[modeleng] Re: Disability Discrimination Act
- From: Allen Messer <al_messer@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 09:56:32 -0700 (PDT)
Ain't it just simply wunnerful? Not only do we share
a common basic language, but we must share the same
bureaucrats! LOL!!
Al Messer
--- "Peter J. Cathcart" <peter.cathcart@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> Alan
>
> That is a pretty good summary of the issues.
>
> Access for the disabled is very much a part of
> health and safety generally.
> We have combined the two issues. We have a health
> and safety committee
> which reviews all work carried out on our site and
> also periodically walks
> the site and chews the cud. One of the committee
> members is significantly
> disabled which means we get a very good perspective
> on disability issues.
>
> We are facing another issue. We have another member
> who is much more
> seriously disabled. He can't walk very well and
> suffers spasmodic
> movements. His speech is extremely difficult to
> follow. He has announced
> recently that he intends to buy a steam loco to run
> on our track. This
> disturbed many members, particularly as he got his
> driving licence about six
> months ago. However it is not an issue. Safety
> comes first and it would
> not be safe to let him loose on our track.
>
> Compliance with the Act is going to take most
> businesses many years. The
> vast majority of buildings throughout the country do
> not comply. Billions
> will have to be spent over the next 10 to 20 years
> to make buildings
> compliant.
>
> By all means take the issue seriously but don't
> panic. Most modifications
> required, as we have found, are generally easy to
> implement.
>
> Peter
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "alanjstepney"
> <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 9:23 PM
> Subject: [modeleng] Disability Discrimination Act
>
>
> On 1st October, the Disability Discrimination Act
> came into force.
>
> I understand that this applies to all clubs and
> organisations that allow
> entry by the public.
> Are clubs aware of this?
> Are any doing anything to comply with this Act?
>
> I suspect that many Model Engineering Societies may
> not be aware of it, and
> perhaps it would be a good idea to bring it to the
> attention of the
> committee at YOUR club.
>
>
> Disability does not just mean wheelchair, it means
> anybody with a
> disability, be it hearing, visual, physical, mental,
> {as well as
> wheelchair.}
> Clubs / company / whatever, need to have assessed
> and documented that they
> have assessed their property railway and buildings
> for disabled access
> facilities. You need to be able to demonstrate that
> the due diligence and
> reasonable assessment has been made.
>
> if the club / organisation has identified an area
> where it could comply,
> subject to spending #X, and has applied for a grant
> for that amount, (I
> gather such grants are available), that is
> reasonable evidencs that action
> is being taken.
>
> The act provides a let out that facilities do not
> have to be provided if
> it is
> unreasonable or impractical to do so. The guidance
> advice says quite
> clearly that not being able to afford to comply it
> cannot be seen to be the
> case unless all reasonable avenues of funding have
> been
> investigated. Quite reasonably the law say you
> cannot know that it cannot
> be afforded if you have not asked anyone else if
> they will help you pay for
> it.
>
> It is a legal requirement that all employers
> (including of unpaid
> volunteers) provide staff training
> regarding the treatment of people with disability
> and importantly to
> understand what counts as disability. Specific
> training is appropriate for
> all operations including kitchen/clubhouse shop
> ticket office
> etc.
>
> I must add that this is only MY view of this Act,
> and someone who knows the
> Law may have a different opinion.
> In any case, it is probably safest to find out
> exactly what is required,
> rather than fall foul of the law.
>
> alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> www.alanstepney.info
> Model Engineering, Steam Engine, and Railway
> technical pages.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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