The Disability Equality Duty (DED) is an important new duty aimed at promoting disability equality across the public sector and promotes equality of opportunity. This means local authorities need to consider how it will:

• Eliminate unlawful disability discrimination and disability-related harassment;
• Promote equality of opportunity for disabled people, taking steps to take account of disabled people's disabilities;
• Promote positive attitudes; and
• Encourage disabled people to take part in public life

Most public authorities have specific duties that set out a framework to assist authorities in meeting their general duty. They must:

• Publish a Disability Equality Scheme (including an Action Plan)
• Involve disabled people in the Scheme and Action Plan
• Demonstrate actions taken to achieve appropriate outcomes of the Scheme
• Report on progress
• Review and revise the Scheme

Everyone, from staff on the front line to Chief Officers and Directors will have to take responsibility for rooting out any institutional disability-related discrimination that exists in their practices and procedures.

The Disability Equality Duty is about getting people to consider the needs of disabled people when planning, delivering or monitoring their services.
Please find on these pages resources for all employees in the council on the new duties, including the council's Disability Equality Scheme.