Disability Discrimination project

As part of the Law in the Community initiative at the University of Warwick, I had the opportunity to volunteer with the Central England Law Centre (CELC) on a project that critically examined disability discrimination in society. Our work as part of the Strategic Social Justice project combined legal research with community engagement to identify and challenge systemic inequalities faced by individuals with non-visible disabilities.

Working as part of a research team, we began with an in-depth analysis of the different types of discrimination recognised in current UK law with emphasis on the often-overlooked area of non-visible disabilities including mental health conditions, chronic illnesses and neurodivergence. While the Equality Act 2010 offers general protections against discrimination, we discovered that the practical implementation of the Act is inconsistent especially when disability is not immediately apparent.

My personal focus within the group was on the interaction between disability and housing law. I examined the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and the Equality Act 2010, evaluating how local councils handle housing applications and allocations for people with disabilities.

One of the most impactful elements of the project was conducting focus groups with individuals directly affected by disability related discrimination. These conversations allowed our groups to gather diverse perspectives which led to us presenting our findings to faculty members from Warwick Law School and practising solicitors from the CELC. Our presentation highlighted the legal gaps and called for a stronger emphasis on accessibility in housing policy in potential reform in the future.

This experience of translating academic research into a practical and community focused project was educational whilst also being personally transformative. Through this project, I gained a deeper appreciation for the law as a tool for empowerment and accountability whilst also recognising its limitations when the law is not based on empathetic and informed implementation.

Over the past few months, I’ve been assisting the housing team at Central England Law Centre as part of the court duty scheme. Each week, I’ve had the opportunity to observe and support legal advice for clients facing possession hearings. It has been a valuable experience highlighting the vital role that Legal Aid plays in preventing homelessness.