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Know your rights: the Disability Discrimination Act and how it affects you
- Author:
- MENCAP
- Publisher:
- Mencap
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 7p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Disability Discrimination Act (or DDA) was passed in 1995. It aims to give equal rights to disabled people and stop discrimination, when disabled people are treated unfairly because they have a disability. The DDA has been made into law in stages. Disabled people will have more rights when the last part of the Act becomes law on 1 October 2004.
Disability discrimination and schools
- Author:
- MENCAP
- Publisher:
- Mencap
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 3p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Disability Discrimination Act now applies to all schools and covers all aspects of school life. This covers mainstream schools, special schools and independent schools. There are new duties for all these schools to avoid discriminating against disabled pupils. For children with a learning disability this means protection from discrimination and new ways to challenge discrimination on the grounds of disability. Alongside other changes that came into force with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act, it means that attending a mainstream school will become possible for many more pupils in the coming years.
Death by indifference: 74 deaths and counting: a progress report five years on
- Author:
- MENCAP
- Publisher:
- Mencap
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 40p.
- Place of publication:
- London
In March 2007, Mencap published ‘Death by indifference’, which reported the death of 6 people with learning disability as a result of failings in the NHS. This report triggered an independent inquiry ‘Healthcare for all’ which set out 10 key recommendations, all of which were accepted by the government. This report looks at what progress has been made since these publications. It confirms that, although some positive steps have been taken, many health professionals are still failing to provide adequate care to people with a learning disability. It describes the deaths of 74 people with a learning disability in NHS care over the last 10 years believed to be as a direct result of institutional discrimination. It highlights an NHS that continues to fail people with a learning disability, doctors whose practices appear to show no regard to the Equality Act or Mental Capacity Act, and nurses who fail to provide even basic nursing care to people with a learning disability. The report calls on the government to ensure that people with a learning disability receive the same quality of care as the rest of the population. Among the recommendations are for: annual health checks to become a permanent part of the GP contract; all health professionals to get training around the Equality Act and Mental Capacity Act; regulatory bodies to conduct rigorous investigations and deliver appropriate sanctions; and a standard hospital passport for all people with a learning disability.
Treat me right: better healthcare for people with a learning disability
- Author:
- MENCAP
- Publisher:
- Mencap
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 35p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report confirms that the NHS has a poor track record in dealing effectively with people with a learning disability. As a result, people with a learning disability have poorer health, greater health needs and shorter lives. There is a real concern that negative, discriminatory attitudes and poor communication skills amongst healthcare staff contribute to this unfortunate state of affairs. For many years it has been NHS policy that people with a learning disability should have equal access to mainstream services. Despite good intentions on the part of the Government and healthcare services – as demonstrated by good policy and practice guidance, ministerial and prime ministerial commitment – people with a learning disability still get a poor deal.
Living in fear: the need to combat bullying of people with a learning disability
- Author:
- MENCAP
- Publisher:
- Mencap
- Publication year:
- 1999
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- London
A survey by Mencap of people with a learning disability has found that nearly nine out of ten respondents have experienced bullying in the last year. Two-thirds are bullied on a regular basis and almost one-third are suffering from bullying on a daily or weekly basis. People with a learning disability face prejudice and widespread discrimination that often makes them feel like outcasts and prevents them from taking a full part in society. Public attitudes in the United Kingdom towards people with a learning disability remain discriminatory. The Mencap survey suggests that the bullying of people with a learning disability is institutionalised throughout society. There are 1.2 million people with a learning disability in the United Kingdom. They need to be recognised as valuable members of society with the same rights as others. Yet people with a learning disability face discrimination in all areas of their lives - on public transport, at work, in shops and leisure centres and even in residential homes and day centres.