“Supporting disabled people in the workplace” Philip J Connolly – Policy and Development Manager – Disability Rights UK

What is the secret of getting it right? Ask the disabled person what they need. 2) Listen to what they say. 3) Be guided by what they say. 4) Conduct reviews with them. 5) Fuse guidance, experience and the need to respond to the person as an individual - to get it right. Avoiding disability discrimination requires us to treat everyone different.

Legal requirements regarding reasonable adjustments 2010 Equalities Act duty to make reasonable adjustments covers any provision, criterion, practice that they apply and to physical features Where employers working practices or premises puts the disabled employee at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person Courts are the ultimate arbitrators of reasonableness

DWP Green Paper “Improving Lives” 2017 What is stated? What is needed? Relatively few mentions - 7 three case studies Need for employer education Need to support employers Value of Access to Work programme Need for new policy Database of workplace adjustments searchable by condition, occupation etc. Expanded Access to Work programme Driving accessibility through public procurement or buying

Thank you Philip J Connolly Upstream interventions Policy and Development Manager Disability Rights UK Can Mezzanine 49-51 East Road London N1 6AH 0207 250 8192