Disability equality code of practice leaves no room for excuses

Public sector employers have “no excuses” for ignoring the new code of practice on promoting disability equality, the government has warned.

The Duty to Promote Disability Equality requires public sector employers to produce a disability equality scheme to outline their policies, practices and procedures on disabled people.

Anne MacGuire, minister for disabled people, said public authorities now had the opportunity to plan ahead before the duty comes into force in December 2006.

“There is no excuse for not understanding what you have to do,” MacGuire told delegates at a Disability Rights Commission (DRC) reception this week to mark the publication of the code.

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DRC chairman Bert Massie urged public sector employers to be proactive in instigating the policy.

“Public authorities must involve disabled people and take disability policies beyond the brief,” he said. “Take the code home with you, read it, memorise it and then make sure every public authority knows it.”