Disabilities in the UK in Cornwall

“The Equalities Act 2010 defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.”

– What does this mean?

• ‘Physical impairment’- This term covers a wide range of disabilities including physical disabilities (for example, a bad back or loss of a limb) sensory impairments (for example, hearing and sight) and long term health conditions (for example, HIV, cancer and Multiple Scelorisis).
• ‘Mental impairment’ - This term includes learning disabilities (for example, Downs Syndrome and dyslexia) and mental health issues (for example, manic-depression and schizophrenia) 
• ‘Substantial’ means the impairment is neither minor nor trivial
• ‘Long term’ means that the effect of the impairment has lasted or is likely to last for at least 12 months
• ‘Normal day-to-day activities’ include everyday things like eating, washing, walking and going shopping. A normal day-to-day activity must affect daily living such us mobility, manual dexterity, speech, hearing, seeing and memory.
• The definition also includes people who have had a disability in the past.
• In 2005 the definition removed the requirement that a mental illness should be ‘clinically well-recognised and ensured that people with HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis are included from the point of diagnosis.

Did you know?

• Based on research, around one in five people of working age are considered by the Government to be “disabled”.
• Someone with a severe facial disfigurement is also covered by the definition.
• Most people who have a disability or a health condition develop it in later life - only 17 per cent are born with a particular condition.
• A recent survey showed that 52 per cent of people with a disability or health condition did not consider themselves disabled.
• An increasing proportion of the population have some form of health condition or disability, partly because many of us are living longer and because treatments are improving. People are able to live for a long time, after cancer, after a heart attack, after an accident – a cause for celebration.
• The Disability Discrimination Act provides disabled people with rights and it also places duties on employers. More importantly, it helps encourage employers and employees to work together to break away from rigid employment practices, identify what adjustments and support might be needed, and find flexible ways of working that may benefit the whole workforce.

For more information contact us: 0800 91 777 92 or email: employment.bureau@pluss.org.uk

www.pluss.org.uk/equipping

What is the Radar Key Scheme?

The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) is a national organisation of and for disabled people.

The National Key Scheme offers independent access to disabled people to around 7,000 locked public toilets around the country. It ensures that people who need them can always find a suitable and accessible toilet in a good clean condition.

RADAR would like all providers of accessible toilets to keep their toilets unlocked if at all possible. The National Key Scheme (NKS) is suggested only if the provider concerned has to keep the toilets locked to stop vandalism and misuse.

Keys can be obtained from:

• some Social Services offices
• some District Council offices
• some Tourist Information offices
• some branches of Age Concern
• or you can buy a key on line. Order direct from RADAR who also produce a guide which lists over 7,000 toilets fitted with the NKS lock throughout the UK (NKS Guide 2007).

Tel: 020 7250 3222

Email: radar@radar.org.uk