Equality and Diversity

Disability Equality Scheme Annual Report 2006-2007

Progress Report for Year 1 – December 2006 to December 2007

Introduction

The Comhairle has a duty to publish an annual progress report for each year of the Disability Equality Scheme, the report should provide a summary of the following:

• “The steps it has taken to fulfill in disability equality duty (the action plan); what the authority has done over the past year to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and is it meeting its targets.”
• “The results of information gathering which it has carried out – what evidence has been obtained and what does it indicate”.
• “What the Authority has done with the information gathered – what actions will be taken as a result of what the information indicates”.

The Comhairle is required by law, in carrying out its functions, to have due regard to the need to:

• promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other people
• eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• eliminate harassment of disabled people that is related to their disability
• promote positive attitudes towards disabled people
• encourage participation by disabled people in public life
• take steps to meet disabled people’s needs, even if this requires more favourable treatment