It will also aim to challenge government from within, influence public perceptions of disabliity and provide a centre of expertise on disability.
More information and useful links will be on ECU's website very soon.
With best wishes,
Robyn and Liz
Robyn Challis
Policy Officer
Equality Challenge Unit
tel 020 7520 7066
fax 020 7520 7069
email [log in to unmask]
3rd Floor, 4 Tavistock Place
London WC1H 9RA
Switchboard 020 7520 7060
Web www.ecu.ac.uk
**********
The Equality Challenge Unit promotes diversity and equality of opportunity for all who work or seek to work in higher education. We are sponsored by the representative bodies (SCOP and Universities UK) and the four UK HE funding bodies.
Although every effort is made to ensure that the information contained within this email is timely and accurate, the Equality Challenge Unit cannot be held responsible for any unintentional errors or omissions.
The information provided in this email is not intended to be either legally binding or contractual in nature. Should you require more specific advice regarding the application of equalities legislation, it is recommended that you consult an appropriately qualified legal professional.
This message is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient you should not copy or disclose this message to anyone but should kindly notify the sender and delete the message. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message which do not relate to the official business of the ECU shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. No contracts shall be concluded by means of this e-mail. Neither ECU nor the sender accepts any responsibility for viruses. The administrator of this e-mail service (Universities UK) reserves the right to access and disclose all messages sent over its e-mail system.
**********
|