Coming in from the cold – Equality,diversity and disability by Philip Connolly of Disability Rights UK at Nottingham University on 5th December 2017

There is a little theatre in all of us Text page suheading

Disability on and of campus http:/www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-29687034 Disabled students, teachers, university staff and visitors but who else might you rely on and who have you already relied upon?

Charity model of disability Age unknown characteristics *Treats the disabled person as being passive and without agency *focus upon sympathy not empowerment *Risks dependency *Tends towards only short term relief or assistance and not lasting change

Medical model of disability Age historic but formalised in 1948 by the United Nations Characteristics Based on notion that disability is rooted in the persons medical condition Focus on prevention and treatment not rehabilitation and integration Leads to primacy of doctors as being the experts on the persons condition and not the person themselves

Social model of disability Age – 1976 place London Characteritics *Disabled people are disabled by societies structures, attitudes and decisions and not by their impairment Inclusion in decision making is critical – nothing for us without us Focus on removing barriers

Biopsychosocial model of disability Age 1980s Characteristics *Disability is the product of both physical, social and societal factors Much favoured by Government e.g. the WCA

Rights based approach Characteristics Age historic but culminating in the DDA 1995 and the UNCRPD in 2009 – linked to other rights issues especially from the US Characteristics *Disabled people have the same rights as everyone else Focus on awareness, education and enforcement Threats arise e.g. Brexit and legal challenges can prevail e.g. employment tribunal fees

Resilience based model of disability Characteristics Disabled people have inherent strengths that all human beings have but disabled people have honed these strengths in response to challenges arising from their impairment Focus on networks e.g. peer to peer learning and peeragogy Age ancient and modern but crystallised in the work of Darwin

Essence of good approaches Expert patient programme Characteristics Disabled person is the expert in their own needs Institution has legal responsibilities to disabled people both on and off campus and both staff and non-staff

Types of discrimination Doug Paulley v First Group Discrimination * Direct discrimination Indirect discrimination Failure to make reasonable adjustments Harrasment

What constitutes disability 2010 Equality Act Finding understanding impairment or long-term health condition of twelve months or more duration Includes mental health conditions Affecting the activities of daily living Many conditions are fluctuating or spectrum conditions Around 12.3 million people or one in six of the adult population

Importance of disclosure Why disclose Why people might not disclose Institution can be aware and plan for your support needs *if you subsequently have to complain you are in a stronger position * Your identification with your disability may prove helpful to others * You may also act to validate the progressive policies of the institution No legal requirement Fear of stigma or harassment Human beings generally want to be defined by what they give as well as receive Non-supportive culture

Thank you Disability Rights UK Defending your rights Can Mezzanine 49-51 East Road London, N1 6AH 0207 250 8192 Philip.connolly@disabilityrig htsuk.org www.disabilityrightsuk.org