Disability Equality Scheme

In the summer of 2008 the MPA completed its Generic Equality Scheme (GNES). This generic scheme combined the MPAs existing equality schemes on disability, gender and race with action plans for the remaining diversity strands of age, faith/belief and sexual orientation.

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005

In April 2005, a new Disability Discrimination Act was passed by Parliament, which amends or extends existing provisions in the DDA 1995, including making it unlawful for operators of transport vehicles to discriminate against disabled people, ensuring that discrimination law covers all the activities of the public sector and a duty (requirement) for public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. Some of the new laws came into force in December 2005 and some in December 2006 (such as the duty to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people).

MPA Disability Equality Scheme

The MPA welcomes the new Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and is pleased to present the MPA’s first Disability Equality Scheme.

• Disability Equality Scheme [word document]
• Disability Equality Scheme [PDF document]
• Disability Equality Scheme update paper 2006/07 [word document]
• Disability Equality Scheme update paper 2006/07  [PDF document]
• Disability Equality Scheme updated action plan 2006/07 [world document]
• Disability Equality Scheme updated action plan 2006/07 [PDF document]

The Disability Equality Scheme will sit with our existing Race Equality Scheme and the remainder of our Generic Equality Scheme, which is currently being developed.

Together, these documents will show the Authority’s continuing commitment to combat discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and promote good relations between all people, irrespective of their age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

The MPA is committed to promoting the Social Model of Disability. The social model was developed by disabled people in opposition to what came to be known as the individual or medical model of disability. The key difference between these two models is the location of the 'problem'.

In the medical model, disabled people are unable to participate in the community as a direct result of their impairment; impairment causes disability. So in the medical model it is a disabled person’s personal tragedy that they are excluded and this is ‘incurable’, but in the social model exclusion is a social problem and it can be rectified by society removing its barriers.

Barriers that typically prevent disabled people participating fully in society and which need to be removed can be considered in a range of ways:

• Information and communication barriers
• Physical barriers
• Policy or procedural barriers
• Attitudinal barriers

‘Disablism’ is discriminatory, oppressive or abusive behaviour arising from the belief that disabled people are inferior to others (ref: SCOPE).

Consequently we endeavour to be active in challenging barriers, which may hinder disabled people from participating fully in the work of the Authority, and disablism experienced by many in the disabled community. We also aim to lead and participate in projects and initiatives that will improve the quality of life for Londoners and improve relationships between the disabled community and the police.

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