Anti-discrimination
laws are failing disabled people in thousands of situations, according to the
Disability Rights Commission (DRC).
The
DRC’s annual review claims that gaps in discrimination legislation are
providing a "licence to discriminate" against disabled people.
According
to the DRC, nearly 10 per cent of callers to its helpline have no legal
recourse when they have been sacked from work or are refused access to
services.
The
DRC wants to see changes in legislation, to include people with HIV and cancer
within the definition of disability and to place a duty on public bodies to
promote disability equality.
Bert
Massie, chairman of the DRC, said the Government had already delivered much
needed reform for the UK’s 8.6 million disabled people, but needed to continue
its reforms to tackle discrimination in the workplace.
