Equalities Act
- Created: Friday, 22 January 2021 20:21
- Published: Friday, 22 January 2021 20:21
- Written by Fife Voluntary Action
Latest updates from Fife Voluntary Action (FVA) Fri 22/01/2021
The Scottish Community Development Centre has released new support materials have been produced to accompany the revised National Standards for Community Engagement. Developed in partnership with Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA), the National Standards for Community Engagement are now in the following accessible formats:
• Easy Read version of the National Standards for Community Engagement
• Easy Read – plain large print (18pt) of the National Standards for Community Engagement
• Easy Read – plain large print (24pt) of the National Standards for Community Engagement
• Audio version (MP3) of the National Standards for Community Engagement
• A braille version of the National Standards for Community Engagement is also available on request.
View and download the accessible versions by clicking here. For more information or further support around accessible versions of the Standards, please contact Paul Nelis at SCDC on 0131 248 1924 or e-mail paul@scdc.org.uk.
From Fife Centre for Equalities e-bulletin June 2017
The below information is from http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/standards_and_guidelines/stnds/opah_standards.aspx
Care of older people in hospital standards
Everyone using healthcare services in Scotland is entitled to the same level of care regardless of their age, however, it is recognised that older people are admitted more often to hospital, and can face problems not experienced by other user groups.
We have developed standards to support staff and ensure the highest standards for the care of older people in hospital presenting with an acute episode, wherever healthcare is delivered.
These standards supersede the 2002 Clinical standards for older people in acute care. Continue reading
This link will take you to Equality and Human Rights Commission Equality Act FAQs
Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 Can be found at https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010
A physical or mental impairment which has an effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities. The effect must be:
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Substantial; and
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Long-term; and
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Adverse.
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Meaning of disability
- From December 2005 someone with cancer, HIV or MS will be deemed to be disabled.
- Previously had to have some effect on them but now from the point of diagnosis.
- Removes the requirement that a mental illness must be “clinically well recognised”
The below information can be found at https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/6466/1/code_of_practice__revised__for_providers_of_post-16_education_and_related_services__dda_.pdf
If you are a disabled student or prospective student and think you have been discriminated against, you may be able to challenge this under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA).
The DDA gives disabled students rights in their access to colleges, universities and other providers of Post-16 education. Your rights in education have been introduced in three stages:
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Since 1 September 2002 it has been against the law for education providers to treat you less favourably for a reason related to your disability or to fail to make reasonable adjustments to prevent you being placed at a substantial disadvantage.
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Since 1 September 2003 education providers have had to provide auxiliary aids and services as part of the reasonable adjustments duty
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Since 1 September 2005 education providers have had to make reasonable adjustments to their premises where there are physical features that are placing you at a substantial disadvantage.
There is a Code of Practice for Post-16 education providers about the DDA. It is taken into account by the courts and it guides disabled people and service providers on how reasonable adjustments should be made.
The above information can be found at https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/6466/1/code_of_practice__revised__for_providers_of_post-16_education_and_related_services__dda_.pdf
A new Equality Act came into force on 1 October 2010.
It brings together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act.
The Act provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all.
It provides Britain with a discrimination law which protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society.
The nine main pieces of legislation that have merged are:
- the Equal Pay Act 1970
- the Sex Discrimination Act 1975
- the Race Relations Act 1976
- the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
- the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
- the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
- the Equality Act 2006, Part 2
- the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007
As Britain’s national equality body, our work is driven by a simple belief: if everyone gets a fair chance in life, we all thrive.
Find out what we’re doing to protect and promote equality in Britain.
There are further elements in the Act that did not come into force in October 2010, but may do in the future.
We await updates from the government on these developments.
Examples are:
- duty to make reasonable adjustments to common parts of leasehold and commonhold premises and common parts in Scotland
- provisions relating to auxiliary aids in schools
- diversity reporting by political parties
- provisions about taxi accessibility
- prohibition on age discrimination in services and public functions
- civil partnerships on religious premises
Elements of the Act that will not be coming into force are:
- dual discrimination: the government has decided not to bring this into force as a way of reducing the cost of regulation to business
- socio-economic inequalities under the Public Sector Equality Duty
We have published guidance to help employers, workers, service providers, service users and education providers understand the Equality Act.
You can find all of our this in our Equality Act guidance section.
Last updated: 19 Jun 2019
The above information is from https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/equality-act-2010/what-equality-act
video introduction to the Act .
in-depth guidance for employers, employees, schools and higher and further education providers, and those providing or using services, including clubs, associations and political parties. The Commission will also be producing guidance for students and parents, guides on housing and transport, and guidance around the Public Sector Equality Duties.
To complement the guidance we are also producing a Starter Kit giving a short, accessible summary to the Act to help you understand the essentials of the law. It will offer simple downloadable learning modules taking you through different scenarios as an employer or service provider.
We will be laying the following draft Codes of Practice before Parliament on 11 October: Equal Pay, Employment, and Services and Public Functions.
To find out more and keep up-to-date with all information, events and guidance about the Act please visit the Equality Act area of our website.
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/scotland/
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Our monthly newsletter is packed with cutting edge news relating to equality, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age, transgender, human rights and much more. We also have a feedback feature so that you can tell us your own views and opinions, and tell us what you would like to see in future issues. The newsletter is also available in Welsh.
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https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/disability-and-air-travel
Who is this page for?
- Individuals using a service
Which countries is it relevant to?
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England
Scotland
Wales
The Equality Act 2010 gave disabled people rights including in the areas of public transport and consolidated and expanded existing equalities legislation, including introducing a new public sector equality duty. Transport operators have a duty to proactively consider how they are going to effectively reduce the barriers for disabled people.
Under European law-Air passengers Rights, if you are disabled or have difficulty moving around you can receive assistance when you fly to, from and within Europe.
You do not need to be permanently or physically disabled to benefit from this service. In fact, anyone who has difficulty moving around, for example because of their disability, age or a temporary injury, can receive help when they fly. This may include help when travelling through an airport, boarding or disembarking an aircraft and during a flight.
Sometimes, however, the assistance you get may not meet your expectations or communication can break down. In some limited cases, your requirements may not be covered by the law.
You can find out more from our booklet Top tips for disabled and less mobile passengers – Your Passport to a Smooth Journey.
You can find out more from our free step-by-step guide ‘Your Rights to Fly’
Last updated: 19 Feb 2019
The above information is from https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/disability-and-air-travel
AbilityNet provides free IT support to help older people and people with disabilities to use technology to achieve their goals.
We have a network of friendly volunteers who can help with most major computer systems, laptops, tablet devices and smartphones.
The 2010 Equality Act’s provisions are now in full effect. This landmark legislation strengthens, harmonises and streamlines 40 years of equality legislation, providing protection from discrimination across all the ‘protected characteristics’: age, disability, sex (including gender reassignment), race, religion and belief, and sexual orientation. The Equality Act affects you as an employer and service provider and applies whatever the size of your organisation or sector you work in
Here is a summary of the Equalities 2010 Act