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What is Disability?

Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act, 2010 created a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments and not to treat the individual less favourably for reasons relating to their impairment.

Disability is not always obvious and many disabilities are unseen. Dyslexia, dyspraxia, mental health difficulties, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hearing impairment and heart conditions are examples of unseen disabilities.

It is important not to make assumptions about people.

If someone asks for help fetching a book in a Library, for example, they may have a number of reasons for this.

- they may be dyslexic and find it difficult to follow classmarks.

- they may be very anxious and find it challenging to navigating a busy and noisy environment.

- they may have a condition that makes it physically difficult to walk very far.

- they may have sustained a brain injury and find it difficult to find their way around buildings.

It can take a lot of courage to ask for help so please respond in a kind and helpful way.

The Equality Act does not give a definitive list of impairments but rather defines a person as disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Normal day-to-day means things that people do on a regular or daily basis, such as reading, writing, using the telephone, having a conversation and travelling by public transport.

The act is ‘anticipatory’ so facilities should be integrated into the general service. The University must not wait until someone registers before providing services, unless they are very specialist.

 

Remember, many people have disabilities but choose not to disclose them.

Please continue to our next topic, Types of Disability.