Disability equality

Disability equality duty
Our vision for disability equality
Priorities for the next three years

Disability equality duty
The disability equality duty came into force on Monday 4 December 2006. This new legal duty is part of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and requires local authorities to be proactive in ensuring that disabled people are treated fairly. This is not just about improving access to buildings or making adjustments to services for individual people - other parts of the Disability Discrimination Act have already covered these areas. It's about making sure that we include disabled people and disability equality in policy development and actions from the beginning, rather than only thinking about it and adding it in at the end of the process. Ultimately, it's about trying to make sure we get things right for everyone.

Our vision for disability equality
Sevenoaks District Council believes that people with disabilities have a right to be able to participate fully in the economic, learning, social and cultural opportunities that the District has to offer. Services that work better for disabled people are more likely to work better for all service users. Our vision for disability equality in Sevenoaks District is that:

everyone should expect to have an opportunity to lead a fulfilling life, free from discrimination and harassment, regardless of their disability or impairment
physical, social and attitudinal barriers that people with disabilities face are removed
inclusive and accessible environments are promoted
long-lasting changes that meet the needs and improve the quality of lives of people with disabilities are identified and implemented
people with disabilities experience equality of opportunity when applying for employment and working in the District
all services delivered by us and on our behalf are appropriate and relevant to the needs of people with disabilities

This vision reflects the 'social model of disability', which was developed by disabled people and provides a basis for the successful implementation of the duty to promote disability equality. Under the social model, the poverty, disadvantage and social exclusion experienced by many disabled people is not as a result of their impairments or medical conditions, but stems from attitudinal and environmental barriers. These barriers need to be removed to enable disabled people to participate fully in society.

Priorities for the next three years
The priorities of disabled people, and areas in which we can improve or develop our services, have been incorporated in the action plan. The action plan shows what each of the Council's Services intends to do to eliminate discrimination and promote disability equality over the next three years.

We will also be working, with partners where appropriate, to achieve the following broad priorities:

Actively promote involvement of disabled people in the further development of this Scheme;
Gather more evidence to gain a better understanding of the needs of disabled people in the community;
Ensure that disabled people have equal access to information in a format that suits their needs;
Improve independent access for disabled people to the public transport and pedestrian infrastructures;
Improve independent access for disabled people to employment and educational opportunities; and
Improve independent access for disabled people to health services
Disability Equality ( PDF 401K file details)
Disability Equality (large print) ( PDF 420K file details)

Sevenoaks District Council,
Council Offices,
Argyle Road,
Sevenoaks,
Kent
TN13 1HG

01732 227000