Disability discrimination
What is a disability?
In an employment context, disability can be defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out their normal day-to-day activities.
What can an employer do to help?
An employer can make reasonable adjustments to either the workplace, workstation or working environment to help a person with a disability to cope.
What is a reasonable adjustment?
A reasonable adjustment is any step(s) that it is reasonable to have to take in all the circumstances. These adjustments should ensure that employment arrangements or premises do not put a person with a disability at a disadvantage in comparison to a non-disabled person.
For example things that may have a bearing would be the financial cost of the adjustment, the resources of the employer and the practicability of the adjustment.
When does discrimination occur?
When an employer treats a person with a disability less favourably than he treats other people and this treatment cannot be justified.
Where can you get more information?
In Jersey there are a number of organisations that can provide advice, for example :-
| Jersey Blind Society |
864689 |
| Jersey Dyslexia Association |
741941 |
| Jersey Epilepsy Association |
0800 735 4121 |
| Hearing Resource Centre |
623030 fax 623031 |
| MENCAP Jersey |
866622 |
| ME/CFS Support |
287005 |
| Jersey Schizophrenia Fellowship |
0800 735 9404 |
UK sources of information
Particularly useful leaflets are:
DL170 Disability Discrimination Act 1995: What Employers need to know
DLE 7 Employing Disabled People: A good practice guide for managers and employers
DLE 8 Disability Discrimination Act 1995: An Introduction for small and medium sized businesses - Rights of Access to goods, facilities, services and premises
Equality Direct provides free advice for businesses on equality issues. Their web site is www.equalitydirect.org.uk.
The Disability Rights Commission’s website is www.drc-gb.org.