The publication of a Disability Equality Scheme is only the beginning.
Public authorities must now work to meet the actions outlined in their Schemes in order to promote disability equality and to make a real difference to the lives of disabled service users and staff.
Your Disability Equality Scheme (DES) can last up to three years and should be reviewed regularly.
Over the next three years public authorities must work to:
-
take forward the actions in their Action Plan
-
improve the performance of the authority through the outcomes of impact assessments
-
build up the information base about performance on disability equality
-
actually improve and change things for disabled people.
Public authorities should report annually on progress and be aware that organisations like inspection bodies will be looking at progress, as will disabled people.
The information in this section provides guidance for public authorities on how to fulfill certain elements of the Disability Equality Duty. Choose from the options below:
Impact assessments - information on how public authorities can successfully carry out disability equality impact assessments.
Evidence gathering – guidance for public authorities on how to collect and use information.
Involvement guidance – guidance on how public authorities can effectively involve disabled people in their DES.