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What rights and resources do I have as a disabled person? · Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: What rights and resources do I have as a disabled person?
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: As a disabled person you have legal rights, and these are laid out in the Equality Act of twenty ten.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: It protects you against discrimination at work, in education, with housing and when buying goods or using public services.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: The Equality Act defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: It is worth noting that if you have a hidden disability such as hearing loss, for example, then you are still entitled to these rights.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's an important point as many individuals may not realise this.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: An element of the Equality Act is a right to ask for reasonable adjustments at work, such as changing the way things are done, changes to a process or existing policy, changing a physical feature such as lighting in your workspace or implementing a ramp to a building, or providing a hearing loop or specific software to help you do your work.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: Other elements of the Equality Act include protection against discrimination, direct discrimination arising from disability, indirect discrimination, which is when a rule or policy is applied to everyone, but it has a disadvantage for disabled people.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: Harassment or victimization?
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: Victimization which is when you are treated badly because you have made or supported a complaint under the Equality Act.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: This information I'm giving you today is very general, so I would advise you to explore your rights, and a great place to start is the EASS, so that's the Equality Advisory and Support Service, or the Disability Law Service, and both of these can be Googled online.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: For financial and practical resources, you may wish to apply for PIP, which is personal independence payment, which is extra money to help with extra daily living or mobility costs for those aged over 16.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: There's an access to work scheme which can help cover the costs of additional equipment, support workers, or travel costs, which all help to get you to work.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: The blue badge scheme is run by councils, and you can apply for a blue badge which allows you to park closer to places, especially well, if your mobility is affected, or it's not just a visible disability remember, it's the cognitive processes and things like that, which can be covered with the blue badge.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: Disabled facility grants are also available to help with making changes to your home, such as installing wet rooms, ramps, making doors wider, and other such things, and these are usually funded by your local council.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: There is a fantastic UK organisation called Disability Rights, and their website is at www.disabilityrightsuk.org when you can find a wealth of information.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: So I hope this has been useful and please take care of yourself and make sure you're getting every form of support you're entitled to.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: Take care.