disability discrimination affect access to social inclusion
People with disabilities are often excluded from social inclusion because of discriminatory attitudes and behaviours, inaccessible environments and systems and structural barriers. Discrimination is illegal under the Equality Act and can happen in a variety of places including work, home, public transport, community services, health care, education and leisure activities. Discrimination can take many forms, including direct discrimination which is where someone is treated unfavourably because of their disability.
Indirect disability discrimination happens when a rule, policy or practice seems to apply equally but in fact puts disabled people at an unfair disadvantage compared with others who are not disabled. For example, a local authority produces information leaflets about its services for the public. The authority decides not to produce an easy-read version of the leaflet in order to save money, which could put people with a learning disability at a disadvantage. This is indirect discrimination as the decision not to produce the leaflet does something directly because of a person’s disability.
Disabled people are also disproportionately affected by institutionalisation, which is the physical segregation of people with disabilities living and spending time in areas that have been designated for them. This is often done because of fears that disabled people will be violent or disruptive and there are concerns about safety, care and treatment. Institutionalisation is illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
How does disability discrimination affect access to social inclusion?
Indirect discrimination can also happen if a rule, policy or practice puts someone at an unfair disadvantage because of their disability but there’s a good reason for it. For example, if someone has a condition such as arthritis that sometimes flares up causing them to have more symptoms than usual, and then goes into remission when their symptoms are less severe, this can be classed as a long-term condition. It may not be possible to produce a leaflet that is suitable for everyone with rheumatoid arthritis as it would not be cost-effective. However, the authority could justify this by saying that it is a ‘good business reason’ for not producing an easy-read version of its leaflet for people with rheumatoid artritis and this would not count as indirect disability lawyer toronto.
The evidence base on ‘what works’ to improve social inclusion for people with disabilities is limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It tends to focus on interventions for improving individual-level social and communication skills and maintaining family relationships and is insufficient to address the underlying drivers of exclusions.
A growing body of research shows that the experience of disability discrimination affects how well disabled people do in many aspects of their lives. This includes their ability to access social and community activities, get employment, maintain friendships, have relationships with other people, live independently in their own homes and communities, and participate in politics. This is why it is so important that we continue to challenge prejudice and promote equality for people with disabilities in all parts of society.